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"Free speech is the bedrock on which all our other freedoms rest."

Defending the fundamental right that protects all other rights.
Meet the Team
Jon Benjamin

Our CEO

Jon Benjamin has been CEO of Free Speech Union International since it formally launched in February 2025. He is a retired British diplomat who was Acting Consul General on New York and a three-time Ambassador, to Chile, Ghana and Mexico, having earlier been posted to Indonesia and Turkey. In between those overseas assignments, on home postings at the Foreign Office in London, he was chief-of-staff to the Minister for Europe, head of the human rights department and director/dean of the Diplomatic Academy.

Our CEO

Jon Benjamin has been CEO of Free Speech Union International since it formally launched in February 2025. He is a retired British diplomat who was Acting Consul General on New York and a three-time Ambassador, to Chile, Ghana and Mexico, having earlier been posted to Indonesia and Turkey. In between those overseas assignments, on home postings at the Foreign Office in London, he was chief-of-staff to the Minister for Europe, head of the human rights department and director/dean of the Diplomatic Academy.
Jon Benjamin

FSU International Directors

Toby Young Headshot

Toby Young

Toby Young is a British journalist and former Director of the New Schools Network, a free schools charity. In addition to being the founder and General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, he is an associate editor of The Spectator and the editor-in-chief of the Daily Sceptic. He was ennobled in 2024 and is now Lord Young of Acton.

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Roderick Mulgan

Dr Roderick Mulgan is an aged care doctor and practicing criminal barrister, who spends half his working time in each profession. He is a board director and former Chair of New Zealand's Free Speech Union. He has published several books on lifestyle medicine and nutrition. He is married with two adult daughters.

Sara Gon

Sara Gon

Sara Gon is the Director of the Free Speech Union of South Africa, a unit located within the SA Institute of Race Relations (IRR). She practised as an attorney in Employment Law for 17 years, then co-founded and managed the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, and has worked for the IRR since 2015 in the position of Head of Strategic Engagement and as Contributing Editor to the IRR’s opinion portal Daily Friend. Sara is a mediator and arbitrator, and sat as an acting judge on the Labour Court on 2 occasions.

Toby Young Headshot

Toby Young

Toby Young is a British journalist and former Director of the New Schools Network, a free schools charity. In addition to being the founder and General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, he is an associate editor of The Spectator and the editor-in-chief of the Daily Sceptic. He was ennobled in 2024 and is now Lord Young of Acton.

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Roderick Mulgan

Dr Roderick Mulgan is an aged care doctor and practicing criminal barrister, who spends half his working time in each profession. He is a board director and former Chair of New Zealand's Free Speech Union. He has published several books on lifestyle medicine and nutrition. He is married with two adult daughters.

Toby Young Headshot

Toby Young

Toby Young is a British journalist and former Director of the New Schools Network, a free schools charity. In addition to being the founder and General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, he is an associate editor of The Spectator and the editor-in-chief of the Daily Sceptic. He was ennobled in 2024 and is now Lord Young of Acton.

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Roderick Mulgan

Dr Roderick Mulgan is an aged care doctor and practicing criminal barrister, who spends half his working time in each profession. He is a board director and former Chair of New Zealand's Free Speech Union. He has published several books on lifestyle medicine and nutrition. He is married with two adult daughters.

Sara Gon

Sara Gon

Sara Gon is the Director of the Free Speech Union of South Africa, a unit located within the SA Institute of Race Relations (IRR). She practised as an attorney in Employment Law for 17 years, then co-founded and managed the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, and has worked for the IRR since 2015 in the position of Head of Strategic Engagement and as Contributing Editor to the IRR’s opinion portal Daily Friend. Sara is a mediator and arbitrator, and sat as an acting judge on the Labour Court on 2 occasions.

Lisa Bildy

Lisa Bildy

Lisa Bildy started her career as a trial lawyer, before an unexpected hiatus to raise and homeschool her sons. On her return to professional life, she led a successful campaign to stop a new requirement that lawyers in Ontario commit to promoting progressive values (DEI) as a condition of practicing law. She is dedicated to defending the rights and freedoms of Canadians through her firm, Libertas Law, and as the Executive Director of the Free Speech Union of Canada.

Sara Gon

Sara Gon

Sara Gon is the Director of the Free Speech Union of South Africa, a unit located within the SA Institute of Race Relations (IRR). She practised as an attorney in Employment Law for 17 years, then co-founded and managed the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, and has worked for the IRR since 2015 in the position of Head of Strategic Engagement and as Contributing Editor to the IRR’s opinion portal Daily Friend. Sara is a mediator and arbitrator, and sat as an acting judge on the Labour Court on 2 occasions.

Lisa Bildy

Lisa Bildy

Lisa Bildy started her career as a trial lawyer, before an unexpected hiatus to raise and homeschool her sons. On her return to professional life, she led a successful campaign to stop a new requirement that lawyers in Ontario commit to promoting progressive values (DEI) as a condition of practicing law. She is dedicated to defending the rights and freedoms of Canadians through her firm, Libertas Law, and as the Executive Director of the Free Speech Union of Canada.

Lisa Bildy

Lisa Bildy

Lisa Bildy started her career as a trial lawyer, before an unexpected hiatus to raise and homeschool her sons. On her return to professional life, she led a successful campaign to stop a new requirement that lawyers in Ontario commit to promoting progressive values (DEI) as a condition of practicing law. She is dedicated to defending the rights and freedoms of Canadians through her firm, Libertas Law, and as the Executive Director of the Free Speech Union of Canada.

Reuben Kirkham

Reuben Kirkham

Dr Reuben Kirkham is one of the Directors of the Free Speech Union of Australia. A computer scientist by training, he has become a passionate advocate for Free Speech, leading the Free Speech Union of Australia's cases and campaigns. Before working for the Free Speech Union, he was an academic.

Reuben Kirkham

Reuben Kirkham

Dr Reuben Kirkham is one of the Directors of the Free Speech Union of Australia. A computer scientist by training, he has become a passionate advocate for Free Speech, leading the Free Speech Union of Australia's cases and campaigns. Before working for the Free Speech Union, he was an academic.

Reuben Kirkham

Reuben Kirkham

Dr Reuben Kirkham is one of the Directors of the Free Speech Union of Australia. A computer scientist by training, he has become a passionate advocate for Free Speech, leading the Free Speech Union of Australia's cases and campaigns. Before working for the Free Speech Union, he was an academic.

Jonathan Ayling

Jonathan Ayling

Jonathan Ayling is the Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union (NZ), and a former-ministerial staffer and senior Parliamentary advisor. He has post-graduate qualifications in both politics and ethics, and takes particular interest in civil liberties. He lives in the Wairarapa with his wife and children, where they also own a commercial vineyard.