Jane Austen’s House seeks new Chair of Trustees

As an independent charity Jane Austen’s House is managed by a dedicated and experienced board of trustees, and we are now looking for a new Chair to head the board.

The current Chair has steered the museum through its transformation into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, through key Austen bicentenaries in 2013 and 2017, past the challenges of the pandemic-related closure and staggered re-opening, to the completion of major capital works to replace the House’s 70-year-old roof.

We now seek an inspirational individual with experience and dedication to take the House forward as it prepares to mark 250 years since Jane Austen’s birth in 1775, while continuing to develop innovative interpretation and programming to be enjoyed by a truly global audience.

Isabel Hughes, our current Chair says:

“After almost 15 years as first a trustee and then two terms as chair of trustees at Jane Austen’s House it is time to step down. Overseeing the development of the home of England’s finest novelist has been such a rewarding experience and working with our exceptional staff we have achieved so much; from new acquisitions to reroofing the House, establishing a modernised trust to redeveloping our shop, reaching out to international and digital audiences to new learning programmes with a 21st century twist. We have emerged from the pandemic stronger than ever and have ambitious future plans. We are a small but dynamic organisation and if you think you can inspire staff and fellow trustees and take Jane Austen’s House through its next stage as chair, do get in touch with us”.

To find out more, please download the Chair Recruitment pack below. If you would like to arrange an informal chat about the role, please contact office@janeaustens.house.