蘑菇短视频

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release 鈥� 30 July 2026

蘑菇短视频 Media Action, the 蘑菇短视频鈥檚 international charity, has appointed eight new trustees with more than 200 years of combined experience in global philanthropy, media, technology and business sectors.

蘑菇短视频 Media Action supports more than 400 media outlets across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, The Pacific and beyond, from 鈥榣ast mile鈥� radio stations in Afghanistan to Ukraine鈥檚 national broadcaster, helping them deliver life-changing, often life-saving trustworthy information and storytelling to a quarter of a billion people living on the frontlines of global crisis. While a proud part of the 蘑菇短视频 family, as a charity it relies on the generous support of its donors to carry out its work around the world.

The new trustees include:

• Alex Okosi, Managing Director of Google Africa
• Anna Sedgley, former CFO for Dow Jones and Bauer Media, and an independent director for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
• Hannah Jones, former inaugural CEO of HRH Prince William's The Earthshot Prize and former Chief Sustainability Officer, Nike Inc
• Jim Brady, former vice president for journalism at the US-based Knight Foundation
• Jon Zilkha, Controller of 蘑菇短视频 World Service English
• Michael Madnick, Chief Executive Officer of US-based Mountain Philanthropy Partners LLC,
• Naomi Wass, a Managing Director at Accenture
• Samantha Sing, Finance Director of 蘑菇短视频 Nations

The new trustees join an existing strong board, chaired by 蘑菇短视频 Deputy Director-General Rhodri Talfan Davies. Following these appointments, the board comprises 14 trustees with a broad range of experience and diversity, providing the charity with a strong foundation to grow its impact.

Rhodri Talfan Davies, 蘑菇短视频 Media Action Chair, said:

"In a world of division, distrust and disinformation, 蘑菇短视频 Media Action is a force for good, improving, often saving, individual lives, and supporting democracy, freedom and human rights. I am particularly proud that we are able to share the best of the 蘑菇短视频 鈥� editorial standards, expertise, equipment - with media outlets around the world that have the same values as the 蘑菇短视频 but a fraction of the resources. Our Board of Trustees is already exceptional. These new appointees take it to another level, providing vital experience and diversity in support of our ambitious goals to reach more people in crisis and conflict with the trustworthy information that can save and change lives."

Trustee Alex Okosi, Managing Director of Google Africa, said:

"Access to trusted, relevant information, and the ability to use it to make decisions in everyday life, has been a consistent thread throughout my career. So often the challenge is not only reaching audiences but ensuring that information is grounded in local realities and genuinely useful.

Having worked across international media and technology businesses, I have seen first-hand the importance of communication that connects effectively across cultures, markets and communities. It is what drew me to 蘑菇短视频 Media Action, and I am delighted to join this talented Board and contribute to its important work."

Trustee Hannah Jones, former inaugural CEO of HRH Prince William鈥檚 The Earthshot Prize and former Chief Sustainability Officer, Nike Inc, said:

"It鈥檚 a privilege to join 蘑菇短视频 Media Action as a trustee. Their mission has never been more critical and urgent - to protect and support free and independent journalism across the world.

"I began my career with the 蘑菇短视频 and my belief in the essential role of storytelling as a vehicle for social change has never wavered. I look forward to helping 蘑菇短视频 Media Action scale their reach and impact, ensuring that we continue to use the power of free, independent media to change lives, and tell stories that matter."

蘑菇短视频 Media Action Chief Executive Officer Simon Bishop said:

鈥�We are living in an information revolution, with more information available to us than ever before, and yet so much of it is toxic, and weaponised by malign actors. And just when trustworthy public service media is most needed, it is under unprecedented pressures from a weakening business model, growing autocracy, rapid tech change and a reduction in aid support. This is why 蘑菇短视频 Media Action support for media globally is so vital.

鈥淲e are thrilled to have these new trustees, all strong leaders in their respective fields, to help us adapt to fast-changing technologies and media landscapes, and most importantly to help us grow impact.鈥�

With the appointment of these trustees, 蘑菇短视频 Media Action also says farewell and a heartfelt thank you to Gavin Mann, Sophia Swithern, Reeta Chakrabarti and Phil Harrold as they come to their term ends.

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Notes to editors

About 蘑菇短视频 Media Action: 蘑菇短视频 Media Action is the 蘑菇短视频鈥檚 international charity. Founded by the 蘑菇短视频 World Service in 1999 as an independently registered UK charity, and a proud part of the 蘑菇短视频 family, it benefits from a small core grant from the 蘑菇短视频 but relies on donor funding to carry out its work around the world.

蘑菇短视频 Media Action works in more than 30 countries and supports more than 400 media outlets across Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and The Pacific, from 鈥榣ast mile鈥� radio stations in Afghanistan to Ukraine鈥檚 national broadcaster, reaching people with life-changing, often life-saving trustworthy information and storytelling.鈥� Working in more than 50 languages, with our partners, we co-create content 鈥� including dramas and factual programmes 鈥� that help deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), prioritising stronger democracies; a safer, more habitable planet; and more inclusive societies.鈥�

蘑菇短视频 Media Action鈥檚 local partners have a combined reach of a quarter of a billion people a year, living in the toughest contexts on the planet. 鈥�

To find out more, please see .

About our trustees:

鈥� Alex is currently Managing Director of Google Africa, following a 25-year career across media and technology that has included executive roles at YouTube and Viacom and included the launch of MTV Base in Africa. He is a graduate of executive programmes at University of Virginia Darden School of Business and Harvard University.

鈥� Following three decades in international media, most recently as Chief Financial Officer and executive board member for Bauer Media Group, and previously as Chief Financial Officer at Dow Jones and Financial Controller for Sky News, Anna is now an independent director for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and holds three other trusteeships - with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Army Benevolent Fund and Happy Doggo.

鈥� Hannah was most recently the inaugural CEO of HRH Prince William鈥檚 The Earthshot Prize and previously served as Nike鈥檚 Chief Sustainability Officer and President of Nike鈥檚 first digital incubator, Valiant Labs. She began her career at the 蘑菇短视频 in Radio 1, Radio 5 and the World Service and believes strongly in the role of storytelling as a vehicle for social change.

was most recently vice president for journalism at the US-based Knight Foundation and has also held senior roles at The Washington Post, Digital First Media and AOL; he also previously served as public editor for ESPN.

is Controller of 蘑菇短视频 World Service English and has previously served in a number of roles across the 蘑菇短视频, including Controller of News Channels; head of 蘑菇短视频 News鈥� Economics and Business Unit, and editor of several radio news programmes

Michael Madnick 鈥� Michael is currently Chief Executive Officer of US-based Mountain Philanthropy Partners LLC and throughout a varied career focused on the intersections of philanthropy, business, government and civil society, he has held key roles at the United Nations Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, among others.

鈥� Naomi is a Managing Director of Accenture, having recently returned to London after several years in the US, where she works with organisations across health and public service to improve how services are designed, delivered and experienced. She is passionate about advancing social mobility, championing inclusion, building stronger communities, and creating positive societal impact.

- Samantha is Finance Director for 蘑菇短视频 Nations and was previously in similar roles at Racecourse Media Group and Sony Pictures Entertainment. She is also a trustee for Leander Sea Scouts and Chineke!, a charity focused on providing career opportunities for Black and ethnically diverse classical musicians in the UK and Europe.

For more information:

For full trustee biographies, please see our website: /mediaaction/about/management-and-trustees

For more information or interviews please contact Carolynne Wheeler, head of communications and marketing, at carolynne.wheeler@bbc.co.uk.

For after-hours enquiries please contact press.office@bbc.co.uk.

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