Dr Vera Slavtcheva-Petkova, Associate Dean for Global Engagement at School of the Arts, has been appointed as a new Non-Executive Director at the UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC).
In this prestigious role, Dr Slavtcheva-Petkova, Reader in Global Journalism and Media at the Department of Communication and Media, will help to guide the UK’s contribution to UNESCO’s mission during a time of unprecedented global challenges, including ecological breakdown and rapid political and technological change.
Advancing education, communication, and sustainability
Dr Slavtcheva-Petkova is one of three new Non-Executive Directors appointed, alongside Laura Griffin, a global education expert, and Dr William C. Smith from the University of Edinburgh.
Their collective expertise will help ensure that the UK remains a principled, values-led partner within UNESCO, committed to advancing education, freedom of expression, global citizenship, sustainability and the rights and dignity of all people.
For 80 years, UNESCO has championed the belief that peace must be built on the “intellectual and moral solidarity of humanity.” The appointment of these three leading experts reflects the UK’s continued commitment to that founding vision, working globally and locally to strengthen dialogue, understanding, and equitable access to knowledge in an increasingly fragmented world.
A Co-Director of the University’s DigiPol: The Centre for Digital Politics, Media and Society, Vera’s expertise is in global journalism with a focus on:
- Journalists’ safety
- Journalism in Central and Eastern Europe
- Online political talk and post-deliberative public spheres
- Young people, politics and the media
Vera is the Vice Chair of the Worlds of Journalism Study – the most extensive international comparative study in communication, which regularly assesses the state of journalism around the world through representative surveys with journalists in 75 countries. She also leads a one-stop platform on journalists’ safety, an initiative of the University of Liverpool and the Worlds of Journalism Study in co-operation with UNESCO, which hosts a global safety index.
Upon her appointment, Dr Vera Slavtcheva-Petkova, said: “Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. Without freedom of expression, there is no democracy and we are all worse off for it. At a time of global democratic decline, growing inequalities worldwide and the expansion of powerful digital technologies, it is a huge privilege and responsibility for me to be joining the UK National Commission for UNESCO so we can work together on advancing the communication and information agenda. This will be a logical continuation of my nearly decade-long collaboration with UNESCO on journalists’ safety and the organisation of the academic conferences as part of World Press Freedom Day.”
Professor Alison Fell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, said: “I was delighted to hear of Dr Vera Slavtcheva-Petkova’s recent appointment as a UNESCO non-executive director. Vera’s important research into the increasingly fragile and contested relationship between journalism and democracy means she is very well placed to take on this prestigious role.
“Equally, UNESCO’s values-led mission to advance education, freedom of expression, global citizenship, sustainability and the rights and dignity of all people aligns well with that of several of the research centres based in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Liverpool, including the Digital, Media and Society Institute, Heritage Institute, Centre for the Study of International Slavery, and Centre for People’s Justice. Given this, I hope to see the partnership with UNESCO further develop in the future.”
Professor Anne Anderson, Chair of the UK National Commission for UNESCO, said: “Leading in challenging times demands clarity of values, depth of expertise and a commitment to the founding ideals that have guided UNESCO for 80 years. Laura, Will and Vera each bring extraordinary knowledge and global experience in their fields. Their leadership will help ensure that the UK remains a strong and principled voice within UNESCO, defending the rights to education, freedom of expression, knowledge, culture, and a sustainable future for all.”
A commitment to UNESCO’s Mission at 80 Years
These appointments reinforce the UK’s long-standing commitment to UNESCO’s goals across all its programme areas:
- education as a human right,
- safeguarding freedom of expression and access to information,
- strengthening global citizenship and sustainability,
- and ensuring that knowledge, culture and science remain shared public goods.
Together, the new Non-Executive Directors will support the UKNC’s work across government, civil society, universities and UNESCO sites, helping ensure that the UK continues to uphold and advance UNESCO’s vision of peace through international cooperation.