Gemma Simmonds is a sister of the Congregation of Jesus.  She is a senior research fellow at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge, UK, where she is director of the Religious Life Institute, teaching Christian spirituality and pastoral theology. An international speaker and lecturer, she is an honorary fellow of Durham University, past president of the Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain and chair of trustees of the ecumenical Community of St. Anselm based at Lambeth Palace, London.  She lectured in theology at Heythrop College, University of London from 2005 until its closure in 2018, specialising in Spiritual Direction in the Ignatian tradition and has been a spiritual director and retreat giver for over 30 years. 

Gemma has been a missionary in Brazil, a chaplain in the Universities of Cambridge and London and a chaplaincy volunteer in Holloway Prison for 25 years.  She is a regular broadcaster on religious matters on the BBC, Radio Maria England and other radio and television networks. 

Nick Helm is familiar to many as a past chair of SEN. Now he is co-chair of the national Forum for Spiritual Direction UK and Vice Chair of the Society of Retreat Conductors. He’s published three books in the Grove Spirituality Series, including ‘Ignatius of Loyola: a guide for prayer and spiritual growth.’ His South African roots are manifest in his enjoyment of walking and wilderness. He enjoys music, from Beethoven to Van Morrison, and getting computers to do helpful things!