The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) today announced a strategic development in leadership designed to strengthen the organization’s long-term sustainability and expand its impact at a time of growing threats to press freedom and women journalists worldwide.
Elisa Lees Muñoz, who joined the IWMF 22 years ago and has served as Executive Director since 2013, is now President of the IWMF, where she will continue to shape the organization’s vision, partnerships, and global influence as demand surges for safety and reporting support for women journalists. Nadine Hoffman, previously Deputy Executive Director, has been named Executive Director, assuming day-to-day leadership of operations, programs, and organizational strategy. Charlotte Fox, formerly Director of Communications, has been promoted to Managing Director, Communications and Strategy, joining the organization’s executive leadership team.
“This operational shift reflects the strength of our leadership and ensures the IWMF is financially strong, strategically focused, and prepared to meet this moment,” said Lees Muñoz. “Journalists are facing escalating safety risks, political backlash, economic instability, and gender-based attacks while the news industry continues to transform. Our new leadership model positions the IWMF to respond with greater agility, resilience, and ambition, while deepening our commitment to protecting women journalists worldwide.”
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Under Lees Muñoz’s leadership, the IWMF has expanded its safety support infrastructure, launched major global reporting initiatives, and significantly increased resources for journalists working in high-risk and under-resourced environments; last year, the IWMF provided more than $2.2 million in direct support to more than 2,044 journalists across 27 countries. As President, she will focus on long-term strategy, sustainability, and strengthening the organization’s role as a leading advocate for women in the media.
A 25-year industry veteran with 15 years of in-house leadership at the IWMF, Hoffman has played a central role in scaling the organization’s programs to meet global needs – strengthening operations, guiding cross-departmental strategy, increasing the IWMF’s reach, and fortifying institutional capacity. In her new role, Hoffman will lead the IWMF’s programs, human resources, staff management, and execution of mission-driven priorities.
Fox, the newly appointed Managing Director, Communications and Strategy, will lead organizational communications, public positioning, and narrative strategy, while also overseeing cross-functional sustainability initiatives. She will also continue advancing the IWMF’s advocacy work confronting misogyny, defending press freedom, and amplifying women journalists’ stories worldwide. A senior communications leader and long-time media strategist, Fox has directed high-impact campaigns shaping global conversations on press freedom, gender equity, and newsroom accountability for nearly two decades.
“The IWMF is operating in a rapidly shifting media, political, and cultural landscape,” said the Executive Committee of the IWMF Board of Directors. “This refreshed leadership model reflects our confidence in Elisa, Nadine, and Charlotte, and our commitment to ensuring the organization remains strong, adaptive, and future-focused. As attacks on journalists intensify, and the need for credible, independent reporting grows, the IWMF’s role has never been more vital.”
The IWMF’s leadership change underscores the organization’s commitment to long-term sustainability, innovation, and expanding support for its global constituency, including women journalists, journalists in crisis, newsroom leaders, press freedom advocates, and audiences who depend on a free and independent media.
Founded in 1990, the IWMF works to strengthen the role of women journalists worldwide by providing safety training, emergency assistance, reporting grants, leadership development, and advocacy to support journalists worldwide.
