Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the first Chair of The Elders from 2007-2013 and played a vital role in shaping the organisation, its values and its work.
Desmond Tutu speaks at the launch of The Elders in 2007.
Photo: Benny Gool
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/2007_07_Elders_Launch_Johannesburg_0269.jpg?itok=NiCwsaN3)
Desmond Tutu and Lakhdar Brahimi meet young Darfuris in 2007 during their visit to Otash, a camp for internally displaced people in Darfur, Sudan.
Photo: Frederic Noy
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/_2007_10_ET_Sudan_Selects%20for%20Virgin%20Unite_0117.jpg?itok=JEuF2uag)
Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter discussing the formation of The Elders in 2007.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/Desmond-Tutu-Kimmy-Carter-The-Elders.jpg?itok=Gt1MgQID)
Desmond Tutu addresses a press conference at the end of the Elders' visit to Cyprus, 2008.
Photo: David Hands
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/2008_10_ET_Cyprus_David%20Hands_0404.jpg?itok=bzQiTmol)
Meeting Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg in 2010.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/Desmond-Tutu-Nelson-Mandela.jpg?itok=RsR7md38)
With Lakhdar Brahimi in 2011 at The Elders' film screening: Digging the Past in Search of the Future.
Photo: Jeff Moore
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/2011_02_10_ET_London_Cyprus_Doc_Screening_Jeff%20Moore_0118.jpg?itok=xCoqNBvu)
Taking part in the 2009 Elders Board Meeting in Morocco.
Photo: Jeff Moore
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/2009_05_EBM_Morocco_JeffMoore_0568.jpg?itok=uZT2v-EO)
Visiting Cyprus in 2009 with Jimmy Carter and Lakhdar Brahimi.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/Jimmy-Carter-Desmond-Tutu.jpg?itok=QICjnRhO)
Desmond Tutu with Mary Robinson in Hermanus, 2020.
Photo: Nick Robinson
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/image002%20%28002%29.jpg?itok=nZf-De8R)
Meeting with the press in 2010 in Johannesburg.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/2010_05_EBM_Joburg_0078.jpg?itok=PLqgyr0a)
Desmond Tutu talks to the Indian press during a visit to New Delhi, 2012.
Photo: Tom Pietrasik
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/The%20Elders%201st%20Choice_0083.jpg?itok=cblo8B-f)
In South Sudan with Mary Robinson in 2012.
Photo: Adriane Ohanesian
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/2012_07_ET_SouthSudan_AdrianeOhanesian_0215.jpg?itok=u-UwKaK5)
With the Elders in Capetown, 2013.
Photo: Jeff Moore
![](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/elders_profile/Desmond-Tutu-The-Elders-Capetown.jpg?itok=jqeYrbLx)