Fran Unsworth has been appointed as the new chair of the International News Safety Institute (INSI).

Fran has worked in the media for over 40 years, having previously been Director of News and Current Affairs at the BBC. Fran succeeds Robin Elias, who has crucially supported the organisation through the challenging years of COVID and the war in Ukraine.

Fran said, on her appointment as INSI chair, “I am delighted to be taking over as chair of INSI, at a time when the work of the organisation is as needed as ever, in enabling journalists to report on the current wars and instability faced by people across the world.”

INSI Director Elena Cosentino said, “I am thrilled at Fran’s appointment as our new chair. I have long admired Fran’s unwavering commitment to courageous journalism and I know she will bring new energy and ambition to our organisation.”

Fran’s distinguished career and broad experience in journalism at the highest levels will be a huge support to INSI’s team and members as journalists all over the world face some of the worst threats ever to their lives, livelihoods and ability to hold power to account.

Fran began her journalistic career in 1980 in BBC Local Radio and after a stint as a radio producer in Washington D.C. she joined Radio 4’s flagship news broadcasts The World at One and PM.

Fran was appointed the BBC’s Home News Editor and later Head of Political Programmes. In 2005, she became Head of Newsgathering, running one of the world’s largest newsgathering operations with bureaux across the world. In 2014, Fran was appointed Director of BBC World Service Group and also chaired the BBC’s international development charity, BBC Media Action. Fran left the BBC in March 2022.