Professor Olwen Purdue works on modern Irish social history with a focus on poverty and welfare, and also Directs the Centre for Public History at Queen’s. She is on the Board of Directors of the Irish Museums Association, a Governor of the Linen Hall Library and sits on the Project Board for the redevelopment of the Ulster Museum.

Professor Purdue has a strong commitment to collaborative research and to equipping emerging scholars to engage with a range of public audiences, something she hopes to encourage in her new role. 

Speaking about her election, Professor Purdue said: "It is a great honour to be elected to the Council of a scholarly body that is doing such work with and for the discipline, and I very much look forward to working with historians from across the UK in this exciting new role."

Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen’s commented: “I am delighted that Professor Olwen Purdue has been elected to Council of the Royal Historical Society. Professor Purdue will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this role, and I warmly congratulate her on this honour.”

Professor Purdue will begin her role on Council from January 2023.