About : IAN BIRRELL before becoming deputy editor-in-chief of The

Independent for 12 years, leaving in March

– Contributing editor of The Mail on Sunday as
2010.
foreign reporter and commentator. Weekly
– Adviser and speech-writer for David Cameron
column in the ‘i’ paper. Also writes for The
in the run-up to the 2010 general election.
Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Daily Mail,
– Founder and joint curator of Britain’s first
The Observer, The Daily Telegraph, The
Politics Festival, launched at Kings Place,
Guardian, The Sun, The Spectator and Mosaic.
London, in June 2017.
Previously published in many other papers,
– Regular speaker at events and adviser to
platforms and magazines.
clients on crisis management, media training,
– Foreign correspondent who has reported
public relations, change and transparency.
from more than 50 countries including
– Co-founder with Damon Albarn of Africa
Albania, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France,
Express, which promotes African music and
Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Haiti, Iraq, Israel,
brings together musicians from around the
Liberia, Libya, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia,
world. Organised trips to five African nations;
Somalia, South Africa, Serbia, Syria, Tanzania,
staged acclaimed concerts in the UK, Belgium,
Uganda, Ukraine, US and Zimbabwe.
Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Spain,
– Foreign Reporter of the Year (2015) and
Turkey, South Africa and Nigeria; taken a train
Columnist of the Year (2015) in British Press
filled with musicians around Britain as part of
Awards – a unique double win. Winner of
the Olympic festivities; and reformed a Syrian
London Press Club’s prestigious Edgar Wallace
orchestra & choir to tour Europe.
Award (2014) for fine writing and reporting.
– Executive producer of four albums: Africa
Highly commended as Foreign Reporter (2011)
Express presents…, a compilation of African
and Feature Writer (2013 & 2017) in British
music selected by Western artists; ‘Africa
Press Awards. Shortlisted in 16 other awards
Express presents…Maison des Jeunes’, an
for columns, feature writing, foreign and news
album of new Malian music; ‘Africa Express
reporting, economic analysis, political
presents…Terry Riley’s In C Mali’, the first
journalism, science writing and ‘contrarianism’
African recording of the minimalist classic
since 2011.
which was debuted at Tate Modern; ‘Africa
– Frequent broadcaster on television and radio,
Express presents…The Orchestra of Syrian
including Newsnight, Channel 4 News, The
Musicians’, a live album of reformed
Andrew Marr Show, Dateline London, Today,
orchestra from 2016 European tour.
PM, 5Live and The World Tonight. Presented
– Married with two children, the youngest of
& wrote BBC Panorama documentary on
whom has profound and multiple learning
Texas prison reforms.
difficulties.
– Previously worked at top level of national
newspapers for more than two decades,
holding senior executive positions at The
Sunday Times, Daily Mail and Sunday Express