Exeter City of Literature welcomes new Trustees with experience in Business, Finance, and Education
On Thursday 30th July, Exeter UNESCO City of Literature announced the appointment of two new Trustees. Frances Farley and Rob Bosworth bring extensive experience in business management, finance, and education, strengthening the charity as it continues its mission to share a love of stories across Devon.
Frances Farley (she/her)
Frances is an experienced business manager specialising in strategic planning, financial oversight, and regulatory compliance. She currently serves as School Business Manager and a member of the Senior Leadership Team at a Devon school, managing a £2.5 million annual budget.
Frances previously worked as Operations Director for Exeter City Football Club during the club’s early years under fans ownership, helping to take the club from the Conference League to League 1 in the EFL.
Driven by a lifelong passion for community well-being, she aims to connect her educational and sporting networks to champion the Exeter City of Literature charity’s mission.
Exeter City of Literature’s new Trustee Frances Farley says, “Books and stories have always shaped my life, and it is a privilege to join Exeter City of Literature as a trustee. I am deeply passionate about the power of words to connect people, and I look forward to bringing my experience in finance to the board to help ensure the organisation’s long-term strength and sustainability. I am thrilled to have the chance to work alongside the team and my fellow trustees to broaden cultural access and showcase Exeter’s vibrant literary identity.”
Rob Bosworth (he/him)
Rob is the Chief Executive Officer of the Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ Cornwall College Group (CCG). He previously worked as Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Exeter College where he was pivotal in enhancing the educational framework of the college, contributing more than two decades of expertise to help shape its outstanding educational offer and student services.
Rob’s leadership at Exeter College–along with his roles in the Ted Wragg Multi Academy Trust, the South West Institute of Technology, and the Exeter Chamber of Commerce–have significantly shaped education and skills strategies to meet industry demands. He is passionate about place-making and is deeply driven by the civic role colleges play in their communities.
Exeter City of Literature’s new Trustee Rob Bosworth says, “Reading is a golden key to a chest of opportunity, empowerment, and equality for the most disadvantaged and hardest to reach young people and adults in society. I am delighted to be working with the Board of trustees to help ensure everyone has access to this treasure!”
Exeter City of Literature’s Executive Director Anna Cohn Orchard says, “I’m so grateful to Rob and Frances for offering their incredible experience and commitment to literature in all its forms to the Exeter City of Literature board. Their expertise and passion will help us build new partnerships and opportunities for the people across Exeter and Devon.”
Exeter City of Literature’s Board Chair Sharifa Milford Al Hashemy says, “On behalf of the board, I want to thank Frances and Rob for the time and dedication they have already shown, and for the insight they will bring as we build on this rich literary heritage and the opportunities it creates for the city.
As we look to the future, we are confident that their contributions will help ensure the charity remains well governed , ambitious, and equipped to support Exeter’s literary life, from encouraging new voices to widening access to books and the written word. We look forward to the impact they will help us achieve together.”
About the Board
Exeter was designated a UNESCO City of Literature in 2019. Since becoming a charity in 2021 and an Arts Council NPO in 2023, Exeter UNESCO City of Literature has become one of the city’s leading cultural organisations under the leadership of Executive Director Anna Cohn Orchard and its Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees provides strategic oversight, supports the charity’s development through its trustees’ expertise and networks, and acts as an advocate for Exeter City of Literature and its work. Together, the trustees help realise the charity’s vision of a world where everyone loves stories and storytelling.
