We are pleased to announce that the CIVICUS Board has elected Dylan Mathews as Board Chair and Sonia Kwami as Board Vice-Chair. The decision was made as part of the first meeting of the new cohort of the CIVICUS Board, which began its term on 1st July 2022.
Dylan Mathews is the Chief Executive of Peace Direct, a UK-based international NGO that aims to shift power and resources to locally-led civil society organisations working in some of the most conflict-affected countries worldwide. Dylan has spent twenty years working in the international development, humanitarian and peacebuilding sectors, and is passionate about tackling the power imbalances and systemic problems that prevent local civil society from playing a more active role in their contexts. While born in the UK, Dylan is of Sri Lankan heritage, was brought up in Zambia, has lived in the Caribbean and Sudan and has supported civil society organisations in over 20 countries.
"I am honoured and humbled to be taking up the position of Board Chair,” said Dylan Mathews. “CIVICUS is the most vital dynamic champion of civil society globally, and I can think of no other organisation worldwide that has done so much to support civil society at a time when freedoms are under threat in so many countries. I look forward to serving with my board colleagues to help advance CIVICUS' mission and its ambitious new strategy.”
Sonia Kwami is a campaigner and leader in development practice, who is passionate about working with and inspiring diverse groups of people to become change agents and catalysts for justice. Over the past two decades, she has successfully managed development programmes, advocacy and campaigns (online and offline), and supported civil society efforts in over 60 countries, particularly in the global south.
“It has been a privilege and an honour to serve on the CIVICUS Board over the last two years,” said Sonia Kwami. “In this period, I have had the opportunity to be part of a diverse board, where we have helped shape critical conversations on the scope and impact of the Board while working alongside CIVICUS staff, members and allies to identify the priorities that we have adopted as part of CIVICUS’ Strategic Plan for 2022-27. I look forward to working together to support civil society across the world in my new role as Vice-Chair of the Board.”
Sonia is from Ghana and is currently the Africa Campaigns Director for ONE, a global movement campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030, so that everyone, everywhere can lead a life of dignity and opportunity. As part of this work, she leads in developing, managing and executing ONE’s campaigns in Africa, which also involves working closely with diverse groups of people to demand justice, equality and accountability from governments and duty bearers.
In their roles as Board Chair and Vice-Chair, Dylan Mathews and Sonia Kwami will work closely with Patricia Lerner, who continues as the Treasurer of the CIVICUS Board.
