Will Gardner, Childnet’s CEO and UK Safer Internet Centre Director, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honour List for his work in the field of children’s online safety.
Speaking about the award Will said:
“I am amazed and delighted to have been nominated for an OBE. This is a great honour for not only me but the whole team at Childnet. Childnet works very hard to make the internet a great and safe place for children and young people, and I am proud to have been CEO for the last 10 years.”
Will joined Childnet in 2000, becoming CEO of Childnet in 2009, following his roles as Deputy CEO and Policy and Research Manager.
Will is an Executive Board member of the UK Council for Internet Safety (UKCIS), he also sits on Facebook’s Safety Advisory Board, and Twitter’s Trust and Safety Council.
In his time at Childnet Will has led the development of Childnet’s range of award-winning internet safety materials aimed at children, parents and carers, and teachers and schools.
Tink Palmer, Childnet’s Chair of Trustees, says:
“ It has been my privilege to hold the post of Chair of Childnet’s Trustee Board for the past ten years and to have worked closely with Will Gardner over this period. Will’s passion for his work in ensuring that children are able to enjoy the internet in safety has, with his dedicated team of professionals, resulted in 1000s of children communicating, learning and playing online with minimal risk and maximum benefit.
Partnership working is central to Childnet’s work and Will has proved to be a skilled listener and communicator and is both highly respected and liked by those with whom he works. This award is well deserved.”
Childnet is a UK charity that delivers education, policy and youth participation activities to help make the internet a great and safe place for children and young people. As a partner in the UK Safer Internet Centre, Childnet coordinates Safer Internet Day, which reaches millions of UK children every year.
