We’re delighted to welcome three new Trustees to the BSA Board this year – each bringing their own perspective, expertise and dedication to the discipline. At a time of transformation and challenge for sociology and the wider academy, their leadership will help steer our work with thoughtfulness, rigour and vision.
Dr Shoba Arun, Reader in Work and Organisation Studies, Essex Business School
A passionate sociologist and long-standing BSA member, Shoba has served on the Work, Employment and Society editorial team since 2018 and contributed to the Association in many capacities. Her research spans sociology and business education, through research, publications, and journal editing, strengthening interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge exchange. Shoba is an advocate for the value of public sociology and brings with her a strong record of championing innovation in publishing, open access, and cross-institutional knowledge sharing.
Professor Angharad Beckett, Professor of Political Sociology, University of Leeds
Angharad has been part of the BSA community since her days as a doctoral student, when she joined the Network editorial board. She is now Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Disability and Social Justice, a diamond open access journal that achieved Scopus listing in just five years. She brings practical publishing expertise, a deep commitment to decolonisation of the discipline, and a clear vision for how BSA publications can continue to thrive – balancing academic excellence with accessibility and inclusion.
Councillor Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Coventry City Council
Kindy combines academic insight with political experience, drawing on her background in sociology and computer science, and her work in local government. She has held board-level roles in housing and domestic violence services, and has contributed to policy through research, including influencing the introduction of minimum wages for council employees. As a Trustee, she brings strong regional networks, experience in governance and risk management, and a focus on making space for minoritised groups as equal stakeholders. She’s interested in how the BSA can engage with fast-moving issues such as AI, ethics and child poverty.
We look forward to working with Shoba, Angharad and Kindy when they commence their roles at the beginning of September – and to the ideas, energy and leadership they will bring to the Association and the wider community.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to outgoing Trustees Elizabeth Cotton, Finn Mackay and Rima Saini. Their contributions have been deeply valued and we are grateful for the time, expertise and care they have brought to the role.
