The independent board of Judith Neilson’s namesake institute supporting journalism is set to be dissolved, as the billionaire takes control of the philanthropic endeavour to which she committed $100 million in 2018.

All four independent directors from the board of the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas (JNI) resigned last week, after what a source familiar with JNI’s plans called a “long period of discussion [with Ms Neilson] regarding the best way forward … effectively they resigned because Judith wanted to go in a different direction”.