Mark Owen

Dr. Mark Owen is a Professor and Director of the University of Winchester's Centre for Religion, Reconciliation and Peace. He holds a First Class BA in Theology and Religious Studies, an MA in Death in World Religions, and a PhD in Tibetan Buddhism, all from the University of Winchester. His research focuses on religions' roles in peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and Buddhist studies, with extensive fieldwork in South Asia and Siberia. He co-led the high-impact Religion and Peacebuilding in Nepal project (REF 2014) and developed the MA Reconciliation & Peacebuilding program. Additionally, he serves as Secretary General of the European Council of Religious Leaders, fostering interfaith peacebuilding in Europe.

• Education:
  • B.A. Theology & Religious Studies (First Class), University of Winchester
  • M.A. Death in World Religions, University of Winchester
  • Ph.D. Tibetan Buddhism, University of Winchester
• Key Roles:
  • Director, Centre for Religion, Reconciliation and Peace
  • Secretary General, European Council of Religious Leaders

His research interests include Buddhist death rituals, Asian politics, and methodologies for conflict assessment. He actively supervises PhD students in areas like religion and development, Buddhist ethnography, and peacebuilding strategies. Through his charity Freedom to Learn, he provides education to Himalayan and South Asian children in remote regions.

His work bridges academia and practice, exemplified by impactful projects like the Nepal peacebuilding initiative and his leadership in interfaith dialogue. Grants include significant AHRC funding for his MA and doctoral research in Tibetan Buddhism.