Geshe Tenzin Namdak

Resident Teacher

After completing his university studies in Hydrology, Geshe Namdak worked as an environmental researcher in the Netherlands. He began studying Buddhism at Maitreya Institute and was eventually ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama before completing the 20-year Geshe degree at Sera Jey monastic university in India, as well as the traditional one-year Vajrayana study program at Gyume Tantric College.

Ven. Fabienne Pradelle

Executive Director

Venerable Fabienne Pradelle joined as Executive Director in 2019. Jamyang London is where she first met Buddhism when in her twenties, so offering service here has been like coming home. Before London, Ven. Fabienne was Executive Director of Vajrapani Institute, an FPMT Retreat Centre in California, USA, where she spent 14 years. Through offering service, she is delighted to support the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and our Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. 

Ven. Barbara Shannon

FPMT UK Coordinator

Venerable Barbara Shannon, is the FPMT UK Coordinator and she facilitates the Death cafe at Jamyang London. She is a pillar of Jamyang London, being part of the community since the early days. In recognition of her important work, she was awarded by the Faiths Forum 2019 as an Inspirational Individual.

Paul Wells

Operations Manager

Paul has been part of the Jamyang team since the beginning of 2021, offering service as a resident volunteer, and more recently as Operations Manager. He looks after the day-to-day running of the centre at Jamyang and is a student of Geshe Namdak, currently studying the new ‘Exploring Buddhism’ 3-year course. 

Kamlo Chen-Duffy

Spiritual Programme Co-ordinator

Kamlo joined Jamyang in 2019 as Centre Manager, before moving into the role of Spiritual Programme Coordinator. He manages the spiritual education courses and events, and he is currently also a student on the Basic Programme, a 5-year course in Buddhist philosophy and practice.  

Sajda van der Leeuw

Contemplative Education Co-ordinator

Sajda is the Contemplative Education Coordinator and one of the Project Managers of Science & Wisdom LIVE, and joined Jamyang at the beginning of 2020. Her work for Jamyang gives her the daily joy of making a real-time difference in the world. In both roles, Sajda focuses on bringing contemplative practitioners of different faiths together, building bridges between these contemplatives and scientists/academics (and their research), and furthering contemplative education. Sajda is a current student of the 5-year Basic Programme in Buddhist Philosophy and Practice, led by Geshe Tenzin Namdak. 

Fabiana Lotito

Communications Officer

Fabiana has been part of the Jamyang community since June 2012, and part of the team since the beginning of 2017. She firstly has offered service as a volunteer, and then as Communications Officer. She manages the whole execution of communication projects by developing partnerships, delivering events, and leading communication and promotion strategies via a range of channels. With her work, she wishes to spread the Dharma through the world.

Kunsang Kelden

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Co-ordinator

Kunsang joined Jamyang London in 2021 and she works in two distinct roles; firstly in focusing Jamyang’s efforts and aspirations relating to community equality, diversity and inclusivity. Secondly as our Exploring Buddhism education co-ordinator. 

Steff Hill

 Geshe Namdak’s Secretary

Steff has been a part of the Jamyang community since 1996. She has taught introductory courses into Buddhism as an FPMT foundation level teacher and led the short retreat practice of Nyung Na as well as served as a board member from 2012-2015. From summer 2021 she has been volunteering as secretary to Geshe Namdak. In addition to this role, she also offers service as a teaching assistant on the Exploring Buddhism and Basic Buddhism programmes. She completed the five-year Basic Buddhism programme in 2020 as well as two of the five modules of the seven-year Masters programme. 

Margaret Jailler

 Administrator

Margaret began as a day volunteer at Jamyang in 2016 but after a few months took up the split post of administrator and café worker. Five years on, she is now a part-time administrator at Jamyang, supporting the Operations Manager in the day-to-day running of the centre and engaged, in particular, with the maintenance of the beautiful Grade ll listed building that is home to Jamyang. Her interest in Buddhism is secular/philosophical and she is currently enrolled on the new ‘Exploring Buddhism’ 3-year course. 

Jyoti Shah

Bookkeeper 

Jyoti is Jamyang’s Book Keeper and has been working with the community since 2020, her work is vital in ensuring Jamyang thrives and she brings great focus and joy to the team. 

Jane Sill

Community Events Co-ordinator

Jane first came to Jamyang in 1999 and has been a regular student and facilitator ever since. She oversees community programmes supporting carers, mindfulness for stress reduction courses, and school visits.

William Walker

Facilitator

William, completed training in Mindfulness in 2018 and is registered on the UK listing for Mindfulness Teachers. He has led and co-led a number of 8-week Mindfulness for Stress Reduction courses for the London Centre of Mindfulness. William studied theology and philosophy at University in Scotland and London and trained for the Anglican Church ministry, before switching to teaching in schools and travelling abroad. A long-time member of Jamyang, in recent years he has focussed his attention on teaching mindfulness, Chi Kung, and Tai Chi.

Vinod Ravi

Facilitator

Vinod has been leading mindfulness sessions in Jamyang since 2012. In 1994, he went through the same Vipassana training that a Thai monk would receive at the Wat Ram Poeng monastery in Thailand but did not become a practising monk. More recently received the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher Training qualifications from Bangor University.

Cynthia Bonell

Facilitator

Cynthia, has been meditating for some 35-40 years and has studied both in the Vedic and Buddhist traditions as well as Christianity. In her professional life, she was a Primary teacher but is now retired. A long-time student of Geshe Tashi Tsering at Jamyang London Buddhist Centre, Cynthia has been teaching mindfulness for a number of years having completed the week intensive level 1 teaching course at Bangor University. She continues to practice meditation and attend retreats regularly.

Jackie Yip

Basic Programme Co-ordinator

A long-standing member of the Jamyang Community, and a student of Serme Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering and Geshe Tenzin Namdak. Jackie has served Jamyang London, FDWC, and the FPMT for many years and in many different roles, including touring the world with the Maitreya Relic Tour, a collection of Buddhist relics. Currently, she is offering her service as Basic Programme co-ordinator and Lama Liaison at Jamyang.

Marco Colnaghi

Project Manager for Science & Wisdom Live

Marco joined the Jamyang team in 2020 as project manager of Science & Wisdom LIVE. He helps in the organisation of dialogues with scientists and contemplative practitioners, the curation of outreach material, and the design of our e-learning curricula. He is also a student of the Basic Programme, studying Buddhist philosophy under the guidance of Geshe Tenzin Namdak. 

Rhona Sayer

Facilitator

Rhona is a long-standing member of the Jamyang Community and a member of the FPMT Translation Team. Rhona translates Buddhist texts from Sanskrit and Tibetan into English. Over the years, she has received many precious teachings from different teachers and she has a Masters degree in Buddhist Studies from SOAS, University of London, specializing in Tantra.

Jan Andresen

Facilitator

Jan is a long-standing member of the Jamyang Community and a trustee of Jamyang Buddhist Centre. Over the years, he has studied and practiced Buddhism under many masters, including Serme Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering and Geshe Tenzin Namdak. He has received many precious teachings from different Buddhist teachers all over the world and he is currently also a Teaching Assistant on the Basic Programme, a 5-year course in Buddhist philosophy and practice.

Roy Sutherwood

Facilitator

Roy Sutherwood is a former Trustee and Director of Jamyang London Buddhist Centre, and an FPMT recognised teacher. He has studied under masters of Buddhist philosophy and meditation for many years. He facilitates classes in Tibetan Buddhism at the Buddhist Society and is also a qualified teacher of secular Mindfulness techniques.

Grace Gyatso

Facilitator

Grace offered service as Director of Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala (2008-2014) before moving to the UK to become Executive Director of FDCW (2014-2018).  Now, she facilitates Buddhist Meditation introductory courses at Jamyang London and supports the Jamyang team in many other ways.

John Bonell

Facilitator

John Bonell has been associated with Jamyang London Buddhist Centre for about 20 years where he has led numerous meditation and other sessions. He has a lifelong interest in meditation and Buddhism having attended his first Buddhist meditation retreat in India in the early 1970s. John says his main reason for his interest in Buddhism is its focus on inner development through its techniques to enhance compassion and insight.

Radek Skrzypczak

Facilitator

Radek has been studying with Serme Khen Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering, Geshe Graham, and Geshe Tenzin Namdak at Jamyang London Buddhist Centre since 2008. For the last four years, he has been teaching meditation at St Mungos Recovery College for homeless people recovering from addictions.

Maria De Lourdes Dos Santos Mesquita

Gompa Keeper

Maria has been volunteering at Jamyang since March 2020, her main role is “Gompa Keeper”, taking care of the Main and Small Gompas, setting up for Pujas and Teachings and Altar offerings. Since 2008 Maria has been offering service in other FPMT Centers, she considers offering service as a very rewarding and meritorious way of practicing Dharma, helping herself and others. Maria is currently enrolled in the 5-year “ Basic Programme”, taught by Geshe Tenzin Namdak.

Adam South

Video Editor

Having volunteered for SciWiz and Meridan Trust, Adam joined the residential volunteer team in 2021. He is currently offering service as Jamyang’s tech assistant, helping ensure the Dharma reaches Jamyang students all around the world. 

Jess Plumb

Cook

Jess began living and working in Dharma centres in 2017 and is currently serving as a cook at Jamyang (a role that she loves).  She very much enjoys reading and attending teachings and is studying the Exploring Buddhism programme. 

Mircea Ioan Lupescu

Photographer / Tech Assistant

Mircea is a resident volunteer at Jamyang, he wants to bring service to the centre while taking the opportunity to get to know the community. He is very passionate about the Dharma and is currently enrolled in the three-year program Exploring Buddhism with Geshe Tenzin Namdak.

Liv Till

Librarian

In the summer of 2021, Olivia joined the volunteer team at Jamyang and, more recently, she has been enjoying her role as our librarian. With a background as an archivist, Liv takes a methodical approach to cataloging our Dharma materials and finds great pleasure in reading.

Agnes So

Designer

Agnes is a Reiki Practitioner, Yoga teacher, Tibetan Sound Therapist, and illustrator. Agnes started her Tibetan Buddhism journey in Kopan Monastery in 2020, where she met Geshe Tenzin Namdak for the first time. She joined as a resident volunteer at Jamyang London in September 2021, and in April 2022 at Jamyang Leeds. She is still supporting Jamyang London as a designer.