Academic, consultant on organisational behaviour, writer and broadcaster adept at communicating complex psychological and business concepts
Full Bio
Adrian Furnham was educated at the London School of Economics where he obtained a distinction in an MSc Econ., and at Oxford University where he completed a doctorate (D.Phil) in 1981. He has subsequently earned a D.Sc (1991) and D.Litt (1995) degree. Previously a lecturer in psychology at Pembroke College, Oxford, he was professor of psychology at University College London from 1992 to 2018.
He has lectured widely abroad and held scholarships and visiting professorships at, among others, the University of New South Wales, the University of the West Indies, the University of Hong Kong and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He has also been a visiting professor of management at Henley Management College. He was made adjunct professor of management at the Norwegian School of Management (2009) and honorary professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (2014). He has recently accepted another appointment in Malaysia. He is also currently principal psychologist at Stamford Associates.
He consults to many organisations in various different sectors (particularly airlines, banks, civil service) and in many different countries (particularly continental Europe and Asia). He is also an experienced conference speaker doing around a dozen key-note speeches a year all around the world.
He has written over 1,300 scientific papers and 85 books. He is on the editorial board of a number of international journals, as well as the past elected President of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences. He is also a founder director of Applied Behavioural Research Associates (ABRA), a psychological consultancy established over 30 years ago.
Like Noel Coward, he believes work is more fun than fun and considers himself to be a well-adjusted workaholic. He rides a bicycle to work (as he has always done) very early in the morning. Adrian enjoys writing popular articles, travelling to exotic countries, consulting on real-life problems, arguing at dinner parties and going to the theatre.