Recognition honours global contributions to mental literacy, leadership thinking, and cognitive development in the AI era.
[LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – February 5, 2026] – The Brain Trust Charity (UK) has announced that Dr Jorge Castañeda will be honoured with the Brain of the Year 2025/2026 award, recognising his work advancing mental literacy and its practical impact on leadership, learning, and innovation worldwide.
The award will be presented by Ray Keene, Founder and President of The Brain Trust Charity, acknowledging Dr Castañeda’s development and global application of frameworks that bridge classic thinking methodologies with the demands of modern leadership and artificial intelligence.
“Dr Jorge Castañeda’s contribution is both rigorous and highly practical,” said Ray Keene, Founder and President of The Brain Trust Charity. “His work strengthens the foundations of Mental Literacy while equipping leaders to make better decisions and build capability in a fast-changing world. This award recognises impact that is real, measurable, and global.”
Dr Castañeda’s recognised achievements include:
1) Creation and successful application of the Synergetic Intelligence framework
A leadership methodology designed to connect foundational Mental Literacy – pioneered by Tony Buzan – with today’s complexity, innovation demands, and AI-driven transformation. The framework has been implemented as a cornerstone of advanced academic programmes, including the Master of Science in Strategic Thinking and the PhD in the Neuroscience of Leadership, offering leaders a scalable, repeatable system for navigating change.
2) Invention of globally applied frameworks: Root Cause Systemic Mapping (RCSM) and FISHER
Dr Castañeda developed and deployed proprietary approaches that translate radiant thinking into practical, high-stakes organisational solutions. RCSM supports systemic problem-solving through visual thinking and root-cause clarity, while FISHER offers a structured method for driving consistent creativity and innovation.
3) Seminal research in cognitive science, multiple intelligences, and recall curves
His research has contributed evidence on how memory functions beyond simple recall – positioning memory as an engine for understanding, connecting knowledge, and building mastery. This work supports learners and professionals in converting information into repeatable, high-level skills.
4) Innovation in executive education through project-based impact
Dr Castañeda pioneered an “Applied Impact” model that replaces purely theoretical dissertations with projects aligned to an executive’s own organisation or customers – ensuring immediate ROI and positioning advanced study as a catalyst for measurable organisational growth.
5) Digital transformation and global scaling of Mental Literacy
By integrating modern digital delivery with Mental Literacy methodologies, Dr Castañeda helped expand access for CEOs, directors, and HR professionals across more than 20 countries, modernising the “Swiss Army Knife of the Brain” for the demands of the AI era.
“I’m deeply honoured to receive this recognition from The Brain Trust Charity,” said Dr Jorge Castañeda. “Mental Literacy is more relevant than ever. In the AI era, leaders need clarity, judgement, and human-centred capability at scale. My work has focused on turning powerful thinking principles into practical systems that leaders can use every day, especially under pressure.”
As part of the award-related activities, Dr Castañeda will deliver a masterclass on Synergetic Intelligence on 11 February, focused on actionable decision clarity and leadership execution in the AI era.