Hi, I’m Charlie. I build and thrive in weird, post-systematic networks. I’m author of Opening Awareness. In this newsletter I write and speak about Vajrayana Buddhism, meditation systems, and occasionally STEM learning and tech.

I like to understand the principles and functions of systems across domains: how and why things work the way they do for individuals, groups, societies, civilizations. I’ve studied international diplomacy, economics, anthropology, and the history of European and Chinese economic divergence. I’ve written theses on land rights and market reform in Bhutan and Asian economic development. I was awarded the London School of Economics 2009 Fei Xiaotong prize for my writing on technological development in India and China.

I co-founded Evolving Ground, a growing community of practitioners laying the foundations for a new form of Vajrayana. I teach in the community, facilitate practice labs, and give guidance and support in personal practice consultation. I also provide bespoke partnerships for leaders with executive responsibilities.

My background is in International Development and humanitarian work. I built a UK supported employment track for psychiatric service users and worked for Amnesty International as their first program director for Wales. I’ve volunteered for many projects, working with street kids in Zimbabwe, sanitation and disaffected youth in Soweto, securing water access for isolated communities in Lesotho, and land rights for forest dwellers in Bihar, India. These were formative experiences for me as a young adult. They changed my way of being in the world with others—and gave me some confidence to just do things.