The Team
We are a (very) small charity led by a team of 4 people.
Steve Hoggins - CEO
Steve studied Philosophy at the University of Wales, Lampeter in 2003. Shortly after, he gained a CETLA qualification and began teaching English in both Italy and Portugal, returning to the UK to begin a career as a primary school teacher with a PGCE form Plymouth Marjon's in 2008.
Since he first started working within the British education system he has seen a philosophy shaped hole in the core of the curriculum and is striving to find ways for it to be filled, joining The Philosophy Foundation part time in 2009 and giving up his day job teaching for it in 201. He recently attained an MA in Education from the University of Exeter and swears this is the last qualification he'll take.
His work includes project management, development work in schools, and mentoring of newly trained specialists. He is also the head of Early Years and loves working with the very liitle philosophers every week.
In his personal life Steve likes to upgrade his home with DIY projects, read fantasy, cook without recipes, eat cheese and enjoy time with his family.
Peter Worley - Philosopher in Chief
Peter is a Visiting Research Associate at King's College London and a PhD candidate at Sheffield University. He is a multi-award-winning author for Bloomsbury Education and author and editor for Crown House Publishing on The Philosophy Foundation Series of books. He is a commissioning editor for The Philosophers' Magazine.
Peter read philosophy at University College London and Birkbeck College, completing his MA in 2004. He has been working with children in education since 1993 and has been doing philosophy with children since 2002. As CEO he represents the charity worldwide speaking at international conferences and festivals, works in the classroom with children every week, trains philosophy graduates and classroom teachers, whilst leading TPF in its mission to transform thinking in education.
Peter developed the method of Philosophical Enquiry that is at the heart of The Philosophy Foundation's work, as captured in his first book The If Machine: Philosophical Enquiry in the Classroom, which was adapted into a BBC series and nominated for a BAFTA in 2013. His next books, The If Odyssey and The Philosophy Shop, were both shortlisted for Educational Book of the Year, 2013, with The Philosophy Shop winning this prize, as well as Best Anthology and Best Philosophy Book 2012. His co-authored book Thoughtings was selected as Best Teaching Book 2013. In 2014 his fifth book Once Upon an If: The Storythinking Handbook was shortlisted for the Educational Resources Award as was his latest book 40 Lesson to Get Children Thinking. He has given two TEDx Talks about philosophy in schools: How to be a Rebel & Plato not Playdoh.
Peter regularly gives talks and presentations about philosophy in schools and the Philosophy Foundation's PhiE method at national and international conferences, and has been published in many teaching magazines and philosophical journals. Peter has been interviewed on the BBC World Service, on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, on Radio 3’s Nightwaves about philosophy in schools, has appeared on the Sunday Politics Show South (TV Show) about The Philosophy Foundation’s 4Rs Campaign to bring reasoning in to schools and was interviewed on Sky News about P4C. He has spoken and run workshops at various literary, education and philosophy festivals, including the Hay Festival, How the Lights Gets In, Oxford Literary Festival, Cheltenham Literary Festival and the Sunday Times Festival of Education.
Simma Gershenson - Development Director
Simma Gershenson is a seasoned fundraising professional, currently serving as the Fundraising Development Director at The Philosophy Foundation, with a rich history of enhancing financial sustainability for non-profits. Her educational background includes a BA in Theatre and English Literature from the University of Minnesota.
Kim Down - Schools and Office Manager
Kim joined TPF in 2020 (what a year to join!) from The British Nutrition Foundation where she spent over 10 years as the Education and Events Executive supporting the education and administrative activities of the charity.
Kim's role at TPF is the smooth running of all our work in schools, and supporting just about everyone.
