Executive Committee

Jana Nahodilova (chair)

Jana moved to London from the Czech Republic in 1998 where she gained an MSc in Gender studies and an MPhil in Czech literature and nationalism. She has taught Czech language and CEE cultural units at the University of Bristol for 20 years. In 2012 Jana established Okénko, a Czech and Slovak school in London which she runs to date. She is also chair of the Association of Czech and Slovak schools in the UK and cooperates with initiatives nationally and internationally. In 2022 Jana joined the BCSA executive committee as joint events co-ordinator and became chair in March 2024. 

Blanka Shrimpton (secretary)

Blanka joined the BCSA in 2007 and was elected honorary secretary the following year. For many years she organised our summer party held in the gardens of the Czech and Slovak embassies.

Ed Peacock (editor British Czech & Slovak Review & writing competition administrator)

Semi-retired administrator, with family links to the Czech Republic. Ed has organised the writing competition since its inception in 2002. Since 2020 he has also been editor of the British Czech and Slovak Review.

Jana Buresova (events co-ordinator)

Jana holds a PhD from the University of London and is the author of The Dynamics of Forced Female Migration from Czechoslovakia to Britain, 1938-1950. In 2019 she was awarded the Jan Masaryk Silver Medal for outstanding contributions to the development of relations between the Czech Republic and the UK and Northern Ireland. Jana was the BCSA’s first events co-ordinator.

Angela Spindler-Brown

Prague born, Angela has lived in London since 1968. A TV journalist, she specialised in historical documentaries made for British and US broadcasters. From 1995 until 2020 Angela was editor of the British Czech and Slovak newsletter which developed into the Review.

Sandra Milite (co-opted member)

Sandra was born in Gottwaldov (Zlín) in 1974 to a Czech mother and an Italian father. She lived and studied political science in Milan and moved to London with her family in 2014. In Italy, she dedicated more than 15 years of her career to the market research industry covering marketing and operations in senior positions. In London she was a global marketing manager of a consortium and at the moment works in the private healthcare sector supporting the business and organisation of private clinics.

Ladislav Hornan (president)

Ladislav was born in Prague and came to London in 1968. For more than two decades he was managing partner of UHY Hacker Young LLP. Over the years he has held a number of positions in the BCSA: treasurer (1992-3) chairman (1994-8) president (1998-2014) vice-president (2014-7) chairman (2017-24) president 2024 to date. In 2005 Ladislav received the Gratis Agit Award from the Czech government and in September 2017 the Jan Masaryk silver medal for the development of bilateral relations between the UK and the Czech Republic