26 May 2025

Top 3 priorities to achieve as a CCC Member

If I am elected, I would focus on promoting the work of the Coalition on access to information around freedom of information, open data, public procurement, and asset disclosures. This would include energising the Access to Information Campaign, updating existing Coalition resources, providing assistance to members, and organising meetings and events as possible. I would also support the ongoing work on whistleblower protection.

Candidate’s profile

David Banisar is a Visiting Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics in the Department of Government. His work focuses on transparency and access to information of public and private bodies, including freedom of information, freedom of expression, whistleblowing, and privacy and data protection. He is also a fellow at the Government Accountability Project and the Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future. He has served as an advisor and consultant to numerous organisations, including the Council of Europe, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the UN Development Programme, and Transparency International.

David was previously Senior Legal Counsel at ARTICLE 19 where he led the organisation’s work on transparency and information rights, including the right to information, anti-corruption, environmental protection and sustainable development. At ARTICLE 19, he was a member of the CCC between 2011 and 2020, serving as vice-chair twice, and chair in 2019-2020. He has also been a research fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a visiting fellow at Stanford’s Center for Internet and Society and the University of Leeds Law School.

Contributions to the work of the Coalition

I have 30 years experience in access to information issues, working to promote the adoption and implementation of access to information, whistleblowing and related laws worldwide at both the national and international levels. At ARTICLE 19, I led our efforts to promote the incorporation of the access to information targets and indicators in the Sustainable Development Goals. At the national level, I supported national teams and partner organisations and governments in the adoption of access to information and related laws.

When I was previously on the CCC, I organised numerous side events and briefings on access to information issues, as well as overviews and a comprehensive study on access to information and UNCAC.  I would build on that work to promote improve access to information implementation under the convention and better assist the membership in improving their capacities.

As an academic researcher, I am currently focusing on transparency issues, focusing on corporate obligations and impacts. I also currently provide trainings for officials, lawyers and judges through the Council of Europe on SLAPPs, freedom of expression and other issues in South-eastern European countries which I would use to build our advocacy around civic space.

Candidacy & Interest Disclosure