Priya Nithianandan (5 September 1964 – 2 May 2025)
Published on 7th May 2025
It is with great sadness and shock that we learned of the sudden death of our colleague Yogapriya (Priya) Nithianandan, Head of Finance.
Priya was one of the longest-serving staff members the Society has ever had. He first started at the Linnean Society on 21 August 1991, as an Administrative Assistant. He often spoke fondly of the two people who offered him the post and supported him throughout his first years at the Linnean Society: John Marsden, Executive Secretary, and Gren Lucas, Treasurer. Both encouraged him to train as a chartered accountant, and Priya has been the financial back bone of the Society ever since. In 2007, he became Financial Controller, and in 2021, Head of Finance.
Priya was deeply invested in the present and the future of the Linnean Society. His experience of more than 30 years of managing the Society’s finances and working with different Executive Secretaries and the current CEO was invaluable. He was of good counsel, both in the Senior Management Team and in terms of the wider organisation of the Society. Over the many years, he got to know many of the Society’s Fellows, through communicating and meeting them regularly when dealing with membership dues.
The fact that he held his wedding reception in the library of the Society is a measure of how fond and proud of the Society he was. He was always attentive to members of staff, mindful of their financial situations, and enquiring after the children of those with families. He was full of entertaining stories and anecdotes about his travels and childhood.
We will miss him enormously and offer our deepest condolences to his family.
Priya was a champion of the Linnean Society, devoted to our security and future. I always appreciated his perspective as it came from a place of deep knowledge and commitment, and genuine caring. He was so delighted by the big strides we’ve made this past year, especially with Burlington House, and I’m heartbroken that he won’t be here to enjoy these next years with us.
Professor Anjali Goswami, Linnean Society President
Having worked with Priya closely for the last three years, I have seen how much the Linnean Society meant to him. His love of the Society stemmed from his respect and admiration for the people who were themselves deeply invested in the Society’s goals, and his work reflected his deep attachment to the building, to the Society’s members, and to our mission. Priya worked tirelessly to serve the Society, and he was an integral part of our team. Words cannot express what a shock this has been to me and to the rest of the team. We will miss him greatly.
Professor Gail Cardew, Chief Executive of the Linnean Society
