Patricia (Trish) Gurney, Chair of the Board of Trustees Trish studied languages before becoming a teacher. She now specialises in assessing and teaching dyslexic people. Her experiences as a councillor have helped her to build positive relationships as well as research, negotiate and achieve goals. Trish also serves the George Borrow Society as Events Secretary. She became Chair of the Bronte Society Board of Trustees in July 2019
Susan Aykroyd, Vice Chair Susan is originally from Haworth and has been an active member of the Bronte Society for almost 30 years.She lives in London and has a background in media sales, retail and the Civil Service.Susan has served as a Trustee since 2012 and is currently Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Finance and Audit committee.
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.
Elina Eady Elina is a non-practising barrister and was admitted as a solicitor in 2003. Upon qualification she worked in private practice advising on Immigration, Asylum Law and Family Law. She has worked as a senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Leeds. She has also been a prosecutions solicitor for Calderdale Council and is currently employed as an Adult Health and Social Care solicitor. Elina is a co-author of Children and Same Sex Families: A Legal Hand Book. She is also a Stonewall Schools Role Model.
Samantha Ellis Samantha is an experienced journalist and author of two books. She is very interested in helping the Society reach more diverse visitors and members.
Helen Meller Helen Meller is Co-Centre Director of national writing charity Arvon's Lumb Bank and Arvon at Home. She has an extensive track record in the arts and heritage sector in areas including project management, fundraising, strategic development and sustainable business planning. She is committed to reaching new audiences and deepening engagement.
Andrew Midgley Andrew is an experienced Chartered Accountant most recently Senior Vice President at Pearson plc responsible for the Group’s financial reporting and managing group finance functions. He has nine years of charity experience as a Trustee and Treasurer of the Design and Technology Association. Andrew grew up in West Yorkshire and now splits his time between there and London.
Anne Powell Anne is a life-long Brontë enthusiast and has an MA in Women and Literature. She has run her own antiques business for over twenty years and has also served on the boards of schools. She is particularly interested in developing the diversity of membership to the Brontë Society.
John Thirlwell John Thirlwell is a professional in the film and broadcast sector.He has been a trustee for two Yorkshire charities and is on the national volunteer group of Save the Children. John lives in Ilkley and was Chair of the Brontë Society Board between December 2015 and July 2019.