About

Hi, I’m Brett. I am an economist, social scientist, and philosopher of religions, exploring the interactions between economic development, climate change, poverty, human rights, moral philosophy, and spirituality. I also have a strong interest in the political forces impacting the poor and the oppressed, the legal underpinnings of economic systems, the roles of worldviews and spirituality in human flourishing, and ‘meta-issues’ such as the philosophies of metaethics, science, and religion, how to understand complex systems, how to work with so-called ‘wicked problems’, such as how AI will transform our societies.

I trained originally in Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science in geology and chemistry, then completed a Bachelor of Theology (Hons), a Masters in Development Studies, and then, (after some groundwork doing a Graduate Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma), a PhD in Economics at Monash University, evaluating the different approaches to modelling economic development policy in the light of complex systems science (here’s a summary).

In 2018 I completed an MPhil in Classical Indian Religion at Oxford and in 2019 began a DPhil in Theology & Religion at Oxford focused on religious ethics, specifically the metaethics of some of the traditions that contributed to the evolution of yoga. Why go back to study after all this time?  For two reasons: First, to help me better understand the diversity of Hindu and Buddhist worldviews and their approaches to important problems like poverty, human rights, women’s rights, and sustainability. And second, out of a personal interest in yoga and spirituality.

I worked for the aid agency World Vision for 15 years from 1995-2010, including four years coordinating WV International’s economic policy work. From 2007-2010 I lead a team of economists and technical specialists in WV Australia, and coordinated WV International’s climate policy development. From 2010 to 2012 I lectured in complex systems approaches to economics at Monash University From February 2010 to February 2012 I was also a lecturer in Deakin University’s Master of International and Community Development program, where I taught economic development, microfinance, and aid and trade. From 2012-13 I worked with the Australian Conservation Foundation and as an Adjunct Research Fellow in the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics at Monash University. From 2014-21 I worked for myself directing a social enterprise called Epektasis, which focussed on the connections between spirituality, activism, and the paths to a sustainable, just, and prosperous future. In 2016 I also worked as an Interdisciplinary Research Coordinator at the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and trained as a yoga teacher before coming to Oxford. In 2019, I worked as a Research Fellow with the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership – a partnership between Deakin University and Save the Children. I have previously also been a board member of The Interfaith Centre of Melbourne.

I enjoy interacting with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds, having given dozens of talks for universities, community organisations, and business groups over the past 15 years, including:

  • Yogic Conceptions of Human Nature and the Ethics of Human Rights, 24th Conference of the European Society for the Philosophy of Religion: Human Nature and Religion, 7 September 2024, Trento.
  • Comparing the Metaethics of Patañjali’s Yoga and Nondual Śaivism, Yoga Darśana, Yoga Sādhana Conference, Hamburg, 23 May 2024.
  • Consciousness, Agency, and Moral Responsibility in Vedānta, God and Consciousness in Indian Traditions Conference, Oxford, 15 May 2024.
  • The Metaethics of Patañjali’s Yoga, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies,  Oxford, 18 October 2023.
  • Metaethics in the Absence of a Loving God: Comparing Two Indian Yogic Traditions – Pātañjala Yoga & Nondual (monistic) Śaivism, British Society for the Philosophy of Religion Conference, Oxford, 31 August 2023.
  • Cross-Cultural Classics: Europe and India, UCL Institute of Archaeology, London, 16 June 2022.
  • Duality, Nonduality & Monism: Some Metaphysical Foundations of Yogic Metaethics, Faculty of Theology and Religion, Study of Religions Seminar, Oxford University, 20 May 2022.
  • Yogic Metaethics, Nonduality, and the #MeToo Movement, Faculty of Theology and Religion, Study of Religions Seminar, Oxford University, 4 June 2021.
  • Yoga History Part 2: From the 1500s to today, 16 February 2020, Prana Yoga Oxford
  • Yoga History Part 1: From Ancient times to the 1500s, 19 January 2020, Prana Yoga Oxford
  • Climate Change and the Developing World, Oxford University, 18 March 2017.
  • Computable General Equilibrium Models & Agent-Based Models: Comparisons & Potential Linkages, Institute for New Economic Thinking, Oxford University, 17 November 2016.
  • Development, History, Sustainability & Spirituality, Presentation for International Needs, Melbourne, 6 September 2016.
  • Complexity, Psychology, Sustainability & Spirituality: Why they matter for your business (really),  Monash University MBA Program, Melbourne, 26 September 2015
  • The Economics of a Safe Climate Economy, Breakthrough 2014 – National Climate Restoration Forum, Melbourne, 21 June 2014
  • Economic Opportunities & Barriers, Breakthrough 2014 – National Climate Restoration Forum, Melbourne, 21 June 2014
  • Climate Change and the Ecological Economics of Australia’s Coal Exports, for Oikos:
    Reconciling Ecology & Economics Perspectives, 27 March 2014, Melbourne.
  • Transforming Australia’s Export Profile for Ecological Sustainability, Conference of the
    Australian and New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics (ANZSEE), 11-14
    November 2013, Canberra.
  • The Recipe for Eradicating Poverty: Is there a Missing Ingredient?, Melbourne, 19 March 2013. Video here and an excerpt here.
  • Climate Change: The Big Picture, Master Builder’s Association, Melbourne, 23 August 2012
  • Climate Change:  An update and discussion of the social implications, Hargraves Sustainability Group, Melbourne, 3 May 2012
  • Some stuff we’re doing at Monash: ABM Research & Teaching, Heron Island Complex Systems  Summer School, 26 January 2012
  • Theological Forum: Economic Justice, World Vision Australia, 17 November 2011.
  • Climate Change: The Big Picture, Climate Change Community Forum, 6 October 2011.
  • The Physical and Economic Impacts of Climate Change, Australian Medical Association, Melbourne, 14 September 2011.
  • The Physical and Economic Impacts of Climate Change, Melbourne Water, 30 August 2011
  • How to Live Well with a Price on Carbon: The Big Picture, Lighter Footprints, Melbourne, 10 August 2011.
  • The Physical and Economic Impacts of Climate Change, Plastics and Chemical Industries Association, Carbon Solutions Forum 2, Melbourne, 21 June 2011.
  • Agents and Networks Teaching at Monash University, CSIRO Workshop, Canberra, 7 June 2011.
  • Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2 April 2011.
  • Complex Adaptive Systems and Economic Development: An introduction in 20 minutes!, World Vision Australia workshop, 21 March 2011.
  • Economics & the thought of Bernard Lonergan, Melbourne, 11 May 2010.
  • After Copenhagen, St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, 2 March 2010.
  • Adaptation After Copenhagen, CSIRO Adaptation Symposium, Melbourne, 4 February 2010. (Invited after-dinner address)
  • Climate Change after Copenhagen, Integrated Leadership Group, Melbourne, 4 February 2010.
  • Climate Change, Development & Copenhagen, Business Sustainability Roundtable, Melbourne, 28 October 2009.
  • International Climate Crisis Response: Is Generational Change the Key? Panel discussion chaired by Adam Shoemaker, DVC Education, BMW Edge, Federation Square. Part of Monash’s Educate 09 Program. 17 September 2009.
  • Climate Change and Development, Seminar for parliamentarians at Parliament House, Canberra, 19 August 2009.
  • Climate Change and NGOs, ANU NGO workshop, Canberra, 19 August 2009.
  • Climate Change, Food Security & the Poor, ANU Forum on the Global Food Crisis & Climate Change, Canberra, 18 August 2009.
  • Climate Change: Science, Policy & Solutions, Monash University, Perspectives on Sustainability & Environment, 13 May 2009.
  • Evaluating Modelling Frameworks, CSIRO Complex Systems Workshop, Bowral NSW, 6 May 2009.
  • Climate Change (and Related 21st Century Challenges), Monash University, Ignite Launch, 19 March 2009.
  • Climate Change and Other 21st Century Challenges, Tabor College, Melbourne, 18 February 2009.
  • Climate Change and Other 21st Century Challenges, Sensis, Melbourne, 13 February 2009.
  • Climate Change (and Related 21st Century Challenges), Social Education Victoria Conference, Melbourne, 8 December 2008.
  • Eradicating Poverty & Limits to Biophysical Growth, Conference at Monash Caulfield, 27 November 2008.
  • Climate Change, Energy Futures & Major Global Trends, Ergo Consulting, Melbourne, 27 August 2008.
  • Climate Change, Energy Futures & Development Policies, Monash University, Caulfield, 6 August 2008.
  • Can the Developing World Survive Climate Change? ‘One Just World’ event, BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne. 30 July 2008. Part 1, Part 2. 
  • Aid, Trade, Development & Leadership, Ancora Imparo Student Leadership forum, Monash University, Caulfield. 15 July 2008.
  • “It’s All About the Money” Is Development Dominated by the Agenda of Economists?, Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) Conference, Melbourne, 4 July 2008.
  • A Complex Systems Science Approach to Economic Development & Resilience, CSIRO Complex Systems Workshop, Brisbane, 18 June 2008.
  • A Very Brief Introduction to Agent-Based Development Modelling, RMIT University, Melbourne, 8 February 2008.
  • The Perfect Storm? Climate Change & Energy Security, Ergo Consulting, Melbourne, 6 February 2008.
  • Introduction to an Agent-Based Model of Development Processes in Tanzania, CSIRO, 25 July 2007.
  • Introduction to an Agent-Based Model of Development Processes in Tanzania, Complex 07 Conference, Gold Coast, 3 July 2007
  • An Agent-Based Model of Tanzania (Work in progress), Defence, Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), Edinburgh, SA, 31 May 2007.

On a more personal note, I love the beach, travel, films, drinking good coffee (my local haunts are Bin 3 in Melbourne, and The Missing Bean in Oxford), yoga (I teach and practice at Prana Yoga in Oxford, and sometimes Seed Yoga + Wellness, when I’m back in Melbourne), singing, horse riding, scuba diving, photography, and riding my motorbike.

I can also offer a range of services, including:

Workshops – on topics such as:

  • Sacred activism – love in action
  • Discernment in life, work, and spirituality – how can we make sense of it all?
  • Eco-spirituality – spirituality and our relationship with the earth
  • Interspirituality – exploring the riches of different spiritual traditions
  • Yoga – history, philosophy, and practice
  • Recognising and dealing with complex systems – avoiding ‘the logic of failure’
  • Economic justice – from international development and financial crises to the local community
  • Climate change – challenges and solutions

Keynote talks – on sacred activism, climate change, sustainability, economics, and spirituality.

Organisational consulting  – on areas such as advocacy, sustainability, strategic direction, climate change, and economic analysis.

Yoga teaching – I teach Vinyasa yoga. See this separate page for details.

Contact me: