About
Aspen UK is an independent, not for profit organisation which supports and inspires leaders to transform themselves and their society.
It plays an active role in bridging the UK’s political, social and cultural divides, and does so by using the unique Aspen method of text-based and professionally guided conversations.
Aspen UK provides opportunities for leaders to come together to debate and confront their own ideas and values, and to explore effective solutions to pressing social issues.
Aspen UK is committed to building communities of actively engaged and enlightened leaders, inspiring them to work for the common good.
Aspen UK carries out its mission through seminars, conferences and leadership programmes. It offers a safe environment for people to debate political and social issues and confront different perspectives. Sessions are led by expert moderators and are held in small groups to promote an exchange of ideas and perspectives.
Aspen UK is not a think-tank. It is the opposite of a club – we aim to bring people together who may disagree with each other. Its mission is to help people become better leaders, by becoming more aware and tolerant of other people’s values, ideas and perspectives, and to recognise how they can contribute to positive change.
“Attending a range of Aspen seminars was life changing for me. These conversations and the bonds with other participants helped give me tools and confidence to move beyond business to a much broader aspiration for impact.”
Charles Conn
CEO, Oxford Sciences Innovation
People
Toby Coppel
Toby Coppel (Trustee) is a co-founder and partner at Mosaic Ventures, a European venture capital firm managing $300 million and focused on early stage investing. Toby
Thomas Eymond-Laritaz
Thomas Eymond-Laritaz (Trustee and interim Chairman) is a Managing Director in Mercury’s London office, a high-stakes public strategy firm. He has more than 15 years’ experience advising
Zelmira Kock Polk
Zelmira Koch Polk (Trustee) is a senior business executive with extensive experience building and turning around businesses internationally. She has worked in finance, crisis communications
Charlotte Leslie
Charlotte Leslie (Trustee) is a former Conservative MP and Managing Director of the Conservative Middle East Council (CMEC), building UK – MENA relationships and enabling
Penny Richards
Penny Richards (CEO) has just joined the Aspen Institute global family as the Managing Director of the Aspen Initiative in the UK. She’s a CEO
Jan (Jacek) Rostowski
Jan (Jacek) Rostowski (Trustee) was born in London, and has worked as an economist at Kingston Polytechnic, London University and the LSE until 1995, when
Catherine Roe
Catherine Roe (Aspen Advisor) has over 25 years’ experience of creating, developing and leading foundations and advising philanthropists and not-for-profits including as Director of the
Louis Wilson
Louis Wilson (Company Secretary) is a Director at the public strategy firm Mercury, where his work focuses on political campaigns, crisis communications and advocacy across
“Leaders are increasingly confronted with moral dilemmas not technocratic problems. This seminar addresses head on these moral questions providing structured space for reflection andhelps individuals to understand their own moral compass. It’s life changing.”
Sir Stuart Etherington
Chief Executive, The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)