Childnet is pleased to announce the appointment of Will Gardner as the organisation’s new CEO following an external recruitment process.
Dr Alice Swann Chair of the Childnet trustees said:
“We are delighted to announce Will as Childnet’s new CEO. Will’s knowledge of and passion for this subject, combined with the respect of his colleagues and his peers, and his ideas for taking Childnet forward proved to be a winning combination during the selection process. The trustees and I are confident that we have appointed the very best candidate for this important role.”
Will Gardner said:
“Childnet fulfils a vital role in helping to make the internet and new technologies a great and safe place for children. I am determined to ensure that Childnet continues this excellent and important work, and continues to place children and young people at the centre of its work”.
Will joined Childnet in October 2000, working in the area of research and policy, and has been Deputy CEO since 2007. He has wide ranging experience on Internet safety and is a member of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, and prior to this was a member of the Home Office Task Force on child protection on the Internet from its inception in 2001. Will was a committed and active member of the group drawing up ‘Good Practice Guidance for Industry’ for chat, instant messenger, search providers, and social network providers, as well as a member of the UK Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) Cyberbullying Taskforce and recently headed up the work drawing up the DCSF’s guidance for schools on preventing and responding to cyberbullying. He also recently co-authored the Fair Game? report looking at the extent and nature of commercialism on children’s favourite websites and online environments.
Will will be operational as CEO from January 2009.
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For more information on Childnet’s work to combat Cyberbullying see www.digizen.org
For more information on the Fair Game? report see www.childnet.com/downloads/fair-game-final.pdf
