Heather Brooke

Heather Brooke is an award-winning investigative journalist and writer specialising in Freedom of Information and democracy. She is best known for her investigate reports and legal action against the British Parliament that led to the 2009 MPs’ expenses scandal and the biggest clear-out of politicians in decades alongside the first forced resignation of the Speaker of the House in 300 years. 

 She has been director of the MA Investigation Journalism course at City, University of London where she was Professor and taught investigative journalism at Columbia University in New York City where she was an Adjunct Professor. She has published three non-fiction books based on her investigative work: The Revolution Will be Digitised (2011), The Silent State (2010) and Your Right to Know (2006). Among her awards are the Judges’ Prize at the 2010 British Press Awards, the FOI Award from Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), and a Freedom of Expression Award from Index on Censorship. 

The Sunday Times named her one of the Top 100 Makers of the 21st Century and Press Gazette one of the Top 10 Investigative Journalists as well as most inspiring female reporter. She has written for nearly all the national newspapers and appeared on a number of news shows. She has many years experience as a judge for various journalism awards. Currently she is working on a novel about an eco-feminist spiritual leader who becomes governor of California.