TEAM
Jamyang Oliphant PhD
Director
Jamyang Oliphant studied Tibetan religion, language and culture at the University of Oxford. His doctoral thesis examined rejuvenating Tibetan medical practices. At Shang Shung Institute UK he runs the lecture seminars and conferences and spearheads the fundraising campaigns that fund our non-profit institute. He is passionate about Tibetan culture and continues to research, lecture and publish on different aspects of Himalayan religion, medicine and history. He is co-editor of Sharro: Festschift for Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and of About Padmasambhava: Historical Narratives and Later Transformations of Guru Rinpoche. He has lived and traveled in Asia since his youth and continues to lead groups to explore religious sites in numerous Asian countries. He is currently working on a book on women teachers in the lineage of the Tantric master Padmasambhava. In addition to cultural and linguistic studies, Jamyang is interested in the link between philanthropy and ethical investing, and has been organizing fundraisers for various causes for more than ten years. He is on the committee of a London based investment fund that invests in the stock market following Buddhist ethical principles.
Dr Fabian Sanders
Academic Director
After studying for more than twenty five years the languages and cultures of Tibet, China and India in both academic and traditional settings, Dr. Sanders taught Tibetan Language and Culture at the Università Ca' Foscari in Venice for many years. He has also been teaching language and translation courses for the International Shang Shung Institute for many years. He has in recent years made numerous field trips to Tibet, China and India in pursuit of his research into Tibetan Oracles and related themes. Today he is director of languages at the Atiyoga Foundation.
Mandarava Bricaire
Arts Director
Mandarava Bricaire studied East Asian philosophies, then studied photography and film. She has a research masters degree in critical philosphy and cultural studies. She is a practicing filmmaker and has collaborated with the Shang Shung Institute U.K. since its inception in 2010.
Trinley Walker
Company Secretary
Trinley took up the role of Company Secretary with the Shang Shung Institute UK in December 2021. He has been a member of the Dzogchen Community UK for over fifteen years, and also an active collaborator with the Institute across many events. Trinley also manages the Institute’s book store. He holds BA and MSc degrees, both in political science.
Julia Lawless
Consultant
Julia Lawless has been a student of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu since 1980 and was instrumental in setting up the Shang Shung Institute UK in 2010 at his request. Apart from being actively engaged in establishing Kunselling, a Dzogchen retreat Centre in Wales and Lekdanling: Tibetan Cultural Centre in London, she was Principal Director of the UK Shang Shung Institute for 10 years. She is the co-author of 'Beyond Words: An Introduction to Dzogchen' and has edited several books, including 'Guru Arya Tara & her 21 Praises' published by Shang Shung Editions. Julia is a writer by profession and is accredited as a meditation instructor by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu.
Anne Bancroft
Conservation and Collection Care Consultant
Anne is a conservation and collection care consultant for the UK Shang Shung Institute. She is also the Head of Conservation & Collection Care at the Barbados Museum & Historical Society. Anne has a Masters in Buddhist Art: History and Conservation from the Courtauld Institute of Art, a Masters in Conservation from Camberwell College of Arts and a Bachelors of Fine Arts. Anne has worked as a Preservation and Conservation consultant in the eastern Caribbean, India, Italy and the UK. She has also worked as a Senior Conservator at the V&A Museum, Conservator at the Wellcome Collection, Lambeth Palace Library, The London Metropolitan Archives and The Tate Britain. She was an assessor for ICON accreditation candidates and the Arts Director for the UK Shang Shung Institute. Her main area of research is on the conservation of sacred objects and has specialisms in paper; book conservation and the conservation of Tibetan Buddhist, Asian and Eastern material (including painted cloth). She has been a guest lecturer on conservation programmes and runs conservation/preservation workshops as a consultant with a focus on capacity building.
Premila Van Ommen
Events & Media Liaison
Premila van Ommen is one of the founders of the Satsang Collective who organised the Himalayan Film and Cultural Festivals in London. She completed her Masters in Migration and Diaspora Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies and is currently undergoing a PhD in Cultural Studies at LCF, University of Arts London. She is a TECHNE award recipient for her ongoing research studies on the arts education and activities of young Nepali migrants in the UK, and also founder of the online archival project Nepali Swag, food collective Yak Bites and the Afro-Nepali arts movement MOMOLIFE.
Mike Gilmore
Shop Manager
Shang Shung Institute UK, a non profit institute, connects people for the support of Tibetan and Himalayan culture in person & online.
Shang Shung UK Ltd.
Lekdanling, Unit B
14 Collent Street
London, E9 6SG