Following approval by Commonwealth Heads of Government last week, Her Excellency Winnie Anna Kiap CBE has been announced as the new Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth’s agency for civil society.
The Chair of the Foundation is a distinguished private citizen of a Commonwealth country appointed by Heads of Government. As Chair, Her Excellency Winnie Kiap will lead Board meetings that govern the Foundation and support its future direction. She succeeds Dato’ Sudha Devi K.R. Vasudevan, who has served with distinction since 2020.
The Commonwealth Foundation is one of the Commonwealth’s three intergovernmental agencies with a mandate to support Commonwealth civil society and, through that work, to advance the interests of the Commonwealth’s 2.7 billion citizens.
The Foundation delivers an annual grants programme that supports civil society to engage with governments to advance participatory governance, democracy, and human rights. It also administers a creative programme showcasing Commonwealth culture—from writing to filmmaking—including the renowned Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Through a range of initiatives, such as the Commonwealth People’s Forum and the Critical Conversations online event series, the Foundation amplifies the voices of the People of the Commonwealth, enabling them to shape the policies and decisions that impact their lives.
Her Excellency Winnie Kiap brings extensive leadership and governance experience to the role. She served as Papua New Guinea’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2011 to 2022, where she also represented Papua New Guinea at the International Maritime Organization and Chaired the Commonwealth Secretariat Board of Governors. Before her appointment as High Commissioner, she was Papua New Guinea’s longest-serving and first woman Cabinet Secretary and worked in consultancy roles for Non-Governmental Organisations promoting gender-inclusion.
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, had this to say of the appointment:
‘The appointment of Her Excellency Winnie Kiap as Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation Board is a historic achievement. It recognises the professional capabilities of one of our most senior diplomats and elevates the presence of the Pacific in global leadership roles. This is a proud moment for Papua New Guinea and a landmark achievement for career women in our country and the region.’
Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation, Dr Anne T. Gallagher AO, said:
‘I am delighted to welcome Her Excellency Winnie Kiap to the Commonwealth Foundation. Her appointment comes at a critical time as we work to deepen the engagement of civil society with governments across the Commonwealth. Her Excellency’s wealth of experience and her distinguished career in diplomacy and governance will provide invaluable leadership to the Foundation as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.’
The outgoing Chair of the Board of Governors, Ambassador Dato’ Sudha Devi K.R. Vasudevan, who has now completed her second and final term, said of the appointment:
‘I extend my warmest congratulations to Her Excellency Winnie Kiap on her appointment as the new Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation. Her exemplary leadership and dedication to the Commonwealth will undoubtedly guide the Foundation to even greater achievements in the coming years.’
The Foundation welcomes Her Excellency Winnie Kiap’s historic appointment as Chair of our Board. Her extensive diplomatic and governance expertise will be instrumental as we continue to champion the voices of the People of the Commonwealth in 2025 and beyond.
For more information
For further details about the Commonwealth Foundation, additional comments, or photo requests, please contact Leo Kiss, Knowledge, Learning and Communications Manager, at l.kiss@commonwealth.int.
Notes
Annual priorities of the Commonwealth Foundation are determined by a Board of Governors, comprising representatives of Commonwealth governments and High Commissioners based in London, civil society representatives, and the Commonwealth Secretary-General. The Chair of the Foundation is a distinguished private citizen of a Commonwealth country appointed by Heads of Government.
