Sports Council

The Guild Of Mind Sports Arbiters:

Global Sports Councils

David Zhang

Professor Marek Kasperski

Professor Marek Kasperski has been interested in Mind Sports for many years. Indeed, in secondary school, Marek was an integral member of the school’s chess team, playing inter-school championships every week. Sadly, he didn’t continue playing chess in adult life, but he has a deep respect for the game and the players who dominate chess today.

In July 2015, Marek, in conjunction with Raymond Keene OBE and Tony Buzan, Synapsia website (Synapsia.net) was created. The primary aim of the website was to promote the paper-based issues of Synapsia Magazine. Marek scanned every page of every issue of Synapsia Magazine and made them available of Synapsia.net.

Marek continues to maintain the website pro bono.

It was then proposed that Synapsia Magazine be resurrected as a free magazine in PDF format. This brings Synapsia Magazine to the reach of most people in the world.

As the online editor for Synapsia Magazine, Marek designs and formats articles submitted for publication. He has a regular meeting with editor in chief, Tony Buzan (Editor-in-Chief), deciding which articles are published.

With respect to Mind Sports, Marek attends the World Memory Championship every year to assists arbiters where necessary, conduct interviews and perform official functions. He also has great interest in the World Mind Mapping Championships, and also the World Speed Reading Championships. He has been a part of the team of arbiters in Mind Mapping and Speed Reading since 2016.

Marek is now the President of GOMSA and the Global Chief Arbiter in Mind Mapping & Speed-Reading.

Jorge Oscar Castañeda

Jorge Oscar Castañeda, PhD, is CEO of Buzan Latin America and Regional President of the Latin American World Memory Council.

Dr. Castañeda has more than 25 years of experience as a senior executive of various Fortune 500 companies as well as an international consultant and speaker. He has also been a World Bank senior consultant in creativity, business process transformation and risk management.

Dr. Castañeda is the inventor of the Root Cause Systemic Mapping methodology for problem solving, the Core Intelligences Leadership Model, and the FISHER technique for applied creativity, which have been widely used in both private corporations and government institutions in Latin America.

He is the author of the Mind Mapping Techniques and Applications (2008) and Mind Mapping in Business Administration (2010) textbooks, and co-author (along with Tony Buzan) of The Most Important Graph in the World book (2012). He is also the author of the Multiple Intelligences (2008) and Recall Curves (2007) seminal research.

Jorge and his organization are devoted to implementing seminal research in the areas of Mind Mapping. Memory, Intelligences, Leadership and Creativity, using the latest findings in the neuroscience and organizational development fields for creating value- adding customer experiences. His current research involves testing the hypothesis that Mind Mapping could unleash the potential of working memory and creativity by enabling cognitive flexibility, which is the capability of using both convergent and divergent thinking for thinking critically and innovating.

Dr. Castañeda holds an Industrial Engineering degree from the Iberoamerican University, a Master of Sciences in Operations Research, and a PhD in Management Innovation from the Swiss University Business School. He is also one of the five Master Buzan Trainers around the world. He can be contacted at jorge.castaneda@buzan.la 

We are currently looking for a representative for this region.

Michael J. Gelb

The world’s leading authority on the application of genius thinking to personal and organizational development, Michael J. Gelb is a pioneer in the fields of creative thinking, executive coaching and innovative leadership.

Michael teaches for the London Business School and is a Professor of Practice in Creativity and Innovation at Shiv Nadar University in India.

Michael is the author of 15 books including How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, Samurai Chess ( w/ GM Keene) and his newest release The Art of Connection: 7 Relationship Building Skills Every Leader Needs Now. Michael’s books have been translated into 25 languages and have sold more than one million copies.

In 1999 Michael was honored as “Brain Of the Year” by the Brain Trust Charity.  He is a gifted teacher of  Taiji and the Alexander Technique, a 5^th degree black belt in aikido and is a professional juggler who has performed with the Rolling Stones. www.michaelgelb.com

Dave Farrow

Dave Farrow is an international bestselling author, listed twice in the Guinness book of records for greatest memory this impactful speaker is also accomplished businessman.

He runs a successful PR firm www.FarrowCommunications.com as well as the official brain games competitions for students in Canada and the USA www.farrowbraingames.com. He is editor in chief of the online magazine www.brainhackers.com, and host of the YouTube and podcast show “the Brains Behind It.” He also Is an accomplished tech designer developing a new Robotics startup the FarrowBOT – Dancer, and if that were not enough he a successful real-estate holdings company.

He has personally been featured on over 2000 interviews, including multiple appearances on DR OZ , Steve Harvey, the today show, fox and friends, CBS the early show, Regis and Kelly, BBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, The CW, QVC, discovery channel, science channel, a CBC documentary, and most recently he won the 50,000 prize on the new hit show superhuman on fox.

He has taught sales and memory to top companies like; Johnson and Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, eBay, bank of America, Travelers group, Sun Life, Rogers, Bell Canada, Bombardier, Bank Of Montreal, Standard Life, New York life and many more.

Sales records: He sold and impressive $170,000 on online products sales in ONE radio interview, and over a quarter million in one TV interview as well. Over a year at the amazon best seller list in the category of memory, a sponsorship deal with SONY corporation and venture backed infomercials all total estimated sales over 10 MILLION WORLDWIDE of his brain power programs.

Dave Farrow brings this wealth of expertise and wisdom to every audience to reach higher and make the most out of life. Above all this speaker is unforgettable.

Dominic O’Brien

Eight Times World Memory Champion

Reigning Senior World Memory Champion

Bestselling author of 14 books, corporate trainer and speaker Dominic O’Brien once memorised 54 decks of cards after just a single sighting of each card.

He teaches business professionals, public figures and even entire audiences to significantly improve their memory and cognitive ability in their personal and professional lives.

Achievements

In 1994, Dominic was named Brain of the Year by the Brain Trust, and the Grand Master of Memory award was presented to him by Prince Philippe of Liechtenstein.

Dominic co-founded the World Schools Memory Championships in 2008 with Raymond Keene OBE and inventor of Mind Mapping, Tony Buzan.

His Best-Seller, “How to Develop A Brilliant Memory – Week by Week” recently reached the Number One spot on Amazon UK.

“O’Brien is probably the top memory expert in the world today and has written many books on the subject.”

Derren Brown, British Illusionist, Mentalist and Author

“Sensational… Amazing!”   Liza Minnelli, witnessing Dominic perform live

Alexander Keene MA (University of Exeter)

A former pupil of Eton College, where he captained the House chess team, Alexander Keene majored in Classics, with particular emphasis on Virgil’s Aeneid. Alexander is a level three Arbiter of The World Memory Sports Council and has officiated at The World Memory Championships of Croydon 2013, Hainan 2014, Chengdu 2015, Singapore 2016 and Shenzhen 2017.

Alexander is a founder member of GOMSA dating from its original formation at the UK Open Memory Championship, London 2016. Alexander has also worked closely with Tony Buzan, originator of the World Memory Championships, since December 2013. 

Alexander is a qualified Trainer in Tony Buzan’s mental techniques, and an officer of the Companionate of the White Swan, the ancient Polish Order, revived by Prince Marek and Princess Petrina Kasperski.

Annette Keene

Annette Keene has worked as an arbiter‎ at numerous UK open memory championships in London and several world memory championships. She is a founder member of GOMSA.

Annette‎ is a professional dance teacher. actress and ballerina who has performed on stage with the famous Kirov Ballet of St Petersburg, as well as in My Fair Lady, Iolanthe, Man of La Mancha, Trial by Jury, Fiddler on the Roof, Free as Air, Pickwick, Brigadoon, Carousel and Salad Days.
On tv she has appeared in Dr Finlays Casebook.

Annette’s career has taken her to: Israel, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Dubai, South Africa, Tunisia, Russia, Belgium, Holland, Gibraltar‎, Malta, Egypt, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Portugal, Italy, Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, Austria, Norway….

Annette donates her work for The Brain Trust‎ and Outside in Pathways, which cater charitably for opposite ends of the mental spectrum. She has sung at Westminster Abbey.

Michel Wozniak

Michel Wozniak was formerly an Information System engineer, working in the industry for 13 years as a project manager and developer, on some of the most critical projects. After a severe burnout due to an overinvestment in his work, he decided to leave the world of artificial intelligence in order to turn back to human intelligence. Now, he dedicates his time training people in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), as he is a licensed trainer for Dr. Richard Bandler (co-creator of NLP). He also teaches people in Memory techniques, Mind Mapping, Speed Reading, Innovation & Creativity, as well as Stress management.

Michel’s goal is to prove things by example. He used all the different techniques he teaches, first on himself, and only then on others. He’s now coaching and helping hundreds of people, like students, world-famous TV stars and politicians, drug addicts in Hawaii, children, etc.

Contact information :
– Email : wozmic@gmail.com
– Website : www.ifac-formations.com

David Sedgwick

David Sedgwick was born on 5th May 1954 in Pinner, Middlesex, England. He was educated at Whitgift School, Croydon, and Queens’ College, Cambridge, and worked in investment management for thirteen years.

He has thirty years’ experience as a chess arbiter, both domestically and within the International Chess Federation (FIDE). He became a BCF Arbiter in 1986, a FIDE International Arbiter in 1994, and a BCF Senior Arbiter in 1997.

At the FIDE Congress in Turin in 2006 he was appointed as a member of the Arbiters’ Council (now the Arbiters’ Commission) and he served thereon until 2010. At the same Congress he was appointed as one of the original members of the Approved List of Lecturers for FIDE Arbiters’ Seminars.

In the 1990s he helped in the administration of the first five World Amateur Championships at Hastings. In October 2004 he was the Chief Arbiter of the inaugural World Senior Team Championship held on the Isle of Man. He was an arbiter at the top section of the Turin Olympiad in May and June 2006.

In February 2013 he was a player and a lecturer at the Gambian Chess Festival, which marked that country’s return to international chess after an absence of over 25 years. Following the Festival he was appointed as the Chief Arbiter of The Gambia Chess Federation in June 2013.

He reached the then pinnacle of his career as a chess arbiter when in March and April 2013 he was the Deputy Chief Arbiter of the FIDE Candidates Tournament in London, which determined the Challenger for the World Championship Match in November 2013. Following the Candidates Tournament he was appointed as a Category A International Arbiter.

He was the Deputy Arbiter of the London Chess Classic from its inception in 2009 until 2015.

He was a member of the arbiting team at the first thirteen of the Gibtelecom and Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festivals, from 2003 to 2015.

He was the Chief Arbiter of the Guernsey International Chess Festival for ten years, from 2006 to 2015. In April 2015 he was the Chief Arbiter of the 4th European Small Nations Team Championship in Guernsey.

On 28th July 2015 it was announced that he was to receive the ECF President’s Award for Services to Chess. ECF President Dominic Lawson presented the Award to him on 4th February 2016, at the closing dinner of the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival.

In August 2015 he made his first ever trip to the southern hemisphere when he was invited to conduct a FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar in Gaborone, Botswana. This attracted twenty-seven attendees from four countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Seventeen of the attendees were successful in the examination test.

On 6th January 2016 it was announced that he had been appointed as the Chief Arbiter for the Grand Chess Tour 2016, a series of four tournaments to which ten of the world’s top players have been invited. In August 2016, he will also be the Chief Arbiter for one of the four GCT events, the 4th Sinquefield Cup in St Louis, USA.

In bridge, he is a County Director of the English Bridge Union.

In the Mind Sport of Memory, and he has officiated at numerous UK Open Memory Championships and World Memory Championships.

In July 2013 he was the Chief Arbiter at the 1st Philippines National Memory Championships in Manila. In August 2013 he was appointed as a Level 2 Arbiter. From 30th November to 2nd December 2013, he officiated at the World Memory Championships, on this occasion in his home town, Croydon.