Whistleblowing Awareness Week 2025: Age of the Whistleblower
Whistleblowing Awareness Week 2025: The Age of the Whistleblower
Friday 27 June 2025
London, UK – WhistleblowersUK is proud to host the 3rd annual Whistleblowing Awareness Week 2025 in Westminster from 3 to 11 July, under the theme: “The Age of the Whistleblower”.
As public demand grows for greater transparency, justice and accountability, this year’s programme spotlights the essential role of whistleblowers in protecting democracy and the public interest.
Sponsored by The Rt Hon Baroness Susan Kramer, the week comprises a powerful line-up of events featuring MPs, whistleblowers, journalists, lawyers, industry experts, and international leaders.
Each will share their insights on the urgent need for reform of UK whistleblowing law and advocate for an Office of the Whistleblower.
“Whistleblowers are the guardians of truth in our society. They shine a light where others fear to look. This week is about recognising their courage, and looking at how we can work better together to ensure they are protected,”
— The Rt Hon. the Baroness Susan Kramer
From the tragedy of Grenfell, the injustices of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, repeated NHS negligence, to the devastating cover-ups of rape gangs, whistleblowers were the first to sound the alarm behind some of the UK’s most painful and far-reaching scandals.
In each instance, public inquiries have laid bare the personal and financial consequences of ignored warnings and the systemic failures that have silenced whistleblowers.
This year’s campaign comes at a critical moment.
The UK is often considered a global leader in whistleblower protection. But behind that reputation lies an unsettling reality: the very laws that are meant to protect whistleblowers repeatedly fail them.
The aim of Whistleblowing Awareness Week is to raise awareness and encourage political support for a complete overhaul of whistleblower laws – including an end to reliance on the Employment Tribunal system.
Some of this year’s programme highlights
3 July – Global perspectives
Ukrainian Minister Olesandr Vasiuk and Australian Senator David Shoebridge explore how other countries are embracing whistleblowers in the fight against crime and corruption.7 July – Age of the Whistleblower
Baroness Kramer and Ian Byrne MP discuss how Parliament can lead reform with the Office of the Whistleblower as part of the long awaited duty of candour and whether incentives can transform the outcome for whistleblowers and law enforcement.9 July – How Safe is Our National Infrastructure
Lord James Arbuthnot and Barry Gardener MP reflect on whistleblower warnings that were ignored across critical systems and the catastrophic failures that followed.10 July – Sex, Drugs, and Dirty Money
Jayne Senior MBE, renowned for exposing child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, leads a panel on the challenges of exposing abuse and corruption across sectors.
This year’s events also build momentum ahead of the second reading of the Office of the Whistleblower Bill in Parliament, scheduled for 11th July 2025.
The Bill will be a historic opportunity to move beyond the UK’s outdated protections and towards a unified system that puts the public interest first.
“The Age of the Whistleblower is not just a theme, it’s a call to action,” said Georgina Halford-Hall, CEO of WhistleblowersUK.
“We must build a system that values integrity, protects those who speak up, and ensures wrongdoing is addressed, not buried. This week is about educating both parliamentarians and the public on why we need an Office of the Whistleblower: not only to protect individuals, but to save the taxpayer billions of pounds and recognise that whistleblowing is more than just an employment issue.”
Access and registration
All events are free to attend with advance registration and confirmation.
Select sessions are invitation-only due to capacity or security restrictions.
Full programme and registration: https://www.wbuk.org/registration
About WhistleblowersUK
WhistleblowersUK is the voice for change to organisational practices, national policy, and the law.
We support whistleblowers by offering expert, compassionate, practical advice and guidance, and refer them to trusted legal and other professional services when needed.
WhistleblowersUK is a not-for-profit organisation limited by guarantee.
We receive no government funding and rely entirely on the public’s generosity to enable us to do our work.
Media and sponsorship enquiries: comms@wbuk.org
