Will oversees the Media Freedom and Media Development work of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the corporate charity of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information company. In just over ten years at the Foundation, Will has helped to develop this team from a purely training organisation into comprehensive media industry support programme. This work now spans three core focus areas, namely Media for Democracy and Development – focusing on the role media plays holding power to account; the Safety or Journalists – be that legal, physical or digital, and; the Future of Journalism – from research to sustainability. He overseas a portfolio of projects and strategic relationships around the world he has led programmes in over 60 countries, from Zimbabwe, to Russia to Brazil, with partners ranging from multilateral organisations, foundations and private institutions, to government agencies, NGOs and media companies. Before he was at the Foundation he worked in operations at a production company, and studied geography and geopolitics.

Tim is responsible for the Media Development project portfolio which spans Media Freedom, Inclusive Economies and Human Rights issues, focusing on the strategic approach, financial performance and delivery framework. In addition, he manages the strategic relationships with partners and donors that underpin the teams work. Tim also has a focus on the internal alignment of the project teams, whilst building out the teams product portfolio to best support beneficiaries in our operating countries. He previously worked at Save the Children as a Programme Manager in the Humanitarian Department, focusing on global capacity building, and Ernst and Young as a Management Consultant. He holds an MSc in Management and Human Resources from LSE, and the BPC and GDL from BPP Law with a scholarship from Middle Temple.

Heba leads the design of the Media Development training initiatives, and oversees a pool of world-class consultants, helping ensure TRF continues to provide innovative solutions and support to free and independent media. An ex-Reuters journalist, TRF trainer, and spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme, Heba brings over 20 years of experience in journalism, communications and media development. She has covered top news stories in the Middle East and North Africa; designed and delivered journalism and communication workshops in English and Arabic; managed media projects and engaged various stakeholders for TRF and the UN. She holds a B.A. in International Relations and an M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications from the American University in Cairo, as well as an MSc. in Strategic Communication from the University of Liverpool.

Joe oversees the Foundation efforts to promote media freedom and impartiality in the Baltic States. He has several years' experience as a project manager in the international development sector, having spent six years working on ODA-funded education programmes for the British Council in Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa and a further year on resilience-building programmes in North Africa for a UK central government department. He has significant experience of overseas project delivery, having been based in Spain, Angola, Senegal, and Egypt during his career to date. He holds a BA in French and Spanish from the University of Birmingham, and speaks both languages.

Max oversees a number of initiatives in Eastern Europe, with a specific focus on developing sustainable independent media environments. In particular, he overseas our work in the Eastern Partnership States in collaboration with the UK’s FCO. Before joining the Foundation, Max worked for Chemonics International’s UK Division supporting Chemonics to build their portfolio of UK government funded projects supporting independent media, improving the rule of law and enhancing civil society across South Eastern and Eastern Europe. Prior to this, he spent 4 years managing and coordinating stabilisation and security sector reform projects in Somalia, Somaliland and Lebanon.

Alexandra joined the Thomson Reuters Foundation in 2019 to manage grant-funded Editorial projects to increase coverage of human trafficking, slavery, and land rights. She previously worked for the Overseas Development Institute managing a DFID-funded research programme. Prior to this, she spent several years in New York working in non-profit administration and also a year working in the West Bank on a UNDP-funded programme with the Central Elections Commission - Palestine. Alexandra holds a BSFS from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and an MA in Middle East and Mediterranean Studies from King’s College London.

Belen has worked for Thomson Reuters Foundation since 2000 organising TRF's global training programmes for journalists from the developing world which also includes their partnership programmes. In addition, she also organises internal writing and communications workshops for Thomson Reuters staff. Her responsibilities also include managing communications and alumni relations. Belen has a BA (Hons) in Spanish and French from the University of the West of England. In her spare time she enjoys travelling, swimming, reading and photography.

Nazanin heads up journalism and media programmes within the Media Development team, working closely with our partners across the globe with a specific interest on MENA. Nazanin joined Thomson Reuters Foundation in May 2011 as a Programme Coordinator within the Media Development team. She has managed The Westminster Consortium (TWC) project, a 5-year parliamentary strengthening programme funded by the Department for International Development on strengthening parliamentary democracy by building capacity in the areas of parliamentary process, financial oversight and access to information. Led by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the programme ran activities in Ukraine, Georgia, Uganda, Mozambique, Morocco and Lebanon. Nazanin is the lead for other projects in partnership with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Nazanin has also managed journalism and media projects in Morocco, working with the Maghreb Arab Press, the Moroccan state news agency, as well as the news and media organisations in the Turks and Caicos islands, to promote standards of journalism amongst journalists. Both programmes were funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Prior to joining the Foundation, Nazanin had over seven years of experience in development including managing journalism training programmes within BBC Media Action, as well as communications roles with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, World Health Organisation, and Japan International Cooperation Agency. She is a trained journalist with extensive experience of working in the Middle East. Nazanin holds a BA degree in English Literature and an MA in Media Management.

Marie-Christine works on a range of programmes across the Media Development team and leads Generation Africa; a programme funded by the Gates Foundation to find the next generation of change-makers on the continent. Marie-Christine joined the foundation from the British Red Cross, where she handled the project management of direct marketing and communications campaigns. Prior to this, she worked on donor funded initiatives at UNHCR in London. With a BA in Arabic from the University of Exeter, Marie-Christine is now working towards a Certificate in Terrorism studies at the University of St Andrews focusing on the impact of terrorism on refugees and migration across the MENA region. She speaks Arabic with working knowledge of French.

Lauren works primarily on Wealth of Nations, a pan-African media skills development programme that helps journalists from across Africa to report on illicit financial flows. Her role includes liaising with in-country media partners to coordinate activities, supervising the mentoring programmes for journalists and monitoring programme finances. After graduating in 2017 with a French and Spanish BA from UCL, Lauren gained insight into programme coordination at an education-focused international development charity. Prior to joining the Foundation, Lauren completed a non-profit sector Leadership Development scheme in London.

Annick has a wealth of international experience in accountancy and administration, having worked for over 15 years in the oil industry. Financial reporting, record keeping and budget planning were the core elements of her previous role. For the Media Development team’s projects she applies her skills in both an administrative and financial capacity. Annick also coordinates project logistics and is particularly involved in our work in French speaking Africa.