Board
The Board of PEN International is elected by the PEN membership. It consists of a group of individuals from across the globe committed to representing and championing the views of PEN International, who believe that our organisation can make a vital contribution to literature and freedom of expression.
Meet our Executive Board
John Ralston Saul – International President
John Ralston Saul, a long-time champion of freedom of expression, has been intimately involved with International PEN since the 1980s. Read more…
Read John Ralston Saul’s Monthly Letters to the PEN membership
Hori Takeaki – International Secretary
Hori Takeaki is a writer and anthropologist. He has published numerous works of non-fiction that focus on environmental, cultural and sociological issues. Read more…
Eric Lax – Treasurer
Eric Lax is a renowned author, perhaps best known for his biography of film maker Woody Allen. He has, however, written numerous books and his work is translated into 18 languages. Read more…
Meet our Board Members
Sylvestre Clancier – Board member
Syvestre Clancier is a poet and essayist. He is the president of the French PEN Centre and was elected to the Board at the 77th PEN International Congress in Belgrade in 2011.
Tarik Günersel – Board Member
Poet, playwright, translator, actor and president of PEN Turkey. He studied English Literature and Anthropology at Istanbul University. Read more…
Markéta Hejkalová – Board member
Markéta Hejkalová was born in Prague in 1960, where she studied Finnish and Russian language and literature at the Charles University. She has been an important part of the Czech literary scene ever since. Read more…
Philo Ikonya – Board member
Philo Ikonya is a writer, lecturer and human rights activist. She is the President of PEN Kenya. Read more…
Lee Gil-Won – Board member
Mr. Lee Gil-Won is a poet. He graduated from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea and worked for the monthly Women’s Life as the editor. Read more…
Yang Lian – Board member
Yang Lian is a poet and an outspoken voice in world literature, culture and politics. Read more…
Haroon Siddiqui – Board member
Haroon Siddiqui is editorial page editor emeritus of The Toronto Star, Canada’s largest newspaper. Read more…
