Member of the Supervisory Board

World Press Photo is a platform that showcases and promotes the best of press and documentary photography from around the world. In our role as a platform, we work with a diverse community of photographers who come from many different communities and cultures; each bringing their own background, opinions and perspectives. The richness in the variety of these views is what makes it possible for WPPF to achieve its mission.

By connecting the world with the many stories that matter, we want to encourage understanding; to provide a space where dialogue among different perspectives can take place, a dialogue both among the stories we select and in the minds of the viewers who come to our exhibitions, presentations and activities. ‘Connection’ for us is essential for a better understanding that leads to more peaceful, humane solutions.

Our annual contest recognizes and celebrates the best photojournalism and documentary photography produced over the last year. Three years ago, we launched a new strategy and implemented a regional model to all our activities in order to better represent the ‘world’. The contest is organized into six regions – Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America, South America and Southeast Asia and Oceania – and entries are reviewed by independent regional and global juries. The winning stories are shared with an online community of over 2.5 million people, in the yearbook and our traveling exhibition. In 2023 we held 85 annual and thematic exhibitions in 83 cities in 38 countries.

The Supervisory Board is currently looking for a
Member of the Supervisory Board
Press Photography and visual journalism

The organization

For seven decades, the World Press Photo Foundation has been operating worldwide while being based from its home in Amsterdam as an independent, nonprofit organization. The World Press Photo Foundation is organized internally in the following teams: Communications, Programs, Curatorial Affairs, Exhibitions & Fundraising, Finance/Human Resources/Office. World Press Photo Foundation has an executive director who reports to the Supervisory Board.

The Supervisory Board

Members of the Supervisory Board have affinity with the vision and mission of World Press Photo Foundation as it is their main responsibility to guard this mission. The executive director of World Press Photo Foundation is primarily responsible for the organization’s strategy and policies and takes decisions on its (daily) operation. The Supervisory Board monitors the executive director’s performance and gives advice on and approves the organization’s overall policy and strategy. This includes amongst others the approval of the multi-annual plan, multi-annual budget, annual accounts and the annual report. The Supervisory Board currently consists of six members.

The Supervisory Board has on average five meetings each year in Amsterdam, and also attends informal and formal events of World Press Photo Foundation f.e. the awards ceremony. World Press Photo Foundation Supervisory Board membership is a voluntary position without remuneration.

General criteria for members of the Supervisory Board

• Affinity with the vision and mission of World Press Photo Foundation and its objectives.
• Supervisory Board level (international) experience preferably in one or more of the following areas: photography, visual journalism, media (development), human rights, general governance, (international) politics.
• Sensitivity to cross-cultural differences supporting World Press Photo’s diversity & inclusivity policy.
• Ability to balance critical reflection and constructive collaboration and understand the difference between supervising and executing; sensitivity to Dutch governance.
• Preferably a good understanding of the digital developments in the media.
• Time to attend Supervisory Board meetings (5x per year on average), in person in Amsterdam, and actively fill their role within the Supervisory Board; attend informal and formal events of World Press Photo Foundation.
  
  

Profile for a Supervisory Board member with a press photography background

• Has international practice as a photojournalist, documentary photographer, visual storyteller, photo editor or researcher.
• Broad general knowledge, with a special knowledge of media, visual journalism and storytelling.
• Proven national and international network and existing relationships within the photography community.
• Understands the current societal debates around gender, decoloniality and representation and AI, within arts and media.
• Excellent and thorough understanding of the technical and visual developments of the photographic medium and the developments of (media) platforms.
• Understands and supports the independent role of the media within the democratic process.
• Has a great eye for the different challenges and positions of professional photojournalist and documentary photographers and has a clear understanding of developments within the international photography field.
• Experience working collaboratively to build constructive partnerships and develop professional networks with stakeholders.
• Fluent in English (other languages are a plus).

General information

Interested?

Please send your CV and letter of motivation in English before 22 November 2024 to the Supervisory Board via adrienne@worldpressphoto.org.