Khadija Patel is a South African journalist and media leader dedicated to safeguarding journalism as a public good. She is Head of Programmes at the International Fund for Public Interest Media, supporting independent news organizations in developing sustainable and impactful models. She previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the Mail & Guardian and co-founded The Daily Vox, a youth-driven digital news platform amplifying underrepresented voices.

Khadija also serves as Chairperson of the International Press Institute, where she advocates for press freedom worldwide. Her work has been featured in leading international outlets, including Sky News, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Quartz, City Press, and Daily Maverick. She believes journalism enables societies to better understand one another, strengthen accountability, and build bridges in times of division.