Alex Gillespie

Alex Gillespie is a Professor of Psychological and Behavioural Science at LSE, Professor II at the Oslo New University, and an Editor of Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour. Previously he held positions at the University of Stirling and the University of Cambridge.

The focus of Alex’s research is on communication problems, especially speaking-up, defensiveness, misunderstandings, distrust, and problems of listening to and learning from challenging feedback. He is particularly interested in moments of rupture and crisis. He asks: Why do people and organizations often fail to learn from early warning signs? How do people try to speak up? What tactics are used to silence people raising challenging issues? How can we be better at listening to concerns raised through dialogue? How is technology changing these processes of voicing and learning from concerns?

Alex Gillespie has given numerous keynote lectures and guest talks, including: BBC World-Changing Ideas Summit, UK Cross-Department Complaints Forum, the National Lottery, Learning from Excellence, Asset & Liability Management Association, Bank of England, iCasework, Resolver, UK Valuation Office Agency, Health Services Executive, the Barbican, and various Policy Exchange Forums. He has been interviewed on various podcasts: Amplified, Ay Up AI, FutureProof, Care Opinion, and Stuff to Blow Your Mind. And, he has given advice to government ministers in the UK and Canada, the UK Behavioural Insights Team, the Cabinet Office, and hospital administrators across the world. Finally, his research has been reported in many media outlets, including: the Financial Times, the Guardian, Scientific American, Intelligent Investor, BBC Futures, BBC News, BBC Breakfast, BBC Crossing Divides, Discovery Magazine, Huffington Post, Ars Technica, Slate, National Geographic, the Smithsonian Magazine, and WIRED Magazine.

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