John Morrison
John has advised 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 in 2014, and he has published widely on issues relating to corporate responsibility, human rights, 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. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 most influential people worldwide on the issue of eliminating modern day slavery.
Current work
John has been Chief Executive of the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB) since its formation in 2009 and has led IHRB in establishing a number of initiatives including the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB), Centro Regional de Empresas y Emprendimientos Responsables (CREER), and the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark. John began IHRB’s work on Sport and Human Rights in 2012 and has the led the global strategy, outreach and fundraising behind the formation of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights. Upon launching the Centre in 2018 John fulfilled the role of Acting Chief Executive until the recruitment of Mary Harvey as the Centre's first Chief Executive. As IHRB incubates the Centre's initial development, John continues to provide strategic input, particularly on fundraising, and assists Mary Robinson by fulfilling the role of transitional Deputy Chair (until the end of 2020).
Previous experience
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.
