Trustees
The National Literacy Trust is governed by our board of trustees, who come from a range of sector backgrounds. Trustees are responsible for the governance, strategic direction, general management and control of the charity and for the appointment of the Chief Executive.
Joanna Prior (Chair)
Our board of trustees is chaired by Joanna Prior. Joanna is CEO of Pan Macmillan, and prior to that was Managing Director of Penguin General Books, one of nine publishing houses at Penguin Random House, for 12 years. She is a past President of The Publishers Association and was also Chair of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, until she stepped down in February 2022.
Matthew Bradbury
Matthew Bradbury is Chief Executive of Nene Park Trust, an independent charity responsible for a portfolio of assets including culture, heritage, arts, sports and the environment. He also holds a number of non-executive roles including Director of University College, Peterborough and Chair of the Peterborough Towns Deal Board.
Louise Doughty
Louise Doughty is an award-winning writer, author and critic. She has been a judge for the Booker Prize and Costa Book of the Year Award. She champions new writers and has set up writing scholarships for black, Asian and minority ethnic students.
Kersten England CBE
Kersten England was a local authority Chief Executive for 14 years, initially in York and then in Bradford, until she stepped down in 2023. She has a wealth of experience in place-based work, and is passionate about breaking the cycle of deprivation, and seeing communities on the ground telling their stories. Kersten has also served on the advisory body of the Bradford Literature Festival as well as being chair of the Young Foundation.
Ben Fletcher
Ben Fletcher is Chief Financial Officer at Shop Direct, and a board member of the British Retail Consortium. Prior to that he held senior roles at Clarks, Boots Opticians and Boots UK.
Rachel Hopcroft
Rachel Hopcroft is Head of Corporate Affairs at KPMG UK and part of the company's Executive Committee. Prior to this, she was a senior civil servant, including as Principal Private Secretary to the Cabinet Secretary in No. 10. She is a former Chair and patron group member of Access Accountancy, a charity that seeks to widen access to the accounting profession, as well as a member of the board for the Alliance to End Malnutrition and Hunger Limited and the steering group of the FTSE Women Leaders Review.
Gaby Huddart
Gaby Huddart is an award-winning editor, presenter, interviewer and columnist, working across print, audio and broadcast media. Her specialisms include women’s interests, books, celebrity interviews, food and travel.
Hilary Ineomo-Marcus
Hilary Ineomo-Marcus is a former National Prison Radio producer who now volunteers for charities in an effort to deter young people from offending. Since his release in 2014, Hilary has forged a career in media and broadcasting and has presented radio programmes, TV documentaries and podcasts for brands such as the BBC, Amazon Audible and ITN News Production.