Ethics, Values and Policy Initiative People

The Ethics, Values and Policy Initiative (EVPI) has a core team of conveners.

Co-directors of EVPI

Temidayo Eseonu smiling. — Dr Temidayo Eseonu

Dr Temidayo Eseonu

Co-director of the Ethics, Values, and Policy Initiative

My academic training has included degrees in different disciplines which has influenced my interdisciplinary position, drawing on a range of theories to research questions of racial equity and justice. I am particularly interested in the role of values and ethics in agenda setting, issue prioritisation, and the determination of policy content. Some of the research questions I am interested in are: what values drive politicians and policymakers at all levels to respond to the claims for racial justice put forward by racially minoritised communities? What ethics set the boundaries for what is an acceptable policy response to these claims in a context of polarization, competing priorities, and limited resources? With previous professional experience outside academia and with experience of community engagement, I see myself as spanning boundaries, working across academic, public and policy spheres. I place importance on building relationships in these spheres, having knowledge of them, identifying policy problems, and creating spaces for people from within them to co-produce understanding of the policy problems and corresponding solutions to racial inequalities.

Research profile for Dr Eseonu

Robert Geyer smiling. — Professor Robert Geyer

Professor Robert Geyer

Co-director of the Ethics, Values, and Policy Initiative

My background is in International Political Economy, UK and European Union Politics and Policy and Scandinavian Social Democracy. However, I best known for my work on Complexity Theory and Public Policy. For me, complexity theory is a framework for understanding why policy-making in our modern world is so challenging and why the role of policy markers is so important. I am keen to explore the ethical and values aspects of everyday policy making at all levels (from local schools to regional planning to national and international relations) because they are the fundamental organising principals around for millions of everyday policy actors micro-decisions. These principals and actions form the foundational culture of all policy environments. Exploring this, helping students to understand it and supporting policy makers in trying to manage their complex environment and make decisions in challenging situations is why I am so excited to be a part of the EVPI.

Research profile for Professor Geyer

Dr Leonie Smith

Co-director of the Ethics, Values, and Policy Initiative

My recent academic background is in Philosophy. However, prior to this, I worked in change consultancy in the private sector, as a programme director, strategy consultant, and board director at varying points in my career. This practical background has influenced the direction of my work – I’m interested in how philosophical thinking can help to drive beneficial change in policy and practice. My work primarily addresses the foundations of socioeconomic injustice, and the consequences of these foundations for policy in welfare treatment, the media, social media and education. In education, I’m closely engaged with a range of initiatives which address socioeconomic and structural barriers to success by working to reframe the traditional ‘deficit’ narrative that focuses on what students lack, into one that allows educators to recognise the capabilities and skills of under-resourced groups: as a member of the advisory council for The Access Project (a national education and social mobility charity); through delivering national and international workshops through my ‘class in the classroom’ project; as a mentor for the Minorities and Philosophy organisation in the UK; and through working with the Lancaster University Success Programme. I currently also serve as Chair of the Advisory Board for the Philosophy in Prison charity, helping prison residents and staff to develop their own communities of philosophical practice and providing evidence to support changes in prison education policy.

Research profile for Dr Smith

Previous Members

PhDs and staff who have contributed to the EVPI since its inception.

We also have student interns who have supported the initiatives, including through blog contributions.

Past Members