Olly Bones

Associate Professor of Psychology at University of Wollongong in Dubai

Speaker

I'm a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong in Dubai, where I lead the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences programme. My work sits at the intersection of psychological science and education: I'm driven by the question of how research on human behaviour translates into practical tools that help people thrive in real-world settings.

My current focus is on how acceptance and commitment-based approaches can reshape the way schools support wellbeing: for students, staff, and parents. I've delivered ACT-based programmes for school-age children and presented on the application of ACT in educational settings, and I'm particularly interested in how psychological flexibility can be embedded into school culture.

My academic background spans auditory perception and cognition, neurodivergence, and behavioural psychology, with published research and a PhD from the University of Manchester. I teach across learning theory, biological psychology, personality, and critical thinking, all of which inform how I think about building evidence-based, practically grounded approaches to human development.

I also hold a Higher National Diploma in Music Production, which occasionally finds its way into my research