Skip to content
  • Common Currency
  • Campaigns
    • PENWrites
    • Writers at Risk
    • Writers in Residence
    • Free speech in the UK
  • News
  • Events
  • Translation
    • PEN Translates
    • PEN Transmissions
    • International Translation Day
    • The World Bookshelf
      • Books
      • Authors
      • Translators
    • PEN Presents
      • Issues
      • Books
      • Apply to PEN Presents
  • Prizes
    • PEN Pinter Prize
    • PEN Ackerley Prize
    • PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize
  • Donate
  • Join
Home > Featured > Daniel Gorman made Director of English PEN

Daniel Gorman made Director of English PEN

Daniel Gorman has been appointed as Director of English PEN and will take up his post in August. He takes over from Antonia Byatt, who is leaving to become CEO of First Story.

Daniel joins PEN from the Shubbak Festival, where he is Executive Director. Over the past five years, he has grown the festival in scale and scope to become the largest festival of Arab culture in the UK. His extensive experience of working with writers and supporting artists in areas of conflict, both with Shubbak and as co-founder of Highlight Arts, makes him well suited to PEN’s work protecting writers at risk across the world. As a commissioner  he also has a brilliant track record of presenting new and diverse voices to audiences in the UK – also central to English PEN’s mission.

Since joining the organisation in 2017,  Antonia has successfully put PEN on a firm financial footing and kicked off an exciting programme for PEN’s centenary in 2021. Daniel will join a committed team to develop the programme and to build English PEN for the next period so that it can continue to champion freedom of expression and ideas across the world.

Daniel Gorman said:

I am honoured to be taking up the role of Director of English PEN – the UK’s oldest free speech organisation whose work ranges from campaigning for writers at risk to supporting new opportunities for literature in translation. I look forward to working alongside the English PEN membership and the network of international PEN centres to continue and develop their vital work towards the centenary celebrations in 2021 and beyond.

Maureen Freely, Chair of English PEN said

I am thrilled to welcome Daniel to English PEN. I am very grateful to Antonia for the hard work she has put in over the past two years laying the foundations for English PEN to respond to future opportunities and challenges for writers. Daniel is brilliantly placed to lead English PEN when the freedom of ideas has never been more important.

Join our mailing list

Sign up to receive the latest English PEN news and events.

SIGN UP
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Partners
  • Jobs
  • Contact us

With thanks to our Core Funders

©1921 - 2023

English PEN is a company limited by guarantee number 5747142 (England & Wales) and a registered charity, number 1125610.

We use cookies to help us improve your experience on our website. By closing this notification or interacting with the website you agree to our use of cookies. ACCEPT Find out more
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT