Labelle elected Chair of Transparency International

Respected Canadian to lead global movement

Huguette Labelle, a respected Canadian with a broad background in development issues, has been elected Chair of Transparency International, the global coalition against corruption. She replaces Peter Eigen, who founded the TI movement and has served with distinction throughout the organisation’s 12-year history. Eigen will assume the Chair of Transparency International’s Advisory Council.

“I am deeply honoured to be elected by the Transparency International movement to lead this vitally important organisation, and to contribute to improving the lives of the victims of corruption around the world,” Labelle said. She brings a strong commitment to strengthening TI’s already solid foundations, but warned of the challenges ahead. “Embedded corruption around the world continues to trap millions in poverty. Transparency International will continue to lead the fight to reduce the corrosive effects of corruption and enhance the opportunity for a better life.”

“I am leaving the Chair of Transparency International in extremely capable hands,” said Peter Eigen. He described his successor as “exceptionally well-equipped to lead the TI movement and to inspire its national chapters around the world. Her capacity to bring together diverse interests will help TI take on the criminals and vested interests that continue to ruin lives around the world.”

“Huguette Labelle’s background in development and government has given her a unique knowledge of the issues facing the anti-corruption movement today. As an effective and persuasive communicator, she will serve as a powerful voice on the international stage,” said TI’s Chief Executive, David Nussbaum. ‘I look forward to working with Huguette and am delighted that she brings such a huge range of relevant experience and expertise.”

Huguette Labelle has served in a variety of public offices, including president of the Canadian International Development Agency, Vice-Chair of the World Health Organisation’s Working Group on Health and Development Policies, Deputy Minister of Transport, and Chairman of the Public Service Commission of Canada. She is currently Chancellor of the University of Ottawa and serves on the board of numerous Canadian and international organisations.

Labelle was elected Sunday by the Annual Meeting of Transparency International’s 94 chapters and contact groups around the world.

Akere T. Muna was elected Vice Chair of Transparency International. He is founder and president of Transparency International Cameroon. A lawyer by training, he is chairman of the Accreditation Committee of the Pan African Lawyers Union and former president of the Cameroon Bar Association. Muna is a member of several national commissions on legal reform and curbing corruption. He was a member of the National Ad-hoc Commission for the Fight against Corruption and has served as a Commonwealth Observer for Zanzibar's elections in 2000.

He was actively involved in the TI working group that helped to draft the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and has written a guide to the convention published by TI. He was elected to the TI Board at the 2004 Annual Meeting and to the position of Vice-Chair on 13 November 2005.

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Transparency International is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.

Note to editors:
A biography of Huguette Labelle is available on request and TI’s website.

Media contacts:
Sarah Tyler
Transparency International
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Fax: +49-30-3470 3912
Email: press@transparency.org