Friday 3 October 2025

James Honeyborne is a biologist by degree, studying at Newcastle University after leaving Ampleforth, and a storyteller by heart.

Previously Executive Producer of BBC landmark ‘Blue Planet II’, a series that broke all records in UK as the most-watched wildlife documentary series for over 20 years. With ‘The Blue Planet Effect’ becoming part of the national conversation, the series created undeniable impact in many parts of the world.

More recently, with Netflix, James and his teams have won a Primetime Emmy’s for the 5-part series Our Great National Parks, narrated by Barack Obama, and the 3-part Island of the Sea Wolves, which won 4 Daytime Emmys. James is passionate about the power of film for supporting our efforts to look after our planet, particularly our oceans, and he collaborates with other agents of change to champion this and is a key person in the global conversation about protecting the natural environment.

Louis is a writer interested in myth, nature and culture. Along with his horse Sasha, he travelled 111 days across Europe, creating the first conclusive horse-trail across the Ligurian Alps in recorded history. His debut book, In Green, follows this journey.

After leaving Ampleforth he went in search of the Tsaatan tribe in northern Mongolia. On his return he rode the length of the UK on a Highland pony called Irelanda. The solo trip raised £38,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and laid the foundation for The Big Hoof: a Scottish registered outdoor mental health charity that creates long distance journeys with horses. To date, the charity has travelled over 4,500 miles and raised over £100,000 for causes focussed on mental health, wellbeing and child welfare in the UK and Europe.

Since January 2023, Louis has been working for NGO Insulate Ukraine. Driven by this time spent in Ukraine, he is co-directing an essayistic documentary on the meaning of Home, due to be released Spring 2026. He is currently studying Creative Writing at the University of Oxford and, amongst others, writes for The Guardian, National Geographic and The Scotsman.

James Carty sets the strategic direction for the Gates Foundation’s government relations, advocacy, communications, and partnerships across the Middle East including relationships and partnerships with major Gulf donor countries. He joined the foundation in 2021 and is based in the London office.

Previously, James worked extensively in the Middle East region as a consultant on policy and strategy at the executive branch level. He also worked with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, supporting his work on government reforms and key priorities in a number of countries around the world.

James lived in Beirut, Lebanon, for 11 years, moving there after a sabbatical during which he walked 3,650 miles from London to Jerusalem for interfaith peace. He holds a B.A. in modern history from the University of Oxford and an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Headshot

Fr Luke has been a monk of Ampleforth for over 30 years, and was formerly House Chaplain of St Cuthbert's and taught at Gilling Castle Prep School.

Fr Luke is well know to Society members who join the Lourdes Pilgrimage, as he has been a regular member of the Pilgrimage and was formerly the Spiritual Adviser to the Pilgrimage. 

Alongside his many roles in the monastery, particularly as librarian, Fr Luke is a Canon Lawyer.