Barbara Hayes appointed new chair of SAA board of directors

Barbara is also Deputy Chief Executive of the Authors' Licensing & Collecting Society in the UK which she joined in January 2004. Since 2007 her work has focussed on lobbying for authors' rights at the UK, EU and international level.

In the UK, she has been heavily involved with the work of the All Party Writers Group - a cross party group of politicians from both Houses - seeking opportunities to bring  issues regarding writers to the attention of the appropriate Ministers and parliamentarians. She works closely with other writers' unions such as the Writers' Guild of Great Britain and the Society of Authors to ensure a clear and consistent approach is taken to lobbying on behalf of authors in the UK.

In Europe, she has worked for a long time with the SAA and the European Writers' Council, again ensuring consistent messages seeking to improve authors' rights and their ability to make a living from their creativity are promoted among MEPs and the European legislative bodies.

At WIPO in Geneva, Barbara works closely with the International Authors Forum again ensuring the plight of the author is brought to the attention of delegates seeking to develop treaties, particularly around exceptions to copyright.

In her new role as Chair of SAA she will work closely with the SAA Executive, Board of Directors and Board of Patrons to continue to educate parliamentarians and others who influence legislation within Europe on the importance of authors' rights and their contribution to society.