Fiona Shields is a renowned photo editor, curator, and mentor with over two decades of experience in visual journalism. She currently serves as the Head of Photography at The Guardian, leading the visual direction of one of the world’s most influential news organizations. Prior to this, she spent ten years as The Guardian’s Picture Editor, overseeing photographic coverage of major global events. Fiona has judged and curated numerous international photography awards, including the Sony World Photography Awards, Carmignac Photojournalism Award, and the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize. She is a regular nominator for the Prix Pictet, and in 2024, she served as Global Jury Chair for the World Press Photo Contest, one of the highest honors in photojournalism.

In 2025, Fiona was a guest instructor for the AFF Virtual Mentorship Program, contributing her expertise to the training of emerging photographers through workshops and portfolio development. The previous year, she participated in the 3rd edition of the Africa Foto Fair (AFF 2024) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where she conducted portfolio reviews, delivered presentations, and engaged directly with students and young creatives from colleges and high schools within the visual arts sector.