Tim Smith
The Board of Bradford Culture Company, the charity behind Bradford 2025, is gaining a new Chair and seven trustees.
Board members will be responsible for governing the policies and planning of Bradford's upcoming City of Culture programme.
KERSTEN ENGLAND is named Chair after serving as a trustee during the city's successful bid campaign. She recently retired from a 30-year career in local government as Chief Executive of Bradford Council.
Joining the board of trustees are the former Director of Public Engagement for Hull 2017, PHIL BATTY and General Counsel of Eversheds Sutherland DEBBIE JUKES.
Alongside them are Priority Director for Healthy Minds SASHA BHAT, Executive Editor at Newsweek ALEX HUDSON, Chief Executive of Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust CAROL DEWHURST and Regional Chair for PwC and Chair of Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre ARMOGHAN MOHAMMED.
Also appointed is social entrepreneur RUTH IBEGBUNA, founder of social justice organisations Rekindle Supplementary School and The Roots Programme, championing the rights of young working-class people.
Executive Director of Bradford 2025, DAN BATES, commented: “Every one of our trustees brings a unique area of expertise at the highest level, from media and government to finance and tech – that will be instrumental in making sure we deliver our bold plans for this landmark year."
Bradford 2025 will soon announce a youth board that will help shape the development and delivery of the city's cultural programme.