British Humanist Association appoints Andrew Copson as new Chief Executive

Andrew Copson has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association (BHA), the national charity promoting Humanism and representing the interests of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. Andrew, 29, formerly the BHA’s Director of Education and Public Affairs, was appointed following a high number of applicants and a round of interviews held in November, and formally takes on his new role in January 2010.

Andrew came to the BHA in 2005 and since 2006 he has been coordinating the BHA’s education work, promoting understanding of Humanism as a non-religious worldview, as well as coordinating the BHA’s public affairs work. He has written extensively on these issues in the press and many other publications, and is regularly interviewed on radio and television news and current affairs programmes.

BHA Chair Robert Ashby said, ‘Andrew really understands the social and political milieu in which Humanism finds itself and has a track record of hard work and successes over the past years. I am sure that he will address the intellectual, financial and operational challenges of the BHA with his considerable analytical and inter-personal skills. Andrew has the staff, the trustees, the President, Vice- Presidents and all BHA members and supporters right behind him in the tasks ahead.’

In his role as Chief Executive, Andrew will be representing the interests of the ever-growing BHA membership, currently some 10,000 members and thousands more supporters.

Andrew said, ‘I am thrilled to be taking on the role of leading the BHA, which is unique in its aims, experience, reach and representation. There has never been a more exciting time to promote Humanism and work for a world where people are free to live good lives on the basis of reason, experience and shared human values.

‘We need to encourage and support that massive proportion of the population who put human welfare at the heart of their ethics, who find meaning in the realities of existence rather than in their denial, and make the most of the one life they have without reference to a life to come. These humanist values are not only credible and coherent, they have generated some of the greatest achievements of humanity, and should be celebrated and advanced.’

A reception will be held from 18.30-20.30, with speeches at 19.10, on 1st February at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL to welcome Andrew into his new post. If you wish to attend, please email naomi@humanism.org.uk

For further information and requests for interviews at naomi@humanism.org.uk or on 020 7079 3585.

Notes

Andrew Copson was appointed by the British Humanist Association’s Board of Trustees in November 2009, and took up the post of Chief Executive in January 2010.

Photograph of Andrew Copson attached.

Andrew has been with the BHA since 2005. He graduated from Balliol College, Oxford with a first in Ancient and Modern History and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Associate of the Centre for Law and Religion at Cardiff University. In addition to his work at the BHA, he is a director of the European Humanist Federation and a representative of the International Humanist and Ethical Union to the Council of Europe.

The British Humanist Association is the national charity representing and supporting the interests of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK working to promote Humanism, for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for an open society and a state that is neutral on matters of religion and belief.