Dr. Brian Bates

Called Shamanic Consciousness, it deals with mind-management techniques all the way from tribal ritual to leading edge neuroscience. He is an expert in helping people to use the power of their imagination to bring about radical improvements in performance. Invited to apply his unique approach at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he trained and directed in performance some of the world's leading actors, including such stars and Oscar winners as Kenneth Branagh, Ralph Fiennes, and Sean Bean.

Educated at the University of California, Brian researched creativity at Stanford Research Institute and then Cambridge University, England. As Chair of the Psychology department at Sussex University he published applications of imagination in scientific and medical journals, and also wrote six books including the international best-selling novel The Way of Wyrd. He is now applying his approaches to issues in the business world.

In 2002, he was appointed Senior Adviser to the Ford Foundation's research program into worldwide indigenous knowledge. His brief is to work with tribal peoples to document their advanced techniques of vivid imagination, and to develop applications consonant with the cutting edge of western psychological science.

Brian Bates is currently Professor of Psychology in the Business School at the University of Brighton, Director of the Imagination Systems Project at the University of Sussex, and an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. His work is widely featured in the press and media.

Brian Bates and John Cleese met fifteen years ago, at a Cambridge University research retreat convened to discuss Brian's book on the inner techniques of actors, The Way of the Actor. Since then they have worked together on a series of research enquiries. Their most recent collaboration was on The Human Face, a project that resulted in the Emmy-nominated television documentary series and the best-selling book.