The former chief executive of Bradford Council has been appointed chairman of the City of Culture

The former chief executive of Bradford Council has been announced as the new chairman of the team to lead Bradford’s City of Culture year.

Kersten England CBE, who recently retired from a top Council role, has today been appointed Chair of Bradford Culture Company, the charity behind Bradford 2025.

Seven new voluntary trustees were also announced today – including one of Hull’s City of Culture year’s leading figures and the executive editor of Newsweek.

Ms England was an administrator throughout the city’s successful bid campaign that secured it the coveted UK City of Culture title – and says winning the title was one of the highlights of her career.

As well as her eight years as chief executive – which saw highs and lows for the district – her career includes leadership roles in voluntary and community organisations, higher education and central government and 30 years in local government.

In her new volunteer role, she will lead the board throughout the development and execution of the district’s City of Culture program.

Her remit includes ensuring the council’s vision and objectives are met, creating a legacy for the borough and acting as a champion and ambassador for Bradford.

She will also support Chief Executive Dan Bates and Creative Director Shanaz Gulzar.

She said: “Being part of the borough’s winning bid for UK City of Culture has been one of the highlights of my career and I am delighted to continue this journey in the role of Chair.

“I will oversee and support our new board to ensure a lasting legacy for the borough, keeping the bright and growing Bradford 2025 team focused on their main objective – to produce a year of fun and ambitious cultural activity that will act as a catalyst. for increased opportunities for local people.

“As part of this, the board will also ensure that targets are tracked and that learning feeds into the ongoing delivery of Bradford’s 10-year culture strategy, Culture is our plan.”

Joining the board:

• Phil Batty, OBE, Commercial Director of NEWSUBSTANCE & SKYMAGIC and Director of Public Engagement for Hull 2017. He is Chair of the Bradford 2025 Program and Engagement Sub-Committee.
• Sasha Bhat, Priority Director for Healthy Minds and Deputy Director for Integration and Transformation at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust and Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership.
• Carol Dewhurst, OBE, CEO of Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust
• Alex Hudson, executive editor at international news platform, Newsweek. He is also Chair of the Bradford 2025 Audience Committee and Digital Subcommittee.
• Ruth Ibegbuna, UK social entrepreneur and founder of several programs and organizations in the North, including RECLAIM, a charity supporting working class youth into leadership positions.
• Debbie Jukes, General Counsel of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP (ESI) – Treasurer of ReadEasy Leeds, a charity focusing on adult literacy.
• Armoghan Mohammed, regional chairman for PwC and current chairman of the trustees of The Royal Exchange Theater in Manchester.