Professor Brian Walker 

 

Winchester Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace 

Professor Brian Walker

Brian.Walker@winchester.ac.uk 

Biography

Professor Brian Walker was awarded his MA (with distinction), in Religion: Rhetoric and Rituals of Death, by the University of Southampton in 2001, with a study of ‘The Dynamics of Hope’. In 2005, he gained his AHRB-funded PhD, for his thesis on ‘Hope within an Abrahamic Dialogue’, from the University of Winchester. This investigation into the transformational content of hope emergent from dialogue between contemporary Judaic, Christian and Muslim advocates developed from multi-religious engagement in the United Kingdom and across sub-Saharan Sierra Leone.

Expertise

Professor Walker was founding Director of Winchester Centre of Religions for Reconciliation and Peace at the University of Winchester. The centre is developing through a joint partnership with Religions for Peace International (New York) and St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace (London). Professor Walker is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Winchester, focusing upon research upon multi-religious action for restorative justice, transformative reconciliation and sustainable peace.

Professor Walker has extensive experience in multi-religious co-operation for justice, reconciliation and peace, including seven years as Chairman and Executive Director, Religions for Peace United Kingdom; Trustee and Governing Board Member, Religions for Peace Europe; and World Assembly Representative, Religions for Peace International. He has also been Trustee, World Congress of Faiths; Editor, International Faith-Based Forum on Multi-religious Cooperation for Humanitarian Relief, Development and Peace; and General Synod Member, Church of England. Professor Walker has engaged with leaders of many faiths from nations across Europe, including Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. His contacts also include peacebuilders from diverse faiths across Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East and Oceania.

Publications

‘Multi-religious Action for Reconciliation and Peace’, Interfaith Encounters and Social Change Conference, University of Winchester (Winchester: 2010)

‘Promoting a Spirituality that Reconciles’, Centre for Initiatives in Spirituality and Reconciliation, St Mary’s College (Twickenham: 2010)

Faith-Based Organizations Forum on Multi-religious Cooperation for Humanitarian Relief, Development and Peace. Editor, Religions for Peace International (Frankfurt: 2008)

‘Different Faiths, Common Action: Strategic Plan 2008-2011’ Religions for Peace Europe Strategic Conference (Paris: 2008)

‘From Dialogue to Cooperative Action: Moving from face-to-face dialogue to side-by-side action’ Religions for Peace Europe (Rovereto: 2008)

‘Our common European values and identity: Reflections’ Religions for Peace Europe (Rovereto: 2008)

‘Anglican Communion Covenant’ Church of England General Synod (London: 2008)

‘Multi-religious Cooperation: Transforming conflict from a source of violence to a resource for peace’ Journal for Faith, Spirituality, and Social Change Vol. 1:2 (University of Winchester: 2008) http://www.fsscconference.org.uk/journal/1-2/Walker.pdf

Faith-Based Organizations Roundtable on Multi-religious Cooperation for Humanitarian Relief, Development and Peace. Editor, Religions for Peace International (London: 2007)

‘To Crack the Silence: An inter-faith response to 7/7’ 7/7 and Beyond: A South Asian response to the London Bombings Conference, South Asian Concern (London: 2007)

‘Respect for Diversity: A peace of gold®’ Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (UK), (Leeds: 2007)

‘Interfaith Cooperation: Changing Conflict from a Source of Violence to a Resource for Peace’ Influencing Social Change: The Role of Faith, European Council of Religious Leaders (Birmingham: 2007)

‘International European Multi-religious Partnerships’ Religions for Peace Europe, (Rome: 2007)

‘Introduction to Interfaith’, A Global Guide to Interfaith: Reflections from around the world Edited by Sandy and Jael Bharat (O Books Ropley: 2007)

Funding Awards and Professional Membership

  • Director, Centre of Religions for Peace, Reconciliation and Policy Study, Sierra Leone
  • Member Religions for Peace United Kingdom
  • Member World Congress of Faiths
  • Fellow Chartered Management Institute
  • Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology
  • Chartered Engineer
  • Full Certificated Member Institute of Fundraising
  • Vice-Patron Naomi House Children’s Hospice
  • Member Wessex Children’s Hospice Trust