- Linda Edwards - Chairman
Linda Edwards became the Chairman of the IEA Board of Trustees in July 2023, after serving on the Board since June 2019 and the Board of Advisors since 2016. Linda undertook her undergraduate studies in economics at Trinity University in Texas, followed by a Juris Doctor at The University of Texas School of Law. She subsequently practised mergers and acquisitions at Latham & Watkins, the world’s second-biggest law firm. Linda went on to live in London, Dubai, Paris, and Hong Kong. Since 2018, she has been a Board Member of the Atlas Network, the international classical liberal networking and training organisation started by IEA founder Antony Fisher. She is also a Board member of the Reason Foundation and previously served on the Board of Visitors to the School of General Studies at Columbia University. - Kevin Bell
Kevin Bell’s background is in public affairs and public relations. He was formerly Regional President at Fleishman-Hillard and managed their activities in the UK, Africa and Middle East. He specialises in advising senior executives of leading blue-chip companies, as well as senior politicians on their communications strategies. One of the industry’s most experienced practitioners, his expertise ranges from media relations, reputation management and M&A, to political counsel, crisis communications and regulatory campaigns. Kevin was an adviser to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. - Professor Christian Bjørnskov
Professor Christian Bjørnskov is a professor of economics at the Department of Economics at Aarhus University in Aarhus, Denmark, and affiliated researcher at the Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN) in Stockholm. He has also been a visiting professor at the University of Göttingen and the University of Heidelberg, and is associated with the Centre for Political Studies in Copenhagen (CEPOS). - Robert Boyd
Robert Boyd is a private investor. He studied Classics at the University of Oxford, has worked in London, Hong Kong and San Francisco, and lives in Alexandria, Virginia. His professional focus has been on strategic corporate growth and management and he has been a board member of public and private corporations, not-for-profit organisations and a community association. He has also been a trustee of various think tanks for more than twenty-five years. - Robin Edwards
Robin Edwards is a Chartered Accountant and Fund Manager who for fifteen years managed one of Europe’s largest global macro funds. More recently he has become involved as a director and shareholder in several businesses which benefit from his commercial and financial background. Prior to entering the fund management industry Robin practised as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen LLC in London and as a management consultant in Australia. He is a former founder Trustee of Policy Exchange and recently stepped down as chairman of The Queen’s Club where he remains a Trustee. - Tom Harris
Tom Harris was appointed as a Trustee of the IEA in March 2023. He is an investment trusts stockbroker at Jefferies. He holds a BA (Hons) in Politics from Nottingham University. He began his career as a stockjobber at Pinchin Denny and Morgan Grenfell. After university, he joined British Steel in the international steel trading division in London, South Wales, and Mumbai before returning to the City to specialize in investment trusts. He is a trustee of Civitas and a Senior Fellow of the University of Buckingham. - Professor Patrick Minford
Patrick Minford CBE has been Professor of Economics, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University since October 1997. Between 1967 and 1976 he held economic positions in the Ministry of Finance, Malawi; Courtaulds Limited; H M Treasury; H M Treasury’s Delegation to Washington, DC; Manchester University; and The National Institute for Economic and Social Research. From 1976-1997, Patrick Minford was professor of economics at Liverpool University. He was a member of Monopolies and Mergers Commission 1990-96 and one of the HM Treasury’s Panel of Forecasters (‘Six Wise Men’) 1993-1996. He is author of many books and articles on exchange rates, unemployment, housing and macroeconomics. - Bruno Prior
Bruno Prior is a Director of Summerleaze Ltd, which is involved in the construction materials, property, waste management and energy sectors. For most of his thirty years with the company, Bruno’s main focus has been renewable energy – firstly, the generation of electricity from landfill gas, and then the supply of wood pellets for heating. - Professor Martin Ricketts
Martin Ricketts is Professor of Economic Organisation at the University of Buckingham and is Chairman of the IEA’s Academic Advisory Council. A graduate of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (1970) he has a DPhil from the University of York (1980). He was a Research Economist at the Industrial Policy Group (1970-72) and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of York (1974-77). He joined the academic staff of the University of Buckingham in 1977 becoming Dean of the School of Accounting, Business and Economics (1993-97) and then Dean of the School of Humanities (2002-2015). He has published in professional journals on the new institutional economics, the theory of the firm, entrepreneurship, public choice, aspects of public finance and housing policy. He has authored books on Business Enterprise and Ownership Structure, and co-authored books on the Economics of Energy and Government and Industry. - Neil Record - Life Vice President and Former Chair of the IEA Board of Trustees
Neil Record serves as the Life Vice President of the IEA, having stepped down from the Board of Trustees in 2023. He held the position of Chairman from 2015 until 2023. Not only a benefactor of the IEA, Neil has played a significant role in advocating for transparency in UK public sector pensions. He has authored or co-authored multiple papers on this topic, including “Sir Humphrey’s Legacy” (2006), published by the IEA, and the IEA report titled “The Great British Rake-off,” (2021), which examines how the government has misled Parliament and the British people on public sector pensions.
- Professor D.R. Myddelton – Life Vice President and Former Chair of the IEA Board of Trustees
Professor Myddelton has been a Life Vice President since retiring from the Board of Trustees in 2015. David was Chairman of the Board between 2001 and 2015, and has also published the IEA monographs ‘They Meant Well’ and ‘Unshackling Accountants’. David served on the Board from 1994 until 2015. - Lord Nigel Vinson – Life Vice President and Former Chair of the IEA Board of Trustees
Lord Vinson has been a Life Vice President of the IEA since stepping down from the Board of Trustees in 2004. He was appointed to the Board in 1971, and served as IEA Chairman from 1988 until 1995. Lord Vinson has also helped create the IEA Transport Unit and the Vinson Centre for the Study of Liberal Economics at the University of Buckingham.
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The IEA Trustees ensure that we fulfil our charitable mission to ‘improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems’. They are responsible for governance, ensuring we act in compliance with all relevant laws and internal rules we set for ourselves, for example on research and development protocols. Trustees appoint the Director General to manage the pursuit of this mission and are responsible for overseeing the IEA’s appointments and stewardship of charitable assets, including the conduct of an annual audit. They appoint the Company Secretary, overseeing the correct filings to Companies House and the Charity Commission as required. Trustees are volunteers and often contribute directly as authors, donors, or in the provision of specific expertise, but cannot be compensated for their contribution.
The IEA Board meets three times a year, including one AGM. The IEA Finance and General Purposes Committee meets five times a year. The IEA Appointments Committee meets as and when required to consider new Trustees and senior appointments.
Kevin Bell’s background is in public affairs and public relations. He was formerly Regional President at Fleishman-Hillard and managed their activities in the UK, Africa and Middle East. He specialises in advising senior executives of leading blue-chip companies, as well as senior politicians on their communications strategies. One of the industry’s most experienced practitioners, his expertise ranges from media relations, reputation management and M&A, to political counsel, crisis communications and regulatory campaigns. Kevin was an adviser to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Professor Christian Bjørnskov is a professor of economics at the Department of Economics at Aarhus University in Aarhus, Denmark, and affiliated researcher at the Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN) in Stockholm. He has also been a visiting professor at the University of Göttingen and the University of Heidelberg, and is associated with the Centre for Political Studies in Copenhagen (CEPOS).
Robert Boyd is a private investor. He studied Classics at the University of Oxford, has worked in London, Hong Kong and San Francisco, and lives in Alexandria, Virginia. His professional focus has been on strategic corporate growth and management and he has been a board member of public and private corporations, not-for-profit organisations and a community association. He has also been a trustee of various think tanks for more than twenty-five years.
Robin Edwards is a Chartered Accountant and Fund Manager who for fifteen years managed one of Europe’s largest global macro funds. More recently he has become involved as a director and shareholder in several businesses which benefit from his commercial and financial background. Prior to entering the fund management industry Robin practised as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen LLC in London and as a management consultant in Australia. He is a former founder Trustee of Policy Exchange and recently stepped down as chairman of The Queen’s Club where he remains a Trustee.
Tom Harris was appointed as a Trustee of the IEA in March 2023. He is an investment trusts stockbroker at Jefferies. He holds a BA (Hons) in Politics from Nottingham University. He began his career as a stockjobber at Pinchin Denny and Morgan Grenfell. After university, he joined British Steel in the international steel trading division in London, South Wales, and Mumbai before returning to the City to specialize in investment trusts. He is a trustee of Civitas and a Senior Fellow of the University of Buckingham.
Patrick Minford CBE has been Professor of Economics, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University since October 1997. Between 1967 and 1976 he held economic positions in the Ministry of Finance, Malawi; Courtaulds Limited; H M Treasury; H M Treasury’s Delegation to Washington, DC; Manchester University; and The National Institute for Economic and Social Research. From 1976-1997, Patrick Minford was professor of economics at Liverpool University. He was a member of Monopolies and Mergers Commission 1990-96 and one of the HM Treasury’s Panel of Forecasters (‘Six Wise Men’) 1993-1996. He is author of many books and articles on exchange rates, unemployment, housing and macroeconomics.
Bruno Prior is a Director of Summerleaze Ltd, which is involved in the construction materials, property, waste management and energy sectors. For most of his thirty years with the company, Bruno’s main focus has been renewable energy – firstly, the generation of electricity from landfill gas, and then the supply of wood pellets for heating.
Martin Ricketts is Professor of Economic Organisation at the University of Buckingham and is Chairman of the IEA’s Academic Advisory Council. A graduate of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (1970) he has a DPhil from the University of York (1980). He was a Research Economist at the Industrial Policy Group (1970-72) and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of York (1974-77). He joined the academic staff of the University of Buckingham in 1977 becoming Dean of the School of Accounting, Business and Economics (1993-97) and then Dean of the School of Humanities (2002-2015). He has published in professional journals on the new institutional economics, the theory of the firm, entrepreneurship, public choice, aspects of public finance and housing policy. He has authored books on Business Enterprise and Ownership Structure, and co-authored books on the Economics of Energy and Government and Industry.
Professor Myddelton has been a Life Vice President since retiring from the Board of Trustees in 2015. David was Chairman of the Board between 2001 and 2015, and has also published the IEA monographs ‘They Meant Well’ and ‘Unshackling Accountants’. David served on the Board from 1994 until 2015.
Lord Vinson has been a Life Vice President of the IEA since stepping down from the Board of Trustees in 2004. He was appointed to the Board in 1971, and served as IEA Chairman from 1988 until 1995. Lord Vinson has also helped create the IEA Transport Unit and the Vinson Centre for the Study of Liberal Economics at the University of Buckingham.