John Morrison
Chief Executive, IHRB
Expertise
John advises a number of governments, intergovernmental organisations, and businesses on human rights and wider issues of sustainability, development, and international affairs. His most recent book is "The Social License”, published by Palgrave MacMillan, and he has published widely on issues relating to global governance, corporate responsibility, human rights, climate action, refugee protection, and human trafficking.
John also sits on the UK Foreign Secretary's Human Rights Advisory Group and has been a Harkness Fellow to the USA. He has been named one of the 100 most influential people worldwide on the issue of eliminating modern day slavery.
Current work
John has been Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) since its formation in 2009 under the leadership of Mary Robinson (the former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights). John leads IHRB’s global strategy, fundraising, and outreach.
Before IHRB
Before IHRB, John directed the Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights (2003-9), was Head of Public Affairs for The Body Shop International (2000-3), and before this worked in the field of refugee protection (in relation to the former Yugoslavia and on issues of human trafficking).
Many years ago, John graduated in European Archaeology and Prehistory from the University of Sheffield (UK) and has since been trained in and taught international human rights law, refugee law, and business administration.
He has lived and worked in a number of countries, is moderately fluent in Spanish and much less fluent in a number of other languages.
