Catherine Stihler OBE has been an international champion for openness as a legislator and practitioner for over 20 years. She is one of Scotland’s longest-serving and most respected legislators of the European Parliament, was elected Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, and was awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to politics.
In 2019, she stood down from the European Parliament to become Chief Executive Officer of the Open Knowledge Foundation, redefining its vision and mission to produce a new strategic direction, reengaging its global chapters and increasing the worldwide profile of the organisation. In August 2020, Catherine was appointed chief executive of Creative Commons, a non-profit organisation that helps overcome legal obstacles to the sharing of knowledge and creativity to address the world’s pressing challenges.