BA Advisory Council Members
The BA's membership is represented by an Advisory Council of booksellers, who discuss and advise the BA Board on policy issues that affect all BA members. It meets not less than three times a year. The Council representatives are listed below and can be contacted by any BA member who wants a particular issue brought to the notice of a Council meeting; simply click on the name of the Advisory Council Member you wish to contact.
BA Officers
| Graham Rand (President) | THE, Newcastle-under-Lyme |
| Tim Godfray (Chief Executive) | The Booksellers Association, London |
| Sharon Murray (Officer) | Blackwell's, Oxford |
| Jane Streeter (Officer) | The Bookcase, Lowdham |
Elected Council Members to 2011
| Trevor Proctor | Eason & Son (NI) Ltd, Belfast |
| Lynne O’Neill | John Smith & Son, Glasgow |
| Jacqui Gadd | Marylebone Books, London |
| Ron Johns | Mabecron Books Ltd., Plymouth |
| John McNamee | Eason Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland |
| Patrick Neale | Jaffé and Neale Bookshop and Café, Chipping Norton |
Elected Council Members to 2010
| Sheryl Shurville | Chorleywood Bookshop, Chorleywood |
| Gerry Johnson | Waterstone’s Booksellers Ltd, Brentford |
| Peter Donaldson | Red Lion Books, Colchester |
| David Cooke | Tesco Stores Limited, Welwyn Garden City |
Elected Council Members to 2009
| Rachel Russell | W.H. Smith Ltd, Swindon |
| Christine Hanson | Bookmark, Spalding |
| Philip Downer | Borders (U.K.) Ltd., London |
Council Members: Login here to view Council Documents
Responsibilities of the Advisory Council
- Above all, to advise the BA Board as to how to help members of all types and sizes to prosper in the business of bookselling, especially in strategic matters.
- To consider relevant reports from the BA Advisory Groups (for ongoing issues), BA Working Groups (for temporary issues), outside committees (for example the BA/PA Liaison Group) and BA Branches, especially when strategic matters might be involved.
- To set up as appears necessary Working Groups for temporary issues and Advisory Groups for ongoing issues.
- To bear in mind always that communication with members should be two way: not only do members need to hear from the Association; they also need to know that the Association will give them a voice. Even when it is not possible for the BA to have a unanimous view on a matter affecting members differently, each view should be expressed by the BA on behalf of the members holding it, despite the lack of an agreed Association policy.
The composition of the Advisory Council
The Advisory Council consists of the Officers and not fewer than 10 and not usually more than 15 members, nominated with regard to the following template guideline.
3 non executive officers.
3 representatives of chain booksellers.
4 representatives of special interest groups, who might well be independent booksellers.
1 wholesaler.
1 supermarket.
1 internet bookseller.
2 BA executive staff, one of which is the Chief Executive.
Members of the Council do not normally expect to serve more than two three year terms consecutively; there may, however, be special considerations in some cases, leading to a longer consecutive term of service than six years.
An annual review of the composition of the Council considers gaps in geographical representation, size of business or type of business in order to correct any imbalances.