Director’s Office

The Director’s Office focuses on the management and strategic direction of the institute, and engagement with key external stakeholders.

Bronwen Maddox joined the institute as Director and Chief Executive in August 2022.

Alongside her strategic responsibilities, she continues to publish on UK politics and a range of critical international affairs subjects, as well as hosting the Independent Thinking podcast.

Bronwen Maddox looks ahead to the challenges of the year and sets out recommendations for change.

Alexei Navalny’s death leaves more questions than answers about the future of Russia. Why?

Saleh al-Arouri told Chatham House Director Bronwen Maddox about his ambition for Hamas – and his long term strategy to achieve it

The return of the former prime minister as the new foreign secretary brings strengths and many vulnerabilities.

The attack will set back Israel’s plans for normalization with its neighbours – and could have implications for the war in Ukraine.

Independent Thinking

Independent Thinking is a weekly foreign policy podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts.

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Daniel Levy joins the podcast this week with Sanam Vakil and Amjad Iraqi to discuss the one year anniversary of the 7 October attacks.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon.

Gregg Carlstrom joins the podcast to discuss Israel’s decision to intensify attacks against Hezbollah and what this means for the region.

Ukrainian servicemen fire with a French self-propelled 155 mm/52-calibre gun Caesar towards Russian positions

Michael Kofman, Olga Tokariuk and Christopher Miller join the podcast to discuss the state of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the potential role of Western long-range missiles.

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Days before the anniversary of 7 October, the Middle East is gripped by an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, one that could drag in the region, the US and even China.

Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli strike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Odaisseh near the border with Israel on September 18, 2024.

Tel Aviv may believe now is the time to neutralize all immediate threats to its border, as a preliminary to long-sought strikes on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Visiting Israel and the Lebanon border on Monday, I am struck by how far off peace seems, and how dangerous the confrontation with Hezbollah remains a year after 7 October.