Sir Myles Wickstead KCMG

Sir Myles Wickstead KCMG joined the board of BBC Media Action in July 2019.

Joining the board of BBC Media Action continues my long history of interest in and involvement with Africa.  From 1993 to 1997 I was based in Nairobi running the British Government Development programmes in East Africa, and from 2000 to 2004 was based in Addis Ababa as British Ambassador to Ethiopia, Djibouti and the African Union. From early 2004 to late 2005, I was Head of Secretariat to the Commission for Africa (CfA) chaired by Tony Blair, where I enjoyed a close collaboration with the BBC and survived a televised Africa debate chaired by fellow BBC Media Action trustee Zeinab Badawi. 

Since leaving government service in late 2005, I have chaired the boards of Concern UK and One World Media; was independent vice chair of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy; and have served on the boards of several other NGOs, trusts and foundations. I currently chair the Joffe Charitable Trust, and am on the boards of the Commonwealth Foundation and the Royal African Society. I have been a specialist advisor to the Parliamentary International Development Select Committee, and am an honorary advisor to Malaria No More UK, the Tropical Health and Education Trust, the Coalition for Global Prosperity, United Purpose and Cambridge Governance Labs. 

I am inter alia Visiting Professor (International Relations) at King’s College London and Honorary Associate Professor at the Strategy and Security Institute, University of Exeter. My book ‘Aid and Development: A Brief Introduction’ was published by OUP in June 2015.  I look forward to contributing my knowledge and expertise to furthering BBC Media Action’s excellent work.

Sir Myles Wickstead was made Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2021 for his long service to international development.