Wikimedia UK, the national charity for the global Wikimedia movement, is delighted to welcome Lucy Yu as our new Chair following her formal appointment to the Board of Trustees on 18th September 2025. She replaces Monisha Shah, who stepped down in June 2025 after serving four years as Chair of the Board, and is being awarded an Honorary Membership of Wikimedia UK at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
Lucy was co-opted through an open, competitive recruitment process. As founder and CEO of the Centre for Net Zero, and the UK government’s AI Champion for Clean Energy, Lucy brings valuable experience in organisational leadership, open data, public policy, and emerging technologies – all highly relevant to Wikimedia UK’s future direction. During the recruitment process Lucy also demonstrated a deep commitment to open access, with experience of leading and implementing open data policies and practice, and a thoughtful, collaborative approach to charity governance.
Lucy Yu comments:
“I’m very pleased to join Wikimedia UK as the new Chair of the Board. Having built my career around technology for the public good, I am a huge admirer of the Wikimedia projects and often think of Wikipedia as one of the great wonders of our internet world. As chair, my priorities are to drive the widest possible access to Wikimedia’s open content, recognising in particular the role and impact of new AI-based technologies and tools; and to find and nurture the next generation of contributors to these vital resources. I am delighted to inherit an impressive and dedicated set of colleagues in this mission and I am looking forward to working with Lucy Crompton-Reid, Chief Executive of Wikimedia UK, and her team. Many and grateful thanks go to my predecessor Monisha Shah, and interim Chair Alex Ashby.”
Lucy joins Wikimedia UK as our new Chair at an exciting time, as we reflect on a period of sustained growth in the charity’s income, impact and profile, and look forward to delivering our ambitious new strategy for 2025 to 2030.
Alex Ashby comments:
“It has been a privilege to serve as Interim Chair during this important transitional period for Wikimedia UK. I’m delighted to welcome Lucy Yu to the role and confident that her leadership will be transformative for the charity. Her collaborative style and strategic insight stood out throughout the recruitment process, and I look forward to supporting her and the Board as we embark on the next chapter of Wikimedia UK’s journey.”