Jon heads up the College. He has a doctorate in Geography and Anthropology from the University of Oxford, an MSc in Environmental Management from the University of Stirling, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Desert Studies from Ben-Gurion University in Israel and a BSc in Business (minor in Economics) from George Mason University in the US.
Jon has held senior fellowships with the Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research and the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (member of the Consultative Group for Agricultural Research). Whilst holding a variety of roles with the Climate, Energy and Tenure Division of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (United Nations) he was seconded to co-facilitate the Environment Arm of the Clinton Middle East Peace Process. Jon has facilitated and launched a range of co-operative enterprises in local produce, skills training and education. His research and applied interests are collective responses to sustainability issues, social enterprise and local livelihoods, common property management and resilient institutions, ecological design and regeneration. Jon has published on a range of issues in professional journals and books.
Email: j.rae@dartington.org / Tel: +44 (0)1803 847240
Satish was the originator and cofounder of Schumacher College, served as its program director from 1991 to 2010, and was also the primary fundraiser during that time. He is currently a visiting fellow.
A former monk and long-term peace and environment activist, Satish has been quietly setting the Global Agenda for change for over 50 years. He was just nine when he left his family home to join the wandering Jains and 18 when he decided he could achieve more back in the world, campaigning for land reform in India and working to turn Gandhi’s vision of a renewed
In 1973 Satish settled in the United Kingdom taking up the post of editor of Resurgence magazine, a position he has held ever since, making him the UK’s longest-serving editor of the same magazine. During this time, he has been the guiding spirit behind a number of now internationallyrespected ecological and educational ventures including Schumacher College. Read more
Click here to download his biography
Click here to read about Resurgence, which Satish edits
Email: c/o: admin@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 865934
Stephan oversees the MSc in Holistic Science, teaching on the core models and as part of several of the short courses at the College.
Stephan was born in Venezuela in 1953. He came to England at the age of six with his father and housekeeper, with whom he spoke Spanish (his mother tongue) at home. Since childhood Stephan has had a deep fascination with the natural world, and his scientific cast of mind lead him to do a degree in Zoology at the University of Durham and then a doctorate on the behavioural ecology of the muntjac deer at Oxford University. Read more
Email: stephan@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 847225
In September 2009 Philip joined the MSc in Holistic Science Faculty as teacher of complexity.
Born in 1958 in England, Philip studied mathematics at New College Oxford from 1976 to 1980. Academia’s dull explanation of the world inspired Philip on a counter-journey into the depths of experience, travelling and a re-sensitisation to quality. In 2005, after a fifteen-year career designing intelligent software, culminating in a programme now used in The Netherlands by all Dutch courts, Philip had a chance encounter with Satish Kumar and was moved to come to Schumacher as an MSc student. Philip began and edits the Holistic Science Journal. He is also the convener of a successful inquiry forum called Process and Pilgrimage. Read more.
Email: philip@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 847234
Julie has taught ecological economics and international development at the Universities of London and Sussex and has worked in sustainable development for over 20 years in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. This experience changed her view of ‘development’ – believing there is much we can learn from the wisdom of other cultures about sustainable livelihoods and restoring healthy relationship between human society and nature.
Julie has applied systems thinking and complexity science to different aspects of sustainability – including sustainable design, organizational change and environmental policy. The Landscope project at Dartington arose out of this work to demonstrate industrial ecology in practice. Read more
Email: julie.richardson@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 847249
Jonathan is a sustainability educator, currently working as Head of Economics at Schumacher College in Devon. Until recently a long-term resident at the Findhorn ecovillage and a former President of the Global Ecovillage Network, he has around 20 years experience as a researcher, author, consultant and project manager in the field of small enterprise development in Africa and South Asia.
Jonathan is the principal author of the Gaia Education sustainable economy curriculum www.gaiaeducation.org, drawn from best practice within ecovillages worldwide, that has been endorsed by UNITAR and adopted by UNESCO as a valuable contribution to the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. He teaches this curriculum at universities, ecovillages and community centres in Brazil, Spain and Scotland. He has also adopted the curriculum to virtual format and teaches it through the Open University of Catalunya in Barcelona.
Email: jonathan.dawson@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: 01803 847216
Tim Crabtree has 25 years experience in the third sector, working in policy development and business advisor roles before becoming the chief executive of Local Food Links Ltd, a successful Dorset-based social enterprise which provides vocational training and community education, and delivers user-led catering services in partnership with 23 schools and a range of older people’s organisations.
Tim stepped down as chief executive in May 2010, and worked for Cardiff University, researching the future direction of the community food sector, with Wessex Community Assets, researching the links between renewable energy and food production, and for a number of other clients as a business advisor. Tim has worked with international organisations such as the Resource Centre for Philippine Concerns and the International Institute for Environment and Development, for national organisations such as the New Economics Foundation, and for South West based organisations such as the Bristol & Avon Community Enterprise Network, Dorset Community Action and Wessex Reinvestment Trust group.
Email: tim.crabtree@schumachercollege.org.uk
Bethan co-ordinates the garden operations and lectures in horticulture and agroecology for vocational and postgraduate courses. Bethan has a BSc in Biology from University of Bristol, an MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation from the University of Leeds and fifteen years professional experience, including as a co-ordinator of the national Allotments Regeneration Initiative, ecological consultant and farmers market manager. Bethan also works part-time at Plymouth University, where she is undertaking research on botanical education; other interests are organic crop production, perennial cropping and soils in sustainable agriculture.
Email: bethan@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 847218
Jane completed a BSc in Marine Biology and Oceanography from Bangor University and was then awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to study for her PhD in Zoology from the University of Tasmania. She worked for ten years in applied freshwater research in Australia before moving into permaculture consulting and teaching. She also taught clarinet, saxophone and piano for 10 years. Since returning to the UK in 2010 she has worked with community groups developing food growing projects and was Head Gardener for the Sharpham Trust. She completed the Level 3 Sustainable Horticulture Diploma at Schumacher/Duchy College in 2011. She is particularly interested in learning how to grow enough interesting food crops to make a truly local diet both healthy and enjoyable. She still has a soft spot for water mites.
Email: jane.pickard@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1803 847239
Heather is reponsible for the overseeing the day to day running of the College.
Before her arrival at the College in 2001 she worked as office manager for Kindred Spirit magazine. Prior to that she made a change of direction and downshifted after more than fifteen years of working for the US Government as UK Sales Manager for the Stars and Stripes newspaper. Her favourite place in the College is the window seat in the library at the opening meeting at the start of a new course, listening to new participants introducing themselves. ‘How incredible to be able to go to work and meet such an amazing assortment of wonderful people from all over the World.’
Email: heather.gillard@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 847213
Melanie administers the MSc in Holistic Science course, giving support to the academic tutors and the students. She works three days a week at the College, and her remaining time is occupied with studying complementary therapies, healing, astrology and related subjects. Before coming to Schumacher, Melanie had worked in central London for many years: in business marketing for the Financial Times and more latterly in government communications in Whitehall. Melanie has a BSc degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (Linguistics with Music) and in the Autumn will qualify as a reflexologist. When she left London she was keen to align her working life with her core values: ‘It’s fantastic to be working in a place dedicated to exploring and developing more authentic paradigms for living as opposed to the pursuit of profit and power without care for the environmental and social consequences.’
Email: melanie@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 847221
Rachel has a background in environmental science and policy, with a PhD in ecological risk assessment and pollution control. After senior positions at the Environment Agency and Defra (plus a good dose of voluntary work and travel) she realised that education and communication was her best contribution towards positive change. Ten years later, after writing, editing and founding sustainable-living publications of her own, she arrived here at Schumacher College to run the communication and development work.
“Schumacher College is such a powerful place for personal and collective transformation, it’s the only place I want to be right now”.
Email: Rachel.Fleming@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 865 934
Lou began her career as a published and recorded writer, working on radio and touring as a performer, sketch writer and poet.
Since then she has clocked up over fifteen years experience working in the arts sector and has worked in publishing and book selling, marketing and arts development. She worked as a community arts officer for a local authority, delivering creative workshops for The Housing Association and Young Offender Programmes and also has experience as a Marketing Officer for a Contemporary Art Gallery. Lou has also managed her own ceramics business, Made on Earth.
Before moving to Devon, Lou worked for the past 7 years for Arts Council England, specialising in Visual Arts and Literature and as Regional Partnerships Officer. Lou has been interested and influenced by land and our relationship with it for many years and it is a continual theme in her own writing and creativity.
Email: lou.rainbow@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 847238
William has been at the college for 20 years and manages the accommodation as well as various facilities across the college campus. Being resident on site, he is the point of contact for all first aid and emergency needs. He provides IT, photographic and multimedia support for all teachers and students, and manages the students’ archive of learning resources.
He has a degree in psychology, worked for BBC Radio Bristol doing regular interviews and is a craftsman. He has worked closely with various aspects of the Schumacher lifestyle, including meditation, soirees, community work and technology.
Email: william@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 847217
Julia coordinates the catering two days a week. Before the birth of Stephan and Julia’s son Oscar in 2001, Julia worked full time as the Catering Manager and put together the college cookbook Gaia’s Kitchen which won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for best veggie cookbook in 2001. Julia has been at the College since the beginning and occupied various roles- including being a participant on the first course (Gaia theory 1991). She originally came to the College to deepen her knowledge of ecology so as to become a more effective member of the Green Party.
Before moving to Devon she worked for Westminster City Council and the medical charity Lepra. Prior to this she studied Social Anthropology and Philosophy at the University of East Anglia. ‘I have always loved cooking, but never thought I’d end up as a professional cook! Only at Schumacher College where the steamier side of the culinary world eclipses under the banner of team work and love of good fresh local food could I have enjoyed catering for so long. It’s exciting to see the importance of food (preparation, sourcing and growing) being put at the forefront of some of the cutting edge movements of today – the Transition movement and the Slow Food movement – and to realise that as a learning ground for holistic cooks, the College kitchen has a lot to contribute.’
Email: julia@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 847222
With a background that spans both the conventional and alternative worlds, and being an avid ‘people watcher’ with a great (and somewhat irreverent) sense of humour, Sarah is well suited to enjoy the key role she occupies in the Schumacher College kitchen. She grew up and spent her early adulthood in suburban Surrey. As a teenager she became a speed walking champion. Having parted with a boyfriend who looked like James Bond but wouldn’t let her cook so much as an omelette, Sarah found and married solar engineer Dan Bayley whom she moved down to Devon where Sarah was at last able to realise her love not only of animals and gardening but of cooking. She discovered the great power of food for nurturing people and with her culinary skills flourishing she soon took on the role of catering manager for the Grimstone Community. Together with Dan, Sarah founded a vegetarian catering business ‘Veggie Heaven’ and began to be a regular provider at festivals up and down the country. Sarah and Dan enjoy the company of their young son who has introduced them to the delights of Pepper Pig and Thomas the Tank Engine. They also continue to foster greyhounds and are active members of the Transition Streets initiative.
Email: c/o: admin@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 847222
Ruth has been working in the Schumacher kitchen for a year and a half, and she has this to say “It is truly a wonderful and inspiring place to work. I have always enjoyed cooking, eating, experimenting and sharing food and it is a joy to find a place and people to share this with. When I’m not working, I look after my son and am also involved in printmaking, children’s art workshops, sewing and growing food.”
Email: Ruth.Rae@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 847222
Tara says “My working life started when I was 16, with a summer job as a chamber maid. Since then, I’ve worked as a dishwasher, house painter, baker, chef, gourmet chocolate shop assistant, waitress, graphic designer, art director, design associate, copywriter, bartender, cabin crew recruiter and restauranteur (not all in that order!). I can honestly say that working in the Schumacher kitchen is the best job I’ve ever had. Cooking has always been my true joy, and I love the community of Schumacher – it’s warm, welcoming, and just like family.” Although she is from Vermont in the northeast of the USA, Tara’s cooking is heavily influenced by her love of the Mediterranean cultures – but she is not averse to a cream tea or an old-fashioned, gooey American brownie! Tara lives in South Brent with her husband and three children and extremely large cat, Mr Bumble.”
Email: Tara Vaughan-Hughes@schumachercollege.org.uk Vaughan-Hughes@schumachercollege.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1803 847222
Juliana is the Student Liaison for all Postgraduate students during the time of their studies at the College. This role involves mainly facilitating communication and linkages between the students and staff, volunteers, short course participants and longer-term students, local community, relevant networks and alumni. Juliana completed the MSc in Holistic Science in 2012. She has a degree in public relations and for the past 7 years she has worked in education, customer service, communication, sustainability, fundraising, and corporate social responsibility.
Her main passions are writing, reading, and having conversations – whether with others, with herself and life. A bit of fun, good food, and travels are also on the list.
“It is a truly enjoyable position, especially for its dynamism: the work and its demands vary daily and are always emerging from taking part in the life of the College, joining different groups and meetings and informal ongoing conversations.”
Denise is involved with everything that relates to the volunteers life and work at the College: she organizes their work schedule for the week, and the work groups that they will lead. She organises the induction of the new volunteers, talks with the new candidates for volunteering at the College, helps to facilitate the communication between the volunteers, and the whole community when needed. She is resident on site, as all volunteers, and works closely with William, Heather and Juliana, the Post-graduate liaison.
Denise is from Brazil, has a Ph.D in Science, worked as a post-doc fellow at Harvard University, Universidade de Campinas and Universidade de São Paulo, and before coming to Schumacher as a volunteer in 2012, she taught Chemistry at Colégio Bandeirantes in São Paulo, where she was involved in many projects: Education for Sustainability, Sexuality and Prevention to Drug Use and Abuse, Introduction to Scientific Research, e.g.
She dances Flamenco, teaches Yoga, loves cooking, photography, travel, and to get to know new ideas, new concepts, new cultures and new people. And that is why she loves the College. “For me, being a volunteer is the best way to share love, to learn, and to grow…..”
If you are a past participant of the College and would like to become a volunteer helper then we would love to hear from you.
You can spend between one and three months helping with the running of the College as part of the community.
In exchange for 24 hours of work each week in the kitchen, garden or in general service of the College you will be provided with lodging and all meals. You will have the chance to engage with the community as a whole including with expert teachers, participants, staff and visitors.
This is a fantastic opportunity to extend the experience you have had as a participant, taking a break from work or other commitments, and immersing yourself in the transformative learning that takes place at the College.
Please contact Heather for an informal discussion about opportunities available. Tel: +44 (0)1803 847213 or email Heather.Gillard@schumachercollege.org.uk.
