The Exeter City of Literature Team

Anna Cohn Orchard (she/her)

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Executive Director

Anna Cohn Orchard is the inaugural Executive Director of Exeter UNESCO City of Literature. With a passion for establishing and developing unique initiatives and a keen eye for cultural development, Anna has been instrumental in elevating Exeter's status on the global literary stage.

Anna holds a degree in English Literature from Lehigh University and a Master’s in Cultural Geography from the University of Exeter. She has forged a professional journey through a blend of strategic planning and practical experience in cultural management. Prior to her current role, Anna worked with several organizations such as the Museum of Food and Drink in Brooklyn, the Robin Hood Foundation in New York, and the Roald Dahl Story Company, where she honed her skills in project management, social impact, and partnership building.

Since taking the helm at Exeter City of Literature, Anna has spearheaded numerous initiatives to celebrate and promote Exeter and Devon's literary culture. She conceived of and executed the world-famous Penguin Book Vending Machine, established a pioneering bibliotherapy training course with the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society, and has been pivotal in building a Partnership Network that encourages a collaborative approach to creating a vibrant cultural ecosystem. Anna also sits on the Board of Governors at the University of Plymouth.

Anna's vision for Exeter is one of inclusivity and innovation, ensuring that the city's literary heritage continues to inspire and engage future generations.

The books I read repeatedly: Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and Philip Roth's The Human Stain. These two fierce powerhouses of writing craft sentences and utilize language so masterfully that their words have affected me permanently. Both books look at the inner and outer identities we shape ourselves and that are placed on us, and what that relentlessness does to how we respond to fear, loneliness, and our communities. These are books I will re-read throughout my life, taking away something new each time.

Jordan Thomas (he/him)

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Communications Associate

Born and raised in Devon, Jordan has worked locally in the creative industries since 2018. He has spent much of this time in the marketing team at Exeter Phoenix - seeing firsthand how vital cultural organisations are to the local community. Whilst at Creative UK Jordan developed his creative arts marketing skills on a national level, working in collaboration with Netflix, BFI and a variety of local councils - now back in Exeter he is excited to build upon this experience with the UNESCO City of Literature team.

The fictional character you most admire: Piranesi from Susanna Clarke’s novel of the same name - unwavering kindness and curiosity for the world despite the unfathomable situation he finds himself in.

Board of Trustees

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Sharifa Milford Al Hashemy (she/her) - Board Chair

Head of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, Royal Devon University Healthcare Trust and Torbay and South Devon Trust

Sharifa Milford Al Hashemy is an inclusion and equity specialist, holding a leadership role in the NHS, with a particular interest in culture change and organisational development. Outside of work Sharifa collects more books than she can read, has strong relationships with the local community and enjoys being a positive disrupter. 

A book that changed the way you think about a particular topic: Lila Abu Lughod, Remaking Women. I have always been interested in narratives surrounding women in the Middle East and North Africa region , and which lens is applied when viewing them. This book explores the lives of women in the region and dismantles the post colonial lens which is often applied to them.

It sparked a deeper understanding and interest in the socio- politics in the region and impacted the way I carried out my own research, ensuring I don’t speak for women, but allow them to bring their stories forward. This lens is one which I still approach policies and systems by asking who’s in the room when decisions are being made, and who has been left out of the narrative.

Adam Watt (he/him)

Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor Faculty of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences, University of Exeter

Adam Watt has stepped down as a trustee of Exeter City of Literature due to workload commitments.

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Dee Rowett (she/her)

Dee has spent 20 years working in Further and Higher Education and is a committed educator, coach, and mentor. She was the first Chair of Exeter City of Literature and continues to serve as a dedicated trustee on the Board.

She holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Exeter and remains a particularly passionate reader of Victorian literature following her postgraduate studies.

The book I love to give as a gift: A book I love to give as a gift is Chris Whitaker’s We Begin at the End—because what better present than a story so gripping you can’t put it down, yet so powerful you don’t want it to end?

Pastoral Mentor, University of Exeter

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Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson (she/her)

Sunday Times Bestselling Novelist and Co-Founder of Impact of Omission

Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson is a Sunday Times Bestselling author. Her forthcoming novel, Gutterwitch, sold to Random House Children’s (US) and Bloomsbury (UK) after a nine way auction. 

Raised between London and Sydney, her work centres those living at the intersection of identities, in our world—and in others.

She holds a BA in English Literature and Classical Studies from the University of Exeter.

The book I love to give as a gift: I love to give Normal People by Sally Rooney to friends of all ages and genders. It is brutally evocative of the confusion of your twenties, and a perfect reminder of why we should not let good things pass us by.

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May Argyle-Lander ACA (she/her)

May is a Chartered Accountant with a background in accountancy practice and a passion for making numbers meaningful. She currently works as a Finance Business Partner at the Met Office, where she helps teams make smart, informed decisions by bringing financial insight into everyday planning.

With experience across both the private and public sectors, May enjoys using her skills to support organisations that make a difference.

The book I love to give as a gift: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. A timeless classic that is beautifully written and blends romance, mystery and suspense.

Finance Business Partner, Met Office

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Tom Staniford (he/him)

Marketing Consultant, Speaker, and Lecturer

Tom is a freelance Marketing Consultant, Speaker, and Lecturer and has lived in Exeter for much of the last 15 years. A Chartered Marketer, he holds 3 Master’s-level qualifications in Law, Psychology, and Marketing, and is fascinated by stories; the way they are told, and what they represent for people and place. A passionate bibliophile and fan of lifelong learning, he speaks internationally on marketing, intellectual property law, cyberpsychology, rare disease, and storytelling.

The fictional character you most admire: Sherlock Holmes. Inimitable, iconoclastic, insightful - created his own job title and area of study years ahead of contemporaries. Yes, he had an ego, social issues, and notorious problems with substance abuse but he was also fiercely loyal to his friends, uncompromising with the truth, and capable of great compassion.

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Victoria Miller (she/her)

Principal Solicitor, Natural England

Vickie moved back to Devon recently, after spending 10 years in London getting a degree in Media and Modern Literature, qualifying and working as a lawyer. Now, as part of Michelmores' Corporate team in Exeter, Vickie helps enterprises achieve their aims for a positive future, with a particular interest with sustainable businesses. She has had two children's books published, about a dragon, based on stories she told her young children when they wouldn't sleep.

The book I love to give as a gift: A book I love to give as a gift is the collection of short stories, Strange Pilgrims by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It's a gift I usually give to friends going travelling, so fits the theme. I think the lack of orientation and the slight darkness that runs through much of Garcia's work is strangely comforting when far from home. One of the stories of this collection, Light is Like Water, is one of my favourite stories (strange as it seems to say of such a tragedy). I've also been given it, numerous times, and am delighted, every time.