Jacky Hughes
My name is Jacky Hughes and I was newly elected as a Trustee from October 2023, having been a Companion for just a couple of years. After close involvement with my large, local Anglican church, including being Churchwarden for five years and Deputy Chairman of a ministry called Love Africa for its 15 year history, my spiritual search changed focus at the beginning of the pandemic. Before this I had started a Masters in Christian Spirituality which is now complete. I loved the work on liberation theology, embodied Christianity and the mystics and the course deepened my interest in the contemplative tradition. Along the way I rediscovered Contemplative Fire and the trefoil and the ‘travelling light but dwelling deep’ phrase immediately resonated with me. The 2022 Summer Retreat proved to be spiritually very profound for me too.
I ran my own leadership development and coaching company for 30 years and was privileged to be involved in projects with some amazing people across the world. The Oxfam assignments to coach newly appointed Regional Directors in Peru, South Africa, East Africa and East Asia were a particular highlight. Travelling so widely has made me very aware of different cultures, faiths and practices but also our shared humanity. An exercise on my integral coaching qualification in 2016 was the deepest expression of compassion for every single human being I have ever experienced, yet it was not faith based. It taught humility about beliefs and values. I love the description of CF as ‘a community of Christ on the edge’ which, together with our vision and values, matches where I am on my own spiritual journey.
I have two adult children, a daughter and her husband in Seattle and my son and his wife, both vets, with my granddaughters in Staffordshire. Living in South Bucks, I don’t see any of them often enough! I am fascinated by Jungian psychology and I love learning, reading and walking in our beautiful world. With this long and varied perspective I hope I can bring an effective contribution to CF as a Trustee.