The first symposium explored intentional communities as a phenomenon, including their place within the utopian literature and more practical applications such as the use of community land trusts. Speakers were: Professor Lucy Sargisson, Maria Brenton, Keith Cowling, Ruth Bradbrook and Dr Melissa Fernandez.
Maria Brenton – senior cohousing communities
Maria is Project Manager & Cohousing Consultant at Older Women's Cohousing Company Ltd, and a Board Member of UK Co-housing Network. She has also written extensively about cohousing and old age.
Keith Cowling – Community Land Trusts
Keith Cowling is a former architect with 25 years’ experience as a community architect and social entrepreneur. Keith has a particular interest in .
Professor Lucy Sargisson – Intentional Communities as Practical Utopias
Lucy Sargisson is the only Professor of Utopian studies in the world. Based at the University of Nottingham. Lucy has an ongoing commitment to the research of intentional communities and is a member of the CoHousing UK's Research Network.
Ruth Bradbrook – Living in an Intentional Community
In 2013 Ruth took the step with her partner to move from 'conventional' to Old Hall, which is a co-owned community in Suffolk. Old Hall celebrated its 40th birthday last year and has close to 40 members aged from 92 to 2.
Dr Melissa Fernandez – Researching the development of Featherstone cohousing
Melissa is an interdisciplinary scholar with a PhD in Sociology from LSE, She has also worked in the field of international human rights in the UK, U.S., and Puerto Rico
Horiatu-Cristian Cojan – Sustainable benefits of Cohousing
Research suggests that cohousing can offer a more environmentally sustainable way of living.
