People & Governance
Institutions
built to last.
Independence by design.

Agora’s governance architecture brings together distinguished leaders, researchers, academics and international experts while protecting the independence of research.

Governance Philosophy
Oversight without
interference.

Strong institutions require both accountability and independence.

Agora’s governance structure is designed to provide strategic direction, institutional accountability and intellectual independence.

The Board of Trustees determines long-term institutional strategy but does not interfere with the substance, methodology or conclusions of research.

Executive leadership is responsible for implementation, while the Research Council safeguards academic and methodological standards.

Institutional Structure
The Agora architecture.
01
Board of Trustees

Long-term strategy and institutional stewardship.

02
President

Strategic leadership and international representation.

03
Director-General

Executive management and research leadership.

04
Research Council

Research quality, methodology and peer review.

05
Advisory Council

Independent strategic and international advice.

Board of Trustees
Stewardship with
independence.

The Board of Trustees will determine Agora’s long-term institutional strategy while protecting the independence of its research programme.

A
A diverse institution requires diverse perspectives.

The Board is envisaged as an independent body of approximately 11–15 distinguished individuals drawn from different professional, academic and institutional backgrounds.

  • Former central bankers
  • Former judges
  • Former diplomats
  • Business leaders
  • Academics
  • Scientists
  • Civil society representatives
  • International advisers
Executive Leadership
Leadership with
purpose.
Institutional Leadership
President

Appointed by the Board of Trustees, the President provides strategic leadership and represents the Institute globally.

  • Strategic leadership
  • International representation
  • Institutional development
  • Fundraising and partnerships
Executive Leadership
Director-General

The Director-General is responsible for the Institute’s day-to-day operations and research programme.

  • Executive management
  • Research leadership
  • Implementation of Board decisions
  • Institutional partnerships
Research Council
Protecting the
quality of inquiry.

The Research Council is responsible for maintaining Agora’s intellectual, academic and methodological standards.

Senior Fellows
Visiting Fellows
Research Associates
Peer-Review Panel
Research Standards
Methodological Review
Advisory Council
Global experience.
Independent advice.
01
International Experts

Distinguished experts with international experience across policy, economics and strategy.

02
Former Ministers

Former public officials offering practical perspectives on governance and policy.

03
Global Institutions

Former leaders and senior figures from international organisations.

04
Distinguished Academics

Leading scholars contributing international intellectual depth and perspective.

Research Community
A community of
independent thinkers.
Senior Fellows
Deep expertise.

Senior researchers and practitioners providing intellectual leadership across Agora’s research programmes.

Visiting Fellows
New perspectives.

Distinguished scholars and experts contributing specialised research and international perspectives.

Research Associates
Emerging ideas.

Researchers contributing original analysis, evidence and new approaches to policy questions.

Institutional Safeguard
Strategy belongs to the Board. Research belongs to inquiry.

Agora’s governance model is designed to ensure that institutional oversight and research independence reinforce rather than undermine one another.

Join The Agora Community
Ideas need people willing to explore them.

Agora welcomes scholars, practitioners, experts and emerging leaders interested in research, dialogue and public policy.

Explore Opportunities