The Reading Agency appoints Baroness Sanderson and Maureen Corish to board of trustees

The Reading Agency has appointed Baroness Sanderson of Welton and Maureen Corish to the board of trustees. The national charity works to empower people of all ages to read.

Baroness Sanderson is a Conservative peer in the House of Lords, and has a background in journalism as a former feature writer with the Mail on Sunday and served as an adviser to former PM Theresa May.

Corish joins the board with more than 30 years of experience in media and communications. She is currently the managing director of Pumpkin, a B2B PR agency for media and advertising clients. Her career spans journalism and in-house communications roles at prestigious organisations including the BBC, EMAP plc and Penguin Random House.

The Bookseller named Corish as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Publishing during her tenure as UK & international communications director for Penguin Random House.

Baroness Sanderson said: "I am delighted to join The Reading Agency as a trustee. Having recently completed an in-depth review of our public library system, I’ve seen first-hand the transformative power of reading and its vital role in our communities. I look forward to supporting The Reading Agency’s crucial work in promoting reading for pleasure and harnessing its potential to address some of society’s most pressing challenges. Together, we can ensure that the joy and benefits of reading reach every corner of our nation."

Corish said: "When mentoring my teams, they often ask: ‘How do I improve?’. My answer is always: ‘Read’. Read for pleasure. Read for health. Read for opportunity. Find joy in a beautiful turn of phrase and satisfaction in a story well told. Everything changes when you read, and I’m delighted to be joining The Reading Agency and their inspiring and committed board. I’m honoured to have the opportunity to support their incredibly important mission of promoting reading for pleasure."

Paul Kelly, chair of The Reading Agency, added: "We are thrilled to welcome Baroness Sanderson and Maureen Corish to our board of trustees. Their combined expertise in public policy, libraries, and media communications will be invaluable as we continue to champion the transformative power of reading across the UK."