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.
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 Director of Hebden Bridge Arts Festival. 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.
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.
Jane Sellars MBE Jane Sellars MBE began her career as an art curator at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, where she became a specialist on women artists, and wrote and curated Women’s Works, 1988. She was then appointed Director of the Brontë Parsonage Museum, where she became an authority on the art of the Brontës with the publication The Art of the Brontës, Cambridge University Press, 1995, co-authored with Christine Alexander. Jane was made Principal Curator of Harewood House, Leeds, 1997, then Curator of the Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate, later Curator of Cultural Services 2003 - 2019. In the course of her career, Jane Sellars has curated many shows of both historic and contemporary art. Her major projects include the refurbishment of the Mercer Art Gallery, 2011, the record-breaking exhibitions Atkinson Grimshaw: Painter of Moonlight, 2011, Art and Yorkshire: From Turner to Hockney, 2014 and William Powell Frith: The People’s Painter, 2019.She was awarded the Fellowship of the Museums Association for distinguished contribution to the museums and galleries profession in 2005. In 2018 she was made MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
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.