Jon’s research focuses on human flourishing, the science of learning, and flow — the state of optimal attention and performance, where we’re completely concentrated on a challenging but doable activity, such that we have to stretch a skill to its limit. His research investigates how to optimize our performance, learning and well-being.

Prior to joining the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard, Jon held positions as Academic Visitor at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford (2021-22), Researcher in Residence at Eton College (2019-21), and Fellow in Philosophy at Harvard (2011-13). He completed a PhD in Philosophy in 2014, funded by a scholarship awarded by the UK’s Arts & Humanities Research Council. His PhD research focused on the philosophy of science and the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Jon has published peer-reviewed articles on philosophy and education in leading academic journals, book publishers and media outlets, including the New York Times. He is co-editor of four books on philosophy and education, including The Future of Education, forthcoming from Oxford University Press.

Many of Jon’s academic publications are viewable here.

Jon’s biweekly blogs are viewable here.

Jon has given over 50 invited talks and keynote presentations in 13 countries across five continents, on philosophy, education, performance and well-being, to public and academic audiences, and companies.

He has given invited talks at universities including Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge and Yale, organizations including the Royal Society of Arts, and companies including Disney World.

His talks have been at locations ranging from skyscrapers in New York and London to beaches in the Caribbean. Some of his favourite talks were given on Placencia beach in Belize in 2021.

In 2025, Jon will be giving talks in Thailand, Sweden, the US and the UK.

Jon has been interviewed by publications including The Psychologist, on podcasts including Flow Radio, and by institutions including Wellington College.

For speaking and interview inquiries, click here.

Jon specializes in high performance and well-being coaching. He has coached or trained over a thousand high-performing clients from a wide range of backgrounds worldwide, including Fortune 500 CEOs, world famous musicians, bestselling authors and professional athletes. Over 700 of these clients he’s coached one-to-one.

Jon applies his research on human flourishing and flow into his coaching and training, to empower people with the skills to increase their performance, build their well-being, improve their focus and access to flow, improve their learning skills, reduce their stress and risk of burnout, and build character strengths, particularly resilience.

Jon has consulted on promoting well-being and improving performance in workplaces and education for several organizations and educational institutions. 

Jon takes on a select number of private clients for one-to-one coaching. For coaching and consulting inquiries, click here.

Jon has previously worked as a lecturer and teacher of philosophy, as a teacher trainer in a volunteer capacity for Redearth Education in Uganda, and as a professional guitarist.

Notable performances as a guitarist include playing with NEA jazz master David Liebman, headlining the Camden Jazz Café, supporting Jools Holland with jazz artist Purdy, and performing at Glastonbury Festival with this funk and soul band.

Jon loves to travel and used to be nomadic. He moved back to London in 2022 and now spends at least a third of the year abroad. He spends around a quarter of the year in New York and Boston, and as often as possible he’s close to sand and sea, particularly in the Mediterranean.

Jon loves high intensity training and pickleball, ice skating, the music of Herbie Hancock, the writings of George Orwell, the art of his dad, James, and the ceramics of his sister, Liz.