Kirsty Lang appointed as new Chair of Global Witness Board

We are delighted to announce the appointment of journalist and broadcaster Kirsty Lang as the new Chair of the Global Witness Board. A member of the board since 2020, Kirsty brings a wealth of experience communicating on global issues, as well as considerable governance experience in the charity sector.  

Kirsty takes over from lawyer and human rights campaigner Juana Kweitel, who has held the role of Chair for the past three years and will continue as a Board Member.

Starting her career as a reporter and foreign correspondent reporting from many parts of the world, Kirsty has spent more than three decades working across television, audio and print, predominately for BBC Radio and Television.

Commenting on her appointment, Kirsty said:

“I’m extremely proud to be taking up the Chair of this highly effective organisation at a time of huge global uncertainty. As a journalist, I have long admired the way Global Witness shines a light into the dark corners of the global economic system.

“With the world in a state of climate emergency, the investigative work of GW is critical when it comes to finding out facts and exposing the truth about greenwashing, fossil fuel exploration and deforestation. The public has a right to know who profits from perpetuating the climate and biodiversity crises which threaten our very existence.”

Global Witness CEO, Mike Davis, said:

"Kirsty’s high-level experience in media and international affairs, coupled with her commitment to holding the powerful to account, will be invaluable in building on Juana’s fantastic leadership over the past three years.

“I know that as Chair of our Board, Kirsty will inspire all of us at Global Witness. I look forward to working with her to ensure that the organisation is ever more effective in its work to shift the balance of power from big polluters profiting most from climate breakdown to the people most adversely affected."

In addition to her work as a journalist, Kirsty spent six years as a Trustee of the British Council and she is currently Chair of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, Newcastle. She has been a visiting professor at University College London since 2018, and was also a visiting professor in the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, New York City, in 2012.

Kirsty has MA in Journalism from City University, London, as well as a degree in International Relations and an MSc in Government and Politics from London School of Economics.