Meet the Team

CPX is delighted to have a range of writers and support staff.

Our Staff

The CPX Team
Simon Smart

Executive Director

Simon is Executive Director of the Centre for Public Christianity. A former English and History teacher, Simon has a Masters in Christian Studies from Regent College, Canada.

Justine Toh

Senior Research Fellow

Justine Toh is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity. She has a PhD in Cultural Studies from Macquarie University.

Natasha Moore

Senior Research Fellow

Natasha is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity. She has a PhD in English Literature from the University of Cambridge. Natasha is on maternity leave until the middle of 2025.

Tim Costello

Senior Fellow

Tim Costello is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity.

Barney Zwartz

 Senior Fellow

Barney is a part-time Senior Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity, based in Melbourne. He was formerly Religion Editor for The Age.

Danielle Terceiro

Research Fellow

Danielle is a research fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity. She worked as a lawyer and english teacher before joining the CPX team. She will be beginning her ADM fellowship in 2025.

Nate Armsberry

Youth and Schools Co-ordinator

Nate is the CPX Youth and Schools Co-ordinator. He has more than twenty years' experience working with teenagers as a chaplain, high school teacher and youth pastor.

Kimmie Holloway

Donor Care Representative

Kimmie is the Donor Care Representative at the Centre for Public Christianity.

Allan Dowthwaite

Business Manager & Media Director

Allan is Business Manager & Media Director at the Centre for Public Christianity.

Clare Potts

Brand Manager

Clare is the Brand Manager for the Centre for Public Christianity.

Fellows & Associates
Mark Stephens

CPX Fellow

Mark is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity. He has a PhD in Ancient History from Macquarie University.

Emma Wilkins

CPX Fellow

Emma Wilkins is a Tasmanian journalist and freelance writer, and an Associate of the Centre for Public Christianity.

Gordon Menzies

CPX Fellow

Gordon Menzies is Associate Professor of Economics at University of Technology Sydney, and a Fellow of CPX.

Richard Shumack

CPX Fellow

Richard is a part-time Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity. He holds a PhD in religious philosophy, and is part of the Understanding and Answering Islam team for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

Leisa Aitken

CPX Fellow and speaker at the 2023 Richard Johnson Lecture

Leisa Aitken is a clinical psychologist on Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Stephen Liggins

CPX Fellow

Dr Stephen Liggins holds a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Sydney and works as a minister, guest lecturer, and part-time writer. He is a former lawyer and an Honorary Associate of the Centre for Public Christianity.

Brian Rosner

CPX Fellow

Brian Rosner is the Principal of Ridley College and a Fellow of the Centre for Public Christianity.

Dr Amy Isham

CPX Associate

Amy is a trained librarian with a PhD in Regional Development and has taught social science to undergraduates at Federation University.

Meet Our Speakers

Simon Smart

Simon is Executive Director of the Centre for Public Christianity. He has a Master of Christian Studies from Regent College, Vancouver. Simon has years of experience writing and editing both academic curricula and popular books. A History/English teacher for many years, Simon has a particular interest in Christian public engagement, the impact of Christianity on the world, “God-haunted” literature, education for human flourishing and the “stories that we live by.”

Simon is based in Sydney.

Justine Toh

Justine is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity. She has a PhD in Cultural Studies from Macquarie University. Justine previously worked at Fairfax Digital. She is the author of Achievement Addiction (2021) and speaks and writes about freedom and individualism, the body as a project, and other trends in contemporary culture.

Justine is based in Sydney.

Natasha Moore

Natasha is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity. She has a PhD in English Literature from the University of Cambridge. Natasha is an avid reader and award-winning author She is the author of For the Love of God: How the church is better and worse than you ever imagined (2019) and The Pleasures of Pessimism (2020), and speaks on such topics as Christian public engagement, the influence of Christianity on the world, freedom of speech and disagreeing well, education and Christian formation, and cultural pessimism.

Natasha is based in Adelaide. She is currently unavailable for speaking and will return April 2025. 

Max Jeganathan

Max is a Senior Research Fellow at CPX. A former lawyer and political & policy adviser., Max was educated at the Australian National University and the University of Oxford and is undertaking a PhD in Law. Max speaks on the intersection between faith, culture, economics, finance, technology and moral reasoning. He has spoken in businesses, universities and political institutions, including Samsung, Lego, Goldman Sachs and Amazon.

Max is based in Sydney.

Tim Costello

Tim is a Senior Fellow with the Centre for Public Christianity, as well as Executive Director of Micah Australia. He is one of Australia’s leading voices on social justice and global poverty and has been instrumental in ensuring these issues are placed on the national and international agenda. Tim is an ordained Baptist minister and was CEO of World Vision Australia for 13 years.

Tim is based in Melbourne.