Razmi Farook is new Commonwealth Foundation Director-General

Razmi Farook has been announced as the new Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth’s agency for civil society.
According to a release, Ms Farook will assume the role on 1 September 2025 at the Foundation’s offices in Marlborough House, London.
Razmi Farook brings exceptional leadership experience from senior roles in civil society and intergovernmental organisations, including the United Nations, the International Federation of the Red Cross, and ActionAid International.
Her career has focused on supporting marginalised and war-affected communities, advocating for equity, inclusion, and active civil society participation in governance and decision-making processes.
Ms Farook’s work includes leading humanitarian diplomacy with ASEAN and its member states on disaster resilience, managing complex humanitarian portfolios across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East, and most recently directing ActionAid’s Asia Region and Global Humanitarian Programmes. Her strong commitment to civil society, human rights, and sustainable development positions her uniquely to guide the Foundation’s future work, the Commonwealth Foundation said.
Razmi Farook brings exceptional leadership experience from senior roles in civil society and intergovernmental organisations.
Dr Anne T. Gallagher’s distinguished tenure, which is now coming to an end as she completes her second and final term as Director-General, saw the Foundation navigate a challenging global environment, responding effectively to crises including COVID-19 and using these insights to reshape how it approaches resilience, civic space, and inclusive policy reform.
Since Dr Gallagher’s appointment in 2019, the Foundation has provided more civil society grants in more countries than ever before: 187 projects in 48 Commonwealth countries. These vital initiatives have advanced health justice, climate justice, and freedom of expression in every Commonwealth region.
This period has also seen a major strategic expansion in the Foundation’s visibility and reach: its online audiences have increased more than two-fold compared to the last strategic period and the Foundation received twice as many applications for grants in 2025 than in 2019.
The release said that notable achievements include influencing inclusive health policies in Kenya and Uganda, strengthening climate journalism and grassroots participation in United Nations climate negotiations, and empowering marginalised voices through transformative arts initiatives in Tonga, Eswatini, and South Africa.
Reflecting on her tenure and Razmi’s appointment, Dr Gallagher said:
“It has been the honour of a lifetime to lead the Commonwealth Foundation during a time of extraordinary global upheaval. Amid shrinking civic space and deepening inequality, we held fast to our mission: to champion the voices of the people across the Commonwealth and to uphold the values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter. With our civil society and government partners—and a team of extraordinary talent and conviction—we delivered change that is not only measurable, but deeply meaningful. Together, we have shaped policy, shifted narratives, and expanded the presence of civil society in decision-making spaces that once felt out of reach.
Today, the Foundation stands more connected, more courageous, and more committed than ever. I leave with a deep sense of pride in what we’ve accomplished—and a profound sense of what still must be done. In a world that is fractured and uncertain, the Commonwealth has a unique responsibility—and opportunity—to stand for justice, equality, and democratic participation. I urge our member states and civil society actors not just to defend civic space, but to reimagine it. Under Razmi’s leadership, I am confident the Foundation will continue to inspire that vital work.”

Credit: Commonwealth Foundation photo