Our team

James White

Founder and Chairman of the ATOM Festival & the ATOM Society

James  moved to Abingdon in 2008. He became the first Chairman of the Choose Abingdon Partnership in October 2009, stepping down in 2012 at the end of his 3 year term. A mathematics graduate, he has spent most of his career in the retail sector where he held a number of directorships with W.H.Smith, the Bejam Group and  Harrods. An enthusiast for all matters scientific, he founded the ATOM Festival of Science and Technology in Abingdon in 2014 as well as The Atom Society.

Jutta Weber

Jutta Weber is a founding member of Oxfordshire's first Free school, Europa School UK, which specialises in both sciences and languages. As such she has a keen interest in science education and particularly in science outreach projects. She moved to Abingdon in 1999.

Alfons Weber

Alfons Weber, is a Professor of Physics holding a joint appointment with the University of Oxford and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell. He is a committee member of the ATOM society and has been an Abingdon resident since 1999.

Jeremy Thomas

Jeremy Thomas is Co-ordinator of the Abingdon Science Partnership and a Physics teacher at Abingdon School with over twenty years experience in science education in various types of schools. He has a keen interest in promoting STEM subjects to young people as well as having been involved in organising events such as Portsmouth's Star City Festival and BBC South's local Stargazing Live activities.

David Pennington

Following a career in design and development of electronic systems, mainly for the Royal Navy, he retired as Chief Systems Engineer of Ultra Electronics Command and Control Systems. He has lived in Abingdon since
2011 and joined the ATOM Society on its formation.

Iain Littlejohn

Iain Littlejohn is one of the founder members of the ATOM Festival of Science & Technology in 2014. He has run his own management consultancy business for the last ten years. Alongside this, Iain is engaged with various community activities. He is currently Chair of Governors at Larkmead School and a Director of the Oxfordshire Science Festival and HESA (Higher Educational Statistical Agency). He has lived in Abingdon for 20 years and is married with three children.

Kasia Lewis

Kasia Lewis is Director of Oxford International Biomedical Centre (OIBC) - a charity that organises Scientists in Schools - educational events aimed at enthusing more young people about science and encouraging them to choose further education in science subjects. Kasia has been a member of ATOM committee since 2014.

Sian Tedaldi

Sian Tedaldi is employed by the University of Oxford to provide activities for schools and public groups that stimulate interest in physics. In her spare time she is the programme organiser for the ATOM Society in Abingdon-on-Thames.

Mark Thornton

Mark Thornton is founder and co-owner of Mostly Books independent bookshop. Originally a computer scientist, Mark’s journey to bookselling was via a PhD in passive solar building design, a web design company and trips to Borneo and Congo to track timber out of forests. As a result of a shared passion for books and storytelling with his wife, they both founded Mostly Books which last year celebrated its tenth anniversary. Mostly Books has developed a reputation for championing books and authors that develop a lifelong love of books for children and adults - and a particular passion for science and technology titles.

Bryan Brown

Julie Downing, BID Manager

Abingdon’s Business Improvement District (BID) started its five year term in the Town in April 2016 to help make Abingdon a more vibrant place to live, work and visit by working in collaborative partnership across all sectors which will help drive and develop the business community for the benefit of the Town.  This includes working with events in the Town like the ATOM festival.

Heather Brown

ATOM Festival Co-Ordinator

Heather Brown was Partnership Manager during the period when the ATOM Festival was first conceived and developed by the Choose Abingdon Partnership, subsequently working as Community Services Officer in Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council. In 2016 she established Mushroom Communications and is now associated with the ATOM Festival once again, providing co-ordination, administration and marketing services.