Executive Director: Branden Thornhill-Miller
Branden Thornhill-Miller (see thornhill-miller.com) is a professor, entrepreneur and consultant in psychology and behavioral economics with degrees from Yale, Harvard, and Oxford in different fields that he integrates in his work. For 15+ years he has taught, researched and collaborated at the University of Oxford, as a member of the psychology and philosophy faculties and lecturer or fellow at several colleges.
Dr. Thornhill-Miller integrates expertise in applied psychology and especially “individual differences” (e.g., personality, intelligence, creativity, emotional intelligence, cognitive biases, leadership, test construction, etc.) with other topics like behavioral economics, culture, world religions, values, gender, and a life-long focus on technology and the future (e.g., VR, AI, big data, and 21st-century skills). In his applied strategic work, he anatomizes tasks and situations helping to improve understanding and performance in diverse contexts.
During most of the past decade, he trained leaders from around the world as Professor and Vice President for the 5 schools of Preparing Global Leaders (PGL), while also teaching and supervising theses and serving as Director of the Creativity Profiling Project (mapping and training creativity in different businesses, professions and tasks) at the Sorbonne.
Along with AFNOR (the French standards/ISO body present and working in 100 countries), he is one of four co-founders of the International Institute for Competency Development, whose mission is to be qualitatively disruptive in the future of education and work (see iicd.net). While at Harvard, Branden was Director of the Interreligious Dialogue Program for 10 graduate schools and spoke on public radio weekly in Boston. He has also been a visiting professor in other departments at Beijing University and Georgetown University, among others. Today, he divides his time between Paris, Mexico, Oxford, and the United States seeking interdisciplinary collaborations on projects aimed at social, economic, and overall human improvement.
The Creative Futures Institute is composed of world-class experts and creative bridge-builders who bring the combination of cutting edge research, interdisciplinary dialogue, and capacity for practical application necessary to address the challenges facing us today.
Academic Advisors & Collaborators
Prof. Morten L. Kringelbach
Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Oxford and Aarhus University, Director of the Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, and Fellow of Linacre College, Oxford
Prof. Kringelbach’s interdisciplinary research focuses on understanding pleasure (hedonia) and the well-lived life (eudaimonia) through advanced neuroimaging and computational modeling. His work aims to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying emotional and cognitive states, contributing to the institute’s mission of understanding and improving the human condition.
Dr. Daniel Garcia-Sanchez
Daniel Garcia-Sánchez is a senior researcher (HDR), at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris, France.
His research in quantum physics and nanomechanics explores the mechanical properties of two-dimensional materials, contributing to advancements in nanotechnology and materials science. Breakthroughs in the fields of study that he supervises cutting-edge research are poised to expand both technological and human possibilities exponentially.
Prof. Peter Millican
Professor of Philosophy and Gilbert Ryle Fellow at Hertford College, University of Oxford
Professor Millican specializes in early modern philosophy, philosophy of language, and philosophy of religion. He has been instrumental in bridging philosophy with computer science and artificial intelligence, notably establishing the Computer Science and Philosophy degree at Oxford. His expertise in interdisciplinary education and ethical considerations in AI aligns with the institute’s commitment to collaborative problem-solving.
Prof. Ivo Vlaev
Ivo Vlaev (Dphil, Oxford), professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School is a leading scholar in decision science and behavior change.
His work, featured in academic journals, government reports, and influential books, integrates psychology, neuroscience, and economics aiming to develop a unified theory of behavior change. His transformative interventions span diverse sectors like health, finance, education, and the environment. Co-author of the renowned UK Cabinet Office MINDSPACE report, he is regularly called upon to help shape policies and strategies at the national level worldwide.
Professional Collaborators
Paul Escott
Paul Escott (MBA, Yale SOM; MSt Cambridge; BA Georgetown) is the CFO and co-founder of Casa Agave Inc., a revolutionary company that aims to be an exemplar of sustainable development, producing an award-winning, zero-waste mezcal, developing methane-reducing cattle feed supplements, and restoring semi-desert ecosystems while generating carbon credits.
Paul’s distinguished corporate finance career, marked by significant contributions to IPOs and seed-stage equity projects, commenced with accolades at Prudential Securities. Later at PwC, he spearheaded sustainability efforts, collaborating with major institutions to craft sustainable investment platforms. Paul’s contributions to various journals extend to various various subjects often based on his graduate studies in interfaith relations.
Coralie Lolliot
Coralie Lolliot is Africa Development Head at Sciences Po (Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris)
At Sciences Po (ranked #2 globally for Politics), Coralie leads the expansion of executive education for government and business across the continent. Her work spans cultural leadership, executive education, and emerging-market strategy, collaborating with senior public- and private-sector leaders across Africa. Having begun her career at UNESCO, where she contributed to global education and development initiatives, she became a Director at the Africa CEO Forum and Women Working for Change, curating and scaling some of the continent’s most prominent platforms and events for systemic change. She brings expertise in culture, education, and business between Europe and a continent whose rapid evolution will help shape the coming decades. (draft for approval)
Dr. Mihir Sarkar
Dr. Mihir Sarkar is Head of AI at ENGIE Research & Innovation, where he develops cutting-edge applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to power the energy transition. He received a PhD from the MIT Media Lab, where he founded and led international innovation initiatives.
A recognized pioneer at the intersection of AI and sustainability, Mihir has also founded two applied AI startups. Has contributed to breakthrough technologies and held leadership roles across several key sectors shaping our industrial and social futures.
Dr. Laura S
