About us - Our Trustees

Members of the Bronte Society Board
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Members of the Bronte Society Board

On this page you can learn more about the members of the Board of the Brontë Society - our trustees.  To contact the Board, please email trustees@bronte.org.uk  

Members of Brontë Society Board

Shahidha Bari Shahidha is an academic, critic and broadcaster. She studied English at King’s College Cambridge and now reviews books for The Guardian and teaches at the University of the Arts London. Shahidha is also a presenter of BBC Radio 3's arts and ideas programme, Free Thinking. She has written a book about the poet Keats, and most recently, “Dressed: The Secret Life of Clothes”. In 2016, Shahidha was awarded The Observer Anthony Burgess Arts Journalism Prize. She's been a judge for the Forward Prizes for Poetry and the Baillie Gifford Non-Fiction Prize. Previous trustee experience includes the educational charity, Arts Emergency.
Richard Dunbar Richard is an activist, campaigner, community organiser and a fiercely proud Bradford lad. He has worked in youth and community development for twenty years and has worked on many human and civil rights campaigns locally, nationally and internationally.
Richard played a key role in Bradford district’s successful bid to be UK City of Culture 2025 having led on engagement and inclusion. He is now an independent creative producer and the new Co-Chair of Bradford Cultural Voice Forum.
Richard is a self confessed agitator pushing for equality, equity and inclusion across all levels of society. He is especially interested in the radical nature of the Brontës.
Jonathan Gration As an art & architectural historian and conservator of historic interiors Jonathan is passionate about the potential for house museums to engage the public with history and stories in an immersive way. In the past he has served on the board of the International Council of Museums and has worked with and for many prominent museums and historic houses. He has recently completed a research project based on 372 house museums around the world, focusing on how such places can use digital reconstructions to tell more stories and engage new audiences.
Penelope Jenkins Having worked as a BBC content producer and a web editor for various educational institutions for many years Penelope is now a novelist, with the thrillers 'My Perfect Sister' and 'Her New Best Friend' under her belt. Hailing from Yorkshire she is a huge Brontë fan and has an academic background in Victorian English literature Penelope brings her experience of being a Vice Chair of School Governors at a primary school, social media marketing and digital development to the board. Penelope is physically disabled and champions diversity. She writes a monthly column on disabilty and publishing issues for 'The Bookseller' magazine.