Executive Committee nominations - FSES AGM 2026
Stephen Silver - PRINCIPAL
Stephen started attending classes in New York in 1974 before returning to the UK in 1977. He is now retired from a career in IT and Project Management. Among his activities in the School, he looks after the Berkshire Branch and runs the Gita study weekends, as well as tutoring online and in-person groups. Stephen was co-opted onto the Executive Committee in 2017 and again in 2018, and was elected as Principal in 2019.
David Woodhead - TREASURER
David joined the School in Nottingham in 1990. He has looked after the Nottingham Centre since 1995, where he tutors in-person groups as well as tutoring online.
He qualified as a Chartered Building Surveyor and retired in 2018 from a career running a construction company.
David was co-opted onto the Executive Committee in 2022.
Hilary Dover
Currently a student in the North West branch, Hilary first joined the School in 1984 in London where she was working as a nurse. She has since held a wide range of director roles in the NHS in England and Wales, and recently retired from this work. She now works voluntarily as a youth leader.
Hilary was co-opted to the Executive Committee in 2024.
Yolande Hesse
Yolande is a prominent member of the Guildford Branch where she tutors the early years Philosophy course and is also a member of Dr Horan’s Plato Tutorial team. She arranges many of the Branch activities including the Meditation Initiation days. Since Covid she has also been tutoring the national online course. Originally from Australia she joined the School in London, but transferred to Guildford after it was established. Yolande has been a Fellowship member for over 20 years, she has some Executive experience having been co-opted under Ian Mason's chairmanship and now Stephen Silver's to serve on the current Executive. She also serves on the Estates Committee. She is recently retired from her successful Architectural Designer Business which specialises in the refurbishing of architecturally-challenged residential properties.
Richard Ibbett
Richard Ibbett has been a member of the School in London for 40 years, and part of the Fellowship for 20 years, serving as Chair of the Membership Committee for 6 years. He has been a philosophy tutor for 30 years, tutoring in both the early parts, the senior school and in the branches. As an architect he has been principal of Ibbett Associates for 25 years and has been on the RIBA register of conservation architects. He has professional experience of working with clients in the charity sector including the SPES and the IEA.
Kumar Kumara
Kumar Kumara is a retired Structural Engineer. He started studying philosophy in the School in London in 1973 and moved to the North East Branch in 1976. Kumar has been the Treasurer for the Branch for the last 40 years. He has also been tutoring both early and senior philosophy groups in the Branch for the last 40 years. Kumar was co-opted to the Executive Committee in 2020 and elected to the Executive Committee in 2022. Kumar has been the Chair of the Estates Sub-Committee since 2020.
Elizabeth Mazzola
Elizabeth joined the SPES over 20 years ago and has been a tutor for ten years.
She is now retired and her career has included being a Headteacher for 25 years, Advisory Headteacher for London Challenge Schools Improvement Service, Director of Learning Alliance Academy and Head of Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Partnership.
She is a member of the Fellowship and was co-opted to the Executive Committee in 2021.
Sherry Moran
In her 40 years with SPES, Sherry has tutored parts 1-12, wrote and directed the 10-minute History of the School video, and ran the Ceramics section of the Art In Action festival. On its closure, Sherry launched Celebrating Ceramics, a 3-day summer festival at Waterperry Gardens.
Sherry’s career has evolved from running the internal communications department of a global investment bank to founder/director of two communications and documentary video businesses, to her current role as founder/director of a pharma technology company. She has been a member of the Executive since 2020, is on the Waterperry Gardens Limited Board, and her most recent appointment is on the Board of Open Style Lab, a non-profit organisation committed to making style accessible to everyone regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities.
Mark Toole
Mark has attended philosophy and economics courses for many years. Now retired and living in West London, his career as an accountant included
financial management, tax and treasury roles with a technology multinational.
Mark is part of the tutorial team, has participated in economics work groups, and has contributed to the organising of arts-related and other events. He was co-opted to the Executive Committee in 2024.