Royal Commonwealth Society Appoints New Chair And Trustees

The Council of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) has appointed Janet Cooper OBE as Chair to succeed Dr Linda Yueh CBE. Sianne Haldane and Ravi Suchak have been appointed as Trustees.

Dr Linda Yueh CBE said:

“It has been an immense privilege and pleasure to serve as Executive Chair of this special charity, which has enjoyed extraordinary support from the Society’s Patron, His Majesty The King, Vice-Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, and partners from across the Commonwealth. I was deeply honoured to have led impactful programmes which have contributed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on education, equality, environment and communities, as well as high profile events that have celebrated the work of remarkable people, including young leaders, who make the world a better place. I am pleased that Janet, Sianne and Ravi will join the Council to enable the RCS to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of citizens in the Commonwealth and beyond.”

Janet Cooper OBE said:

“It’s a great pleasure and privilege to have been appointed to Chair the Royal Commonwealth Society, to build on the terrific work the RCS has been doing for over 150 years as well as look to the future, in a world which is becoming increasingly polarised and in conflict, the work of the RCS provides an opportunity to focus on youth engagement, climate action and equality initiatives across the Commonwealth.”

Janet Cooper OBE is an experienced chair, lawyer, entrepreneur and trustee. She is a nonexecutive director of Nurture Group, an independent director of the Cabinet Office, Chair of ProShare and co-founder of the Global Equity Organisation, both non-profit organisations promoting employee share ownership, and Vice Chair of Roehampton University. Janet was one of the first women partners in global law firm, Linklaters and went on to found a multi award winning specialist law firm which was transferred to a trust for the employees in 2020. She was the first woman to chair the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and former trustee and Vice Chair of the UN Women UK.

Janet was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to equality, women's empowerment and employee share ownership in the 2017 New Year Honours List and is appointed a Fellow of the University of Roehampton in 2024.

Dr Linda Yueh CBE has served as Chair since 2018 and as a member of Council since 2016. Janet Cooper OBE, Sianne Haldane and Ravi Suchak will join the Council on June 1.

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