Interview with Andrew Copson-Chief Executive of the BHA and President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union-

[Previously published in Conatus News]

Andrew Copson is Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association (BHA), a position he has held since January 2010, and former Director of Education and Public Affairs at the BHA from 2005 to 2010. In 2015, Andrew Copson was elected President of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, the global umbrella body for atheist, Humanist, sceptic and secularist organisations. He has worked for a number of civil and human- rights organisations throughout his career in his capacity as executive committee member, director or trustee and has represented Humanist organisations before the House of Commons, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the United Nations.

In brief, what is your family background — geography, culture, language?

I’m from a town called Nuneaton, in the Midlands of England, and from a poor, white working class background. I grew up in a difficult time for my hometown and county, living in the 80s, when all of the industry had been or was being wound up. But there was still a lot of social solidarity and community feeling around the old industries. It was a very non-religious society, too. Social services and welfare…