Changes to Open Rights Group Board

The ORG board, which oversees ORG’s staff and operations, is changing. Currently, the board consists of Louise Ferguson, William Heath, James Cronin, Suw Charman, Danny O’Brien, Rufus Pollock, Ben Laurie, Vijay Sodiwala, David Harris and Dan McQuillan.

Louise Ferguson steps down as chair. Louise has chaired the ORG Board since inception, providing exemplary service during the demanding period of setting up a sustainable new supporter-driven organisation. She continues to serve as a Board member.

Suw Charman, one of ORG’s founders and its first Executive Director, is leaving to concentrate on other projects. Suw was instrumental during the early months, working with the other founders to turn the ORG pledge into a reality. Her contributions both as Executive Director and, later, as a Board member led the organisation to many notable successes. We wish her the best of luck in her new endeavours (not least her new blog, http://kitsandmortar.com/).

ORG will announce a new chair to serve for a one-year term from September 2008. ORG intends to appoint its next new Board members in autumn 2008. These posts will be openly advertised shortly. From June to September 2008 William Heath takes over as acting chair.

As Danny O’Brien, ORG’s co-founder says, “The Open Rights Group was defined, and continues to be defined, by Suw and Louise’s amazing and tireless contributions over the last three years. We’re incredibly indebted to them both.”