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
Helen Meller, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees 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. Helen is also Chair of Bronte Genius, the charity's fully-owned trading subsidiary.
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.
Laura Beare Laura is a dedicated museum professional with over 10 years’ experience in the sector. Her focus is audience engagement and digital development and she is currently Marketing and Galleries Assistant Manager at Leeds University Library Galleries. Laura is also the Co-Chair of the Yorkshire Emerging Museum Professionals committee. In this position she's interested in governance, and is implementing a project to become a constituted charity.
Ciara Gallagher Ciara currently holds the position of Head Registrar at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. She is experienced in all areas of collections management and legal governance of a collection including documentation, collections care, loans, insurance, valuations and legal documentation. She is currently studying with the Institute of Art and Law for a Diploma in Art Law..
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.
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. He currently chairs the Finance and Audit committee.
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 and currently chairs the Governance committee.
Valerie Sanders Valerie has twenty years’ experience as Professor of English at the University of Hull, which entails not only teaching nineteenth-century literature, but also organising events. She is also President of the Martineau Society, whose twice-yearly newsletter she has previously edited and now distributes. Forthcoming publications include a chapter on Patrick and Maria Brontë for the ‘Edinburgh Companion to the Brontës and the Arts.’
Julian Sladdin Julian is a solicitor and partner in an international law firm and has over 20 years’ experience of advising higher education and university institutions on their legal duties as public and charitable bodies. He brings valuable legal and business skills to the board as well as a long track record of holding governance roles including school governor, chair of a council standards committee and audit committee member. He is keen to contribute to the Board’s work in creating a strong, inclusive and forward-looking charity and preserving our Brontë heritage.