Keynote Speakers
James Houston
Board of Governors' Professor of Spiritual Theology
James Houston is the one of the “founding fathers” of Regent College. In 1966, while he was University Lecturer at Oxford (where he taught from 1947 to 1971, specializing in cultural and historical geography), James Houston was invited by a committee of Granville Chapel to become the first Principal of Regent College. Regent received its charter in 1968, and James Houston was appointed Principal in 1970, and also taught part-time at the University of British Columbia. Along with Vice-Principal W.J. Martin, he sought affiliation for the College with the University of British Columbia, which was granted in 1974.
Following his term as Principal of the College from 1970 to 1978, James Houston was appointed Chancellor (1978-1980) as well as Professor of Spiritual Theology, until his appointment was endowed in 1991 as the Board of Governors' Professor of Spiritual Theology.
He is co-founder of the C.S. Lewis Institute in Washington, DC, and still acting as a Senior Fellow. He is a prolific author, editor, and Christian scholar, and is respected worldwide as a leader in educating and equipping laypersons. His major areas of interest include the Christian classics, historical theology, and the traditions of Christian spirituality. Some of his most recent research is on the role of the penitential psalms in the history of the church.
James Houston has published numerous books and articles. His recent books include The Mentored Life (NavPress, 2002), Joyful Exiles (InterVarsity Press, 2006), and two volumes of Letters of Faith through the Seasons (David C. Cook, 2006, 2007). A number of his previous books have been re-published, including five volumes in the Soul’s Longing series: The Desire, The Fulfillment, The Prayer, The Creator, and The Disciple (David C. Cook, 2007). The Prayer was previously published as The Transforming Power of Prayer (NavPress, 1996) and as The Transforming Friendship (Lion, 1989). He has also recently published The Psalms as Christian Worship: A Historical Commentary (Eerdmans, 2010) with Bruce Waltke, as well as A Vision for the Aging Church: Renewing Ministry for and by Seniors (IVP, 2011) with Dr. Michael Parker.
Christopher Houston
Management Consultant
Chris Houston is a seasoned consultant who helps his clients bring about fundamental change in the organizations they lead. His experience spans 25+ years as a consultant, coach, mentor and facilitator of senior leaders across North America and Western Europe and Asia.
Chris is a ‘natural’ consultant, and to him, the work is a calling, a craft and a passion. He brings a creative mind, passion for results and a caring heart to his clients and the issues of business strategy, leadership development, organization and change management. Chris serves by challenging and strengthening to build “hopeful realists” – and loves the intricate and often intensely personal process of helping leaders and their organizations grow and thrive, even in extremely challenging conditions. Many of his consulting relationships last for years, transitioning through the natural stages of growth as needs and conditions change. For many clients, the benefits of an experienced ‘third party’, who remains close enough for relevance yet removed enough for objectivity, has proven to provide a valuable resource to help through challenging times and achieve positive results.
Chris began his career in business with his MBA (Gold Medalist) from The University of Western Ontario’s Ivey School of Business in London, Ontario, in 1987. He then went on to join the General Management practice in the Toronto office of Woods Gordon, the Canadian consulting affiliate of what was then Arthur Young International and is now EY. Soon, however, Chris realized that his skills were better deployed in a boutique business model, and after a short stop in Change Lab International, he set out with colleague Morrey Ewing, and later on his own in the Change Alliance. It is in the independence and vulnerability of the sole practitioner that Chris has found his true calling — to be a servant of business leaders and their organizations.
When not in a client’s office or on a plane, Chris can be found on his farm outside Toronto, with his wife Jeannie.
Learn more about Chris's work at The Change Alliance.