Rafferty appointed chair of the Women’s Prize Trust

The Women’s Prize Trust has appointed Anna Rafferty as permanent chair. 

Rafferty, a trustee of the board since 2017, is vice-president of digital consumer engagement for The LEGO Group. She has been interim chair of the charity’s board since March 2022.

Previously chair of Culture24, an independent charity that helps arts and heritage organisations collaborate, she has also held roles at Pottermore, BBC Studios and Penguin Random House, where she was managing director of digital and audio until 2014. 

The Women’s Prize Trust engaged Moira Benigson of the MBS Group, a leading specialist executive search firm, to help secure the new chair. This followed Joanna Prior’s departure in March 2022, when she took up new roles as c.e.o. of Pan Macmillan and chair of the board of the National Literacy Trust. 

Rafferty, whose appointment comes ahead of the Women’s Prize ceremony on 15th June, said: “For 27 years, the Women’s Prize for Fiction has celebrated, rewarded, inspired and encouraged both writers and readers. During that time, I have been an unashamed prize groupie; a follower, a fan, a volunteer, a marketer, a trustee and now I am honoured to serve as chair.

“I’m looking forward to working more with founder director Kate Mosse, trust director Claire Shanahan, commercial director Harriet Hastings, and the rest of the team, plus my fellow trustees, to continue the journey we have already started; driving our charitable impact, increasing access and equity for women in the world of books and always championing women’s stories and voices.” 

Felicity Blunt, Women’s Prize Trust board member and literary agent at Curtis Brown, said: “We undertook a rigorous search process to identify our new chair. Over the course of this process, we spoke with many incredible women from both within and outside publishing. Happily the right candidate proved to be Anna Rafferty, who is a current board member and has served the Women’s Prize since 2017. 

“Her experience working at Pottermore, Penguin Random House and latterly at the LEGO Group means she brings to the chair role insights into publishing, content and branding. Anna previously chaired Culture24 for eight years and we will benefit immeasurably from her experience in the charity sector. 

“The Women’s Prize Trust, particularly the nomination committee, would like to thank all the candidates for their time and enthusiasm. We are honoured by your interest in the role and hope to continue conversations and explore partnerships in other ways.”