Sir Peter Wanless appointed Chair of pioneering charity, 5Rights Foundation
5Rights Foundation, the leading global charity advocating for children online, announced today the appointment of Sir Peter Wanless as their incoming Chair.
Sir Peter succeeds Baroness Beeban Kidron, who becomes Honorary President of the charity she founded and has led with extraordinary impact since 2012.
Sir Peter takes this vital role after stepping down from his trailblazing 11-year tenure as CEO of NSPCC, during which the NSPCC became an indispensable voice in child online protection. A Trustee of 5Rights since 2018, Sir Peter has been instrumental in helping 5Rights establish itself in the UK and beyond as the leading national and global champion of children’s rights in the digital environment.
“I am delighted that 5Rights is starting a new chapter with Peter as Chair. I have worked with Peter for many years, both as a trustee of 5Rights and in his role at NSPCC. There is simply no one better to take 5Rights forward; it is a wonderful appointment. He joins 5Rights Executive Director, Leanda Barrington Leach and an extraordinary team dedicated to building the digital world that children deserve.
I thank the 5Rights team (past and present), our partners, funders and supporters, and most particularly the many hundreds of children with whom I have engaged and have brought such wisdom to our work. These young people are at the heart of the organisation’s success, they direct us in our work, and remind us of our purpose. I am delighted that Peter has asked me to stay on in a new role of President, and I look forward to supporting him and Leanda as they further 5Rights’ mission to create real-world change for children.”
Baroness Beeban Kidron, 5Rights Honorary President
“It is an immense honour to take on the role of Chair at 5Rights Foundation. Baroness Kidron’s visionary leadership has transformed the landscape of children’s rights online and, leading a distinguished Board of Trustees, I look forward to building on that legacy. 5Rights has a talented team led by Leanda, and a growing collection of committed funders. We are determined to bring protection and empowerment to millions of children across the globe by 2030.”
Sir Peter Wanless, 5Rights Chair
“It is testament to Beeban’s strategic vision and extraordinary personal investment, focused on delivering immediate real-world change for children that she has built such an impactful organisation. 5Rights stands as a formidable global force championing a rights-respecting digital world for children. Sir Peter joins a truly remarkable team of expert Trustees from around the world, and I look forward to the next phase of this journey to entrench children’s rights and needs at the heart of digital design.”
Leanda Barrington-Leach, 5Rights Executive Director