People

Alastair Donald
convenor, Living Freedom

Alastair Donald

Alastair is convenor of Living Freedom and secretary of Ideas Matter. He is also associate director of the London based Academy of Ideas where he co-convenes Battle of Ideas festival. He is currently developing plans for a European Free Speech Network to aid collaborative efforts across the continent to build a public culture of free speech.

Alastair is author of Letter on Liberty: The Scottish Question, and co-editor of two books, The Lure of the City and The Future of Community. As a founding member of mantownhuman, he co-authored Manifesto: towards a new humanism in architecture which featured in Penguin Classics 100 Artists’ Manifestos.

Follow Alastair on X: @MaximumCities

Emma Gilland
programme coordinator, Ideas Matter

Emma Gilland

Emma is the event coordinator for Academy of Ideas and the programme coordinator for Ideas Matter. Alongside her work, she has a Substack and has written for spiked on the changing culture of relationships and coming of age in the 21st century. Emma has spoken in Iceland and Hungary on family policy and Generation Z’s perception of family life, and she co-authored The Corona Generation: coming of age in a crisis with Jennie Bristow in 2020.

Follow Emma on LinkedIn.

Geoff Kidder
chief executive, Ideas Matter

Geoff Kidder

Geoff Kidder is chief executive of Ideas Matter. He is also director of membership and events at the Academy of Ideas. He supervises the Academy’s administration and event management, including the Battle of Ideas festival, and runs the Academy’s associate member scheme. Geoff is also the Academy’s resident expert in all sporting matters.

Jake Weston
event convenor, Living Freedom

Jake Weston

Jake Weston is an event convenor at Living Freedom. He is editor of the Living Freedom Substack and manager of digital channels and partnerships. He’s a recent graduate from the University of Bath, with a BSc in Politics and Economics.

Jake is a regular contributor to spiked, writing on university culture, freedom, and Generation Z. He also supports and works with Our Fight in their battle against antisemitism.