Published: Wed 11 Sep 2024
Derek Ray-Hill has joined the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) as Interim CEO.
Mr Ray-Hill will lead the IWF through a period of transition and growth while a national recruitment campaign takes place for the permanent CEO.
He will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team and the Board to map out opportunities for the organisation to have a greater impact on its mission to eliminate online child sexual abuse material, particularly against a context of increasing regulation of the online space in the UK, EU and beyond.
Mr Ray-Hill has previously worked with a wide range of international corporations and initiatives like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Global Partnership for Economic Development and Cooperation, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association.
Most recently, he led the organisational re-design and future strategy of Transnational Giving Europe, a European partnership covering 19 countries that facilitates cross-border charitable donations. This follows three years transforming the international work of the Charities Aid Foundation.
Mr Ray-Hill said: “I am delighted to be working with the Internet Watch Foundation, and I'm looking forward to developing new ways in which we can improve and expand our excellent work.
“I am already in awe of this brilliant team, which is delivering such a tough but important mission. The IWF’s work gives child victims all around the world, who have suffered some of the most horrible sexual abuse, hope.
“They prevent the repeated revictimisation of children, and are at the forefront of the fight to create an internet where we can all be safe, and where children and young people can thrive without fear of abuse. I’m proud to begin working with them, and to bring my skills and experience to this invaluable cause.”
Mr Ray-Hill’s expertise covers organisational strategy, international public affairs, private/public partnerships and transformation.
Derek is originally from Montreal, Canada and now lives in Surrey with his family of four children. He is also Chair of Trustees for Police Care UK, the national charity that supports those injured in the service of policing and their families. Outside of work he has played rugby union and now referees. He also plays golf.
The campaign to recruit a permanent CEO begins mid-September and is being led by Diversifying Group. Details of the role will be posted on the IWF careers page.
As EU negotiations on the Child Sexual Abuse Regulation resume in Brussels, the Internet Watch Foundation places a choice before the public and policymakers – to either push for legislation that protects children online or make it easier for child sexual abuse content to spread.
