Yorkshire’s first female president, Dr Jane Powell, hopes her appointment can inspire other women to consider such roles in the future.
Powell’s profile as a former England and Yorkshire captain and national team manager led to her being nominated for the role and voted in by members.
The Sheffield-born former teacher replaced Geoff Cope in April.
“I’m still shocked, after 160 years of male presidents I didn’t expect this,” Powell told BBC Radio Leeds.
“But I think it’s time we pushed the ceiling. I hope ‘if you can see it, you can be it’.
“I hope there are plenty of young girls or even older girls who aspire to take over as President of Yorkshire at some point in the future.”
Dr Powell, who played county and international cricket with his twin sister Jill during their careers, won the Championship with Yorkshire during his playing days.
Since retiring, she has been Head Coach, Head of Handicap Performance with the England & Wales Cricket Board, and she has also been a Life Member of Marylebone Cricket Club.
Although her call came out of nowhere, she is confident that she has the pedigree to take on the role.
“I was given the opportunity,” Powell said, explaining how she was considered.
“I have a long history in cricket, I was captain in the 1980s and then coached England in the 2000s, and so to receive this recognition made me think: ‘Yes, I I have an experience that is worthy of this position”.
“I was honored to take it, and was offered the nomination by Tanni Gray Thompson, it was nice to be nominated and luckily the members voted for it.”
