The late June Auton
President of the Foundation
June Auton was the inspiration behind the Human Values Foundation and the author of the Foundation’s original education programmes: Education in Human Values, a programme for primary/elementary schools and Social and Emotional Education, a programme for secondary schools. June was a teacher for 16 years and drew on this experience in establishing the Human Values Foundation and in creating its Human Values programmes.
Charles Fowler
Chairman of the Foundation
Charles has been the Chairman of the Human Values Foundation since 2003. He is a member of the Steering Group of the UK Values Alliance. He was formerly the Co-Chair of a large international investment group based in London and director of a number of investment funds. He is a graduate of Oxford University and a barrister. Charles was the inspiration behind World Values Day - read about the connection between Values and Wellbeing in: What are values for?
Rosemary Dewan
CEO and Secretary of the Foundation
Rosemary's interest in education and its potential to transform life chances started as a teenager when she spent a year on Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) teaching in a primary school in remote, very basic jungle conditions in the Solomon Islands. Rosemary was a Company Secretary for a range of businesses and has been the Secretary of the Human Values Foundation since it was founded in 1995. She was appointed Chief Executive Officer in May 2009.
Kashmira Deboo
Trustee
Kashmira is a Montessori teacher and volunteers on a reading intervention programme designed to support and boost children’s reading, comprehension and confidence levels. Prior to this she worked for 22 years in financial services.
Ann Greenwood
Trustee
Drawing on 30 years of experience as a headteacher, education consultant and teacher, Ann is now a Play Therapist, working holistically with children in therapy. (The Rainbow Tree Wales)
Ricci Masero
Trustee
Working in communications and digital marketing for over 20 years, Ricci is a Chartered Marketer with a unique blend of technical ability, business acumen and creative flair. Keenly interested in conservation and using his marketing skills for good, Ricci has worked on several charitable projects from ecological to community based and beyond.
Erica Terblanche
Trustee
Erica is a Business Strategy Consultant. She has a BSc in Engineering/Surveying, an MBA, a degree in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Positive Psychology/Wellbeing and a qualification in large systems change and coaching. She is a trained Barrett’s practitioner and also a top-level and experienced endurance sport athlete. Additionally she has a special interest in promoting personal development and runs Teach A Girl To Fish empowering women through outdoor adventure.
Lisa Whittlestone
Trustee
Lisa has 15 years' experience in digital marketing, working for companies such as Kimberly-Clark, and Ancestry.com. Lisa is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and has a BA in History.
Vijitha Mohan
Honorary Treasurer
Viji is a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and a highly experienced accountant and finance manager. She worked with Accenture for a number of years and currently works at the Crown Agents. She became the Treasurer for the Human Values Foundation in 2017.
Sarah Pengelly
The Big Think Curriculum Developer
Sarah has taught in London Primary schools for 12 years, studied for an MA Educational Psychotherapy and previously worked at BBC Creative Services. Sarah believes that, in the current climate, Primary school teachers and children are desperate for change in education policy, with a shift in focus towards the development of the whole child, rather than on test results. Sarah is hoping that The Big Think and The Big 3 + ME can play big roles in this change.
Sir Michael Morpurgo, OBE, FKC, AKC
Patron
Sir Michael is one of the world’s best-loved children’s writers, the author of around 130 books including War Horse (which was adapted with huge success for both stage and screen), Private Peaceful, Why the Whales Came, The Butterfly Lion, and Kensuke’s Kingdom. He is a vigorous campaigner for children’s rights and a former Children’s Laureate.
Professor Kamran Mofid
Patron
Kamran taught economics and business studies at various universities in the United Kingdom and Canada. He is Founder of the Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative (GCGI), a member of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of the World Public Forum, Dialogue of Civilisations, a Founding member of World Dignity University , and Associate of the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research. He was the instigator, Co-Founder and Associate Director (1996-1999) of the Center for the Study of Forgiveness and Reconciliation at Coventry University.
Dr Kevin A Auton
Patron
Kevin is Founder and Managing Director of Aseptika Limited which develops medical monitoring systems. He is a biochemist who has invented, developed and manufactured 12 different life sciences products and is named inventor on 8 patents including “Respiratory Exercise Tolerance Index using a medical wearable (BuddyWOTCH).” He assisted his mother, June Auton, in the setting up of the Human Values Foundation in 1995.
Sir Anthony Seldon
MA, PhD, FRSA, MBA, FRHistS, FKC
Education Advisor
Sir Anthony was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham from 2015 to 2020, and is one of Britain’s leading educationalists, contemporary historians, commentators and political authors. He was a transformative head teacher for 20 years, first of Brighton College and then Wellington College. He is author of over 40 books on contemporary history. His many other roles include Co-Founder of Action for Happiness, honorary historical adviser to 10 Downing Street, Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and President of IPEN (International Positive Education Network).