Professor Edward Brooks, Executive Director of the Oxford Character Project, has been recognised as one of the UK’s 50 Leading Lights in Kindness & Leadership for 2026, celebrating his contribution to advancing a vision of leadership grounded in kindness, character, and respect for others.
The Kindness & Leadership 50 Leading Lights campaign recognises leaders who demonstrate kindness through their actions and make a positive difference to the people and organisations around them. Operating across the UK and Asia Pacific, the initiative seeks to reshape the global conversation about leadership by placing kindness at its heart.
The campaign highlights qualities such as honesty, transparency, generosity, and the willingness to listen, recognising how kindness can build trust, strengthen relationships, and create environments where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.
This understanding of kindness closely aligns with the Oxford Character Project's mission and the work Professor Brooks has championed since its inception. For more than a decade, he has worked to advance research and education on character-based leadership, helping students, graduates, and professionals understand and cultivate qualities such as kindness, courage, and practical wisdom. This recognition reflects the growing importance of kindness in conversations about effective and responsible leadership, and the Oxford Character Project's continued commitment to helping people lead with character and make a positive difference in the world.