Dr Mario Peters
Chair
Dr Mario Peters
Mario started his career as a research scientist at Oxford University, where he worked in the field of space technology, developing scientific instruments for NASA space missions. He moved into education in 1997 and has since founded seven education companies including Oxford International College, with six schools in UK, China and Switzerland. OIC’s flagship school in the UK was ranked the No 1 A-level school in the UK from 2019 to 2022.
Through his immersion in academia and education, Mario recognised the growing importance for young people to develop life skills alongside their academic qualifications. This led to the founding in 2012 of The Youth Leadership Trust, the forerunner to the Curriculum for Life.
Alex Catallo
Curriculum Design Director
Alex Catallo
Alex is a science teacher, she has taught in the U.K., Japan, Bahrain and Hungary. She is an examiner for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization in Theory of Knowledge and Biology. She is the co-host of the webinar series Case Studies for Change and Shifting Minds. Alex is also Project Coordinator for Teach the Future’s Curriculum for a Changing Climate project.
Jules Ellison
Educational Advisor
Jules Ellison
Jules Ellison is an experienced educator and adviser, known for her creativity and ideation skills and is passionate about finding effective solutions to the systemic challenges that affect our social and ecological wellbeing. Currently Head of Education Development at Crossfields Institute Jules brings expertise in curriculum development, entrepreneurial education, social Innovation, regenerative practice, and cross-sector strategic partnership development.
Peter Williams
CEO
Peter Williams
Peter has a background in small businesses and business coaching. He has partnered with business schools and consultancies to support the development of people, teams and organisations internationally since 2008. A long-serving trustee in schools and educational charities, currently with the PSHE Association, he was co-founder of The Youth Leadership Trust in 2012 and part of the team that initiated the Curriculum for Life concept.
By convening a multi sector team of experts and collaborative partners from around the world he is dedicated to enabling the delivery of a transformative, progressive curriculum that reflects and responds to the needs and expectations of children and young people now and in the future.
Oli Williams
Oli Williams
Oli studied Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Utrecht and has recently graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an MSc in Social Justice and Community Action. In support of CfL’s collaborative curriculum design process, his dissertation focused on exploring the opportunities, challenges and value of ‘Co-Creating Curricula with Students-as-Partners’. Oli initially joined CfL as a researcher and now works as Project and Youth Lead, supporting the implementation of our ‘convene, curate, create’ process to generate the Curriculum for Life.
Claudi Williams
Trustee
Claudi Williams
Claudi is a community organiser and founder of an award-winning volunteer group taking action on plastic in her community. She published ‘Small Steps to Less Waste – stories to inspire change’ in 2020. She has contributed to BBC radio programmes, national newspaper articles, podcasts, and speaking at a variety of events. She has worked for educational organisations for over 8 years, currently on a freelance basis.
Alicia Carey
Trustee
Alicia Carey
Alicia is the Chief Executive of Hawkwood Centre for Future Thinking in Gloucestershire, UK. She has led the transformational change of Hawkwood, creating a distinct and contemporary education and cultural programme which showcases leading speakers in the areas of future thinking, systems change, arts, sustainability and well being. Her prior senior management roles with the Dartington Hall Trust and a successful career in arts management, have given her a wealth of knowledge and adaptability. She is a passionate, values led individual who cares deeply about enabling people to make a considered difference to society and about protecting our planet for generations to come. Alicia is also a member of the Stroud District Council 2030 Community Engagement Board and Company Secretary to the Matthew Barley Arts Foundation.
Kat Hartley
Operations and Project Manager
Kat Hartley
Kat has 12 years of professional experience in the non-profit sector specialising in events, fundraising and program management. Having started her career working in events and corporate fundraising across national and international organisations such as British Red Cross, Alzheimer’s Society and Barnardo’s, Kat has more recently worked with small grassroots start-ups, focusing on mental health in Bristol, and on refugee and migrant support in Lisbon.
Kat manages the operational and project planning aspects of Curriculum for Life, leading on communications and funding to help build a sustainable structure for the charity.
Jessica Fox
Jessica Fox
Jessica’s career has been mainly focussed on marketing: public relations for the healthcare, marine and film industries, high profile charity fundraising events, internal and external communications, magazine editor for a trade membership association and campaign management in the finance industry. She has also worked in the education sector for the last four years. Jessica manages the operational and communications side of Curriculum for Life.
Raven Frias
Communications Lead
Raven Frias
Raven Frias is a youth leader from the Philippines. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Learning Sciences in the Learning Planet Institute and Université Paris Cité in France. Raven is involved in several lifelong learning projects and represents the youth sector in global advisory boards and conferences. Her advocacies include children’s rights, youth empowerment and progressive education. In her free time, she loves to journal, play guitar and edit videos.
Raven is the Communications Lead intern of Curriculum for Life, leading the creation of content and media. She joined the team to integrate her passion in creating multimedia art to her advocacy in making education more accessible and adaptive to what the youth needs. She curates the blogs and social media strategy to bring CfL’s work to life.
Our Youth Partners
We are working with young people from around the world to explore, research and curate learning content within the context of diverse beliefs, values and cultural perspectives.
So far we have co-created with young people from India, UK, Lebanon, Germany, Nigeria, Hungary, Afghanistan, Bahrain, USA, Philippines, Pakistan, Italy, Palestine, and Turkey, to name a few.
Our Youth Partners are those who have contributed significantly to the development of Curriculum for Life through internships, volunteering opportunities and co-creation journeys.
Adrija Jana
Adrija Jana
Adrija Jana is a passionately creative youth activist and research writer based in India. She is currently an English major at Delhi University. Her work mostly revolves around protest against period poverty, marital rape and advocating for freedom of choice, apart from emotional self-lived experiences. She loves to build connections and work with children, and in her free time, she can be found exploring new genres of fiction and weird scientific facts!
Jay Koulaouzos
Jay Koulaouzos
Jay Koulaouzos is an ambitious university student from Hungary. He is studying Mechanical Engineering in Amsterdam, with a great interest in sailing and yacht design. During Jay’s gap year he worked as a sailing instructor at Lake Balaton, Hungary, teaching adults and children. It is through this job his passion for education and working with children grew. When Jay has some free time, he likes to go hiking, mountain biking, and hanging out with his mates.
Niki Kerekes
Niki Kerekes
Niki Kerekes is a motivated young person from Hungary with a passion for helping others and a drive to step outside of her comfort zone. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a specilisation in Enterpreneurship at IFM Business School in Geneva, Switzerland. Niki’s passion for learning resulted from completing the IB diploma program inspiring her to help bring high quality accessible education to young people globally. In her free time Niki enjoys doing Jigsaw puzzles, travelling and spending time with her friends and family.
Tajala Fazli
Tajala Fazli
Tajala Fazli is an 18 years old social activist, community caregiver, recruiter, volunteer, and artist from Afghanistan. Tajala recently graduated from Sorya High School in Kabul. A curious and creative girl who loves to learn, she enjoy reading, and exploring different cultures and languages. She is passionate about diversity and exploration.