Tom Reader

Dr Tom Reader is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He directs the MSc in Organisational and Social Psychology and leads the Culture and Risk Research Unit. His work bridges psychological science and real-world organisational challenges in safety, decision-making, and culture.

Education:

• PhD in Psychology, University of Aberdeen
• MA in Psychology, University of Aberdeen

Tom Reader's research focuses on how organisations develop resilient cultures capable of managing risk, learning from feedback, and innovating during crises. His expertise spans organisational culture, decision-making, safety, and human factors, particularly in high-risk domains such as healthcare, finance, energy, and aviation. He investigates how cognitive and social systems within organisations contribute to or prevent errors and catastrophic failures. Increasingly, his work explores the integration of AI and psychological science to assess and improve organisational culture.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward understanding the psychological and systemic roots of organisational risk. Themes include regulatory failure (cultural capture), defensive responses to criticism, pandemic-related risk management, and the development of tools to measure environmental culture in organisations. These works reflect a deep commitment to generating practical, evidence-based tools that enhance organisational safety and adaptability.

Scientific Awards:

• Leverhulme Research Scholar

Tom Reader has secured research funding from research councils, foundations, and corporate partners. He has developed impactful interventions such as the Healthcare Complaints Analysis Tool and provides advisory services to organisations through LSE Consulting. He also mentors students and professionals through the MSc programme and executive education, including the LSE executive course on Leading Organisational Culture.

He leads the Culture and Risk Research Unit, a research team focused on advancing understanding of organisational resilience, safety culture, and risk management. The unit develops scalable tools and evidence-based strategies for improving organisational performance in complex, high-stakes environments.