William Townsend has worked in international relations and liberal politics for over ten years. Prior to joining the Liberal International (LI) secretariat, William managed local, national, and international elections for the Liberal Democrats (UK), planning target seat campaigns to deliver some of the party’s best-ever results ahead of the Liberal Democrats entering coalition government for the first time in 2010. Following a stint at a global consultancy working on cross-party advocacy campaign around the 2011 presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, William took up a position at the Royal African Society, researching and writing on African politics and collaborating with international experts.

As the head of communications and political outreach for Liberal International, William took a leading role to transform the work of LI. Working to build the federation into a more visible political international by conceptualising and implementing some of LI’s most successful campaigns, he raised the quality and quantity of LI’s digital and printed output, in addition to working with a wide range of international stakeholders to deliver political events on every continent in which LI has a member party.

As secretary general he has overseen the development and launch of a world-first app, Liberal Hub; worked with the bureau to expand LI’s membership and audience while embracing more multilateral projects; as well as establishing partnerships and a presence with political and non-political bodies to advocate and advance LI’s priorities. William holds a master’s degree from King’s College, London.