Anna brings 19 years of experience at the Society of Authors to the role of Chief Executive. Responsible for overseeing the running of the organisation, Anna took over from Nicola Solomon in April 2024 to drive the SoA’s mission of empowering and supporting authors. 

Working closely with the SoA’s board of directors (Management Committee), Anna ensures that SoA’s activities and campaigns are aligned with the SoA’s core values of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. She is currently the staff contact for the Authors’ Living with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses Network, and part of Camden Council’s Inclusive Business Network.

Born in Sunderland, Anna grew up on the north-east coast. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Durham and her MA in Management from Durham Business School. She is married with two children and a very naughty dog. When not working, Anna enjoys swimming, walks in the countryside and the occasional blast on the trumpet. 

A book that has inspired: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (penguin.co.uk)

LinkedIn: Anna Ganley

Sarah Burton leads the advisory team and advises members on all business aspects of the writing profession, including vetting contracts. She also works across the SoA’s list of literary estates, licensing rights in titles by authors such as Brendan Behan, Rose Macaulay and John Masefield. As co-coordinator of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group, she has a particular interest in industry issues affecting creators of children’s books.

Sophia curates and delivers the SoA events programme. She supports our team of community coordinators and is a coordinator herself, for the Scriptwriters Group. Sophia launched the #SoAatHome festival of online events in April 2020 which continues to be a success.

In 2021 Sophia was named a Rising Star by The Bookseller.

Katharine joined the SoA in 2019. As Chief Financial Officer, Katharine is part of the senior management team and is responsible for managing the financial actions of the SoA. This includes financial planning, budgeting, and managing cashflows, as well as preparing and analysing the quarterly Management Accounts taking into account the external economic environment.

Katharine manages the finance and accounting for the SoA ensuring that all the SoA’s financial reports are accurate and completed in a timely manner.

Additionally, Katharine manages the finances of 14 charitable funds. She is also responsible for overseeing the annual audits, tax, payroll, compliance and dealing with all financial requests.

She is joint coordinator of the Comics Creators Network.

Lilly joined the SoA in May 2021 and works within the Events department.

She is a Co-Coordinator of the Comics Creators Network.

Johanna joined the SoA in October 2021 and advises members on publishing contracts and issues. She works closely on the SoA’s outreach programme and is a co-host of The SoA Advisory Clinic podcast.

Johanna is the coordinator for the SoA’s Poetry and Spoken Word Group.

Elizabeth joined the SoA in June 2022 and works part-time in the operations team running payroll for the organisation and supporting with HR tasks.

She is the coordinator of The Carers’ Network and liaison for the SoAiS.

Catherine is a senior contracts advisor at the SoA and advises on translation contracts and issues.

She is joint group coordinator for the Translators Association.

Theo advises members on publishing contracts and issues.

He is joint coordinator of the Scriptwriters Group.

Teddy works on SoA communications and outreach and alongside the Policy department on the SoA’s campaigns work.

He is also co-coordinator of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group, working with Sarah Burton and members of the CWIG committee on issues close to children’s writers.

Ambre joined the SoA in October 2021. She advises members on publishing contracts and issues. She also works on the SoA’s public policy.

Ambre is joint group coordinator for the Translators Association.

Mathilde joined the SoA in 2022. She transferred from the Membership team to the Advisory team in November 2022 where she will continue her work advising members with publishing issues.

Mathilde is joint coordinator of the SoA’s Poetry and Spoken Word Group.