May 2026 – July 2027
Purpose of the Group
The Thinking Partners Group serves as GRIST’s advisory board during a crucial stage in the Institute’s development. Its purpose is to provide reflective, strategic, and relational guidance as GRIST consolidates its model of work across six interconnected areas — Training, Researching, Connecting, Communicating, Advising, and Educating — and fundraising strategy. The group supports GRIST in maintaining clarity of purpose, methodological rigour, relational accountability, and alignment with our principles of Curiosity, Collaboration, and Transformation.
Membership consists of a small group of individuals whose expertise spans anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, communications, Indigenous and decolonial studies, movement building, evaluation, philanthropy, and transformation practice.
Many members have contributed to GRIST’s early development through thinking, advising, collaboration, or participation in events. This continuity strengthens the relational and methodological foundations that GRIST depends on.
Members are appointed as individuals, not as representatives of their institutions.
The group brings together:
• individuals working within the University of Cambridge and external academic partners;
• practitioners, philanthropists, movement-builders, and evaluators whose work sits beyond the university;
• a range of disciplinary, methodological, regional and experiential standpoints.
How the Group supports GRIST
- Offer strategic insight
- Support methodological and ethical integrity
- Strengthen GRIST’s relational ecosystem
- Sense opportunities and risks
- Contribute to learning and evaluation
- Reflect with care and generosity
Current Thinking Partners Group Members
Peter Wade, Anthropology, University of Manchester, GRIST Thinking Partners Group Chair
Mónica Moreno Figueroa, Sociology, University of Cambridge, GRIST Lead
Alison Rooke, Project and Programme Evaluation Lead, Art of Regeneration
Arathi Sriprakash, Education, University of Oxford
Emiko Saldívar, Anthropology, UC Santa Barbara, GRIST Consultant
Felipe Sotto Maior Cruz, Anthropology, Universidade Federal da Bahia
Irma Velasquez Nimatuj, Maya-K’iche’ journalist, activist, and social anthropologist
Jeff Miley, Sociology, University of Cambridge
Miriyam Aouragh, Media and Communication, University of Westminster
Nyasha Mboti, Communication Science, University of the Free State
Sebastian Frias, Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Sujatha Jesudason, Milano School, The New School, GRIST Consultant
Uma Mishra, Global Social Justice Leader
Kamal Munir, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for University Community and Engagement, University of Cambridge