Fiona Shields has over 20 years' picture editing experience across a range of newspaper titles. She is also a curator, speaker on photojournalism, and photography mentor.

She was picture editor of The Guardian for ten years before taking up the role of head of Photography for the Guardian News and Media Group. Throughout her career, she has been involved in the coverage of some of the most historic news stories of our time including the events surrounding 9/11, continuing conflicts around the world, large-scale natural disasters, and the humanitarian crises resulting from the growing refugee numbers across the globe.

In addition she has judged numerous high-profile photographic awards including the Sony World Photography Awards, The Carmignac Photojournalism Award, and The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize. She is a regular nominator for the Prix Pictet Prize and was chair of the global jury for the World Press Photo Awards 2024.