Christopher Avery - Director - based in London
avery@business-humanrights.org
- international lawyer; former Legal Adviser and Deputy Head of Research Department, Amnesty International - International Secretariat
- author of Business and Human Rights in a Time of Change, a 108-page report published by Amnesty International UK in 2000
- educated at Columbia Univ. School of Law (LLM); Univ. of California, Davis, School of Law (JD Order of the Coif); Stanford Univ. (BA Honours)
Joanne Bauer - Senior Researcher, New York Representative, HIV/AIDS Project Manager - based in New York area
bauer@business-humanrights.org
- environmental, human rights & Asia specialist; former Director of Studies, Carnegie Council on Ethics & International Affairs - founder of Carnegie Council's human rights programme & environmental values programme
- founding editor of Human Rights Dialogue (magazine published by Carnegie Council); co-editor of The East Asian Challenge for Human Rights (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1999); editor of Forging Environmentalism: Justice, Livelihood and Contested Environments (ME Sharpe, 2006)
- educated at Columbia Univ. School of International & Public Affairs (MIA, International Political Economy & Pacific Basin Studies); Colgate Univ. (BA Honours)
Aliou Diouf - Francophone Africa Researcher & Representative - based in Dakar
diouf@business-humanrights.org
- human rights advocate and lawyer; former Legal Advisor, Geneva for Human Rights; intern at Intl. Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and at Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; social worker at a residential refugee centre in Geneva
- educated at Graduate Institute of Intl. & Development Studies in Geneva (PhD in Intl. Criminal & Humanitarian Law); Gdansk University (LLM in Intl. Law, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law)
- author of "La lutte contre l’impunité en Afrique. Enjeux et perspectives", in A. Ayissi & D.L. Tehindrazanarivelo (eds.), Les défis de l’Afrique au XXIe siècle (Geneva: Graduate Institute for International Studies, 2005)
Harpreet Kaur – South Asia Researcher & Representative – based in Delhi
kaur@business-humanrights.org
- human rights & development professional; currently also an independent consultant managing journalism training project at BBC World Service Trust, India, which aims to use media and communications to reduce poverty and promote human rights; and another development project in Jammu & Kashmir for Panos South Asia
- previously worked with organizations including Partners in Change, ActionAid India, Voluntary Action Network India, Doordarshan (Indian public television), and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
- has expereince in research and implementing projects in India addressing human rights, poverty, HIV/AIDS, disaster management, women’s empowerment, and disability rights
- educated at University of Delhi (PhD; M.Sc. Anthropology; B.Sc.), National Law School of India University (Post Graduate Diploma Human Rights Law)
Mauricio Lazala - Head of Latin America and the Middle East & Senior Researcher - based in London
lazala@business-humanrights.org
- international lawyer; former law clerk at International Criminal Court; Programme Manager of Mexican Commission for the Protection & Defence of Human Rights; Outreach Coordinator of B'Tselem (Israeli Information Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories); Research Assistant at Public Committee Against Torture in Israel
- author of "Solutions for the Israel-Palestine Conflict", Per Incuriam - Magazine of University of Cambridge Law Society (2004)
- educated at Univ. of Cambridge Faculty of Law (Law degree, honours), International Human Rights Exchange course at Univ. of Cape Town, Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem (BA)
Abiola Okpechi - Anglophone Africa Researcher & Representative - based in Cape Town
okpechi@business-humanrights.org
- lawyer and human rights advocate; former Refugee Counsellor, University of Cape Town Law Clinic; Human Rights Coordinator, Center for Development Action, Nigeria; Legal officer, Justice, Development & Peace Commission, Ibadan, Nigeria; Legislative Aide in Nigeria’s Senate
- author of "The protection of children and young persons under African refugee law”, CEPACS: University of Ibadan (2003)
- currently studying for a PhD at the Faculty of Law, Univ. of Cape Town; also educated at Univ. of Ibadan’s Center for Peace and Conflict Studies (MSc Humanitarian and Refugee Studies); Nigeria Law School (Barrister-at-law Degree); Obafemi Awolowo Univ. (Law degree, honours)
Gregory Tzeutschler Regaignon - Head of Research & North America Manager - based in Los Angeles area
regaignon@business-humanrights.org
- international lawyer; former associate at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, New York-based international law firm; past work with Human Rights Watch and Legal Aid Institute of Indonesia
- author of "Corporate Violator: The Alien Tort Liability of Transnational Corporations for Human Rights Abuses Abroad," Columbia Human Rights Law Review (1999)
- educated at Columbia Univ. School of Law (JD Stone Scholar), Parker School of Foreign & Comparative Law, Johns Hopkins Univ. School of Advanced Intl. Studies (MA African Studies), Amherst College (BA magna cum laude)
Annabel Short - Head of Programme - based in New York
short@business-humanrights.org
- environmental journalist; former specialist in social & environmental reporting at Context Group consultants in London; campaigns volunteer at Amnesty International Peru
- author of Go Make A Difference!, a book of environmental tips for The Ecologist
- educated at at London School of Economics (Certificate in Intl. Human Rights Law & Practice); Birkbeck College, Univ. of London (MSc Development Studies); City Univ. London (postgraduate diploma, Journalism); Edinburgh Univ. (MA joint Honours)
Ella Skybenko - Eastern Europe/Central Asia Researcher & Representative - based in Kyiv
skybenko@business-humanrights.org
- international relations specialist; former HIV/AIDS program manager at Holt International Children’s Services in Ukraine; program coordinator at American International Health Aliance; intern at Corporate Accountability International
- educated at Univ. of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies (MA in International Human Rights); Ivan Franko National Univ. of Lviv (degree in International Relations with specialization in International Law)
Patricia Surak - Development Director - based in New York
surak@business-humanrights.org
- fundraising professional and international social worker; former director of foundation and corporate relations for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières; director of corporate and foundation relations for Catholic Relief Services; public policy coordinator for Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth
- educated at University of Pennsylvania (MSW and recipient of Ruth Smalley Award for Outstanding Achievements in International Social Welfare); State University of New York at Stony Brook (BA in Political Science)
- member of Association of Fundraising Professionals; Médecins Sans Frontières USA Association
Sif Thorgeirsson - Manager, Corporate Legal Accountability Project - based in London
thorgeirsson@business-humanrights.org
- human rights and corporate lawyer; former Researcher at Yale Law School on international human rights issues; former associate at Troutman Sanders law firm in Washington, DC
- educated at George Washington Univ. Law School (JD); Oxford Summer Programme in International Human Rights Law; McGill Univ. (BA History & Political Science)
Joe Westby - Researcher & Operations Officer - based in London
westby@business-humanrights.org
- former Research Intern at Business & Human Rights Resource Centre; Intern at EIRIS (Ethical Investment Research Services); three months working with disadvantaged children in Peru
- educated at Oxford University (BA, Philosophy, Politics & Economics); London School of Economics (Certificate in International Human Rights Law and Practice)
current Research Interns
Rita Bonora (started May 2006, based in New York, previously volunteered Jan-Jul 2005) - an Italian national; MSc in Development Studies at Birkbeck College, Univ. of London; degree in Economics and Business Studies at Bologna Univ., Italy. Previous volunteer work with Global Development Forum and Peace Brigades International.
Brett Dodge (started Apr 2010, based in London) - a US national; master of laws (LLM) in International Human Rights Law , University of Essex UK; B.A. from University of North Carolina at Asheville, USA. Previous legal volunteership at Interights (UK); executive editor for Essex Human Rights Review and was involved in human rights research and litigation projects for the Essex Human Rights Centre.
Amy Man (started Jan 2010, based in London) - a UK and Chinese national; Masters in Law in International Commercial Law, University of Birmingham, UK; BA (Hons) in Business and Law from University of the West of England. Worked on Model UN projects in UK and Europe; student ambassador for the International Law and Armed Conflict Symposium at the University of the West of England.
Bruck Teshome (started Dec 2009, based in London) – a national of Ethiopia and Israel; LLM in International Human Rights Law at University of Essex; Masters of Law in Intl Law, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; Bachelor’s Degree in Law, Addis Ababa University. Previous work at Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia. Also worked at Ethiopian Civil Society Network for Elections.
past Research Interns
Jan-Jul 2010: Delaney Greig – a Canadian national; Masters in Political Economy at University of Toronto; Bachelor of Arts in International Development and Economics from University of Guelph. Former intern at Canadian parliament. Worked at TransFair Canada and the World University Services of Canada on Fair Trade issues. Conducted research on Trade and Human Rights in Burkina Faso and Swaziland.
Aug 2009-May 2010: Bhaskar Banerjee - an Indian national; Bachelor of law (honors) from Queen Mary, University of London; BA (cum laude) in Philosophy from Washington and Lee University, USA. Previous volunteer work at a pro bono clinic run by Reed Smith LLP in conjunction with Liberty; active member of Queen Mary's Amnesty International Student Group; also completed a legal internship at Legal Aid of West Virginia, USA.
Jul 2009-Feb 2010: Linda Bore – a Kenyan national; currently completing Masters in Public International Law at London School of Economics; Law degree at University of Nairobi; bar qualification course at Kenyan School of Law. Previous internships at International Committee of the Red Cross (Nairobi); Oxfam GB Nairobi; International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Also worked at a law firm in Kenya.
Oct 2008-Dec 2009: Tom Phillips - a UK national; MA in Human Rights at UCL’s School of Public Policy; BSc in Basic Medical Sciences from St George’s Hospital Medical School. Grassroots work with Amnesty; also has work experience at a local newspaper.
Jul-Dec 2009: Tatyana Narchayeva - a Kazakh national; now completing LLM in International Human Rights Law at University of Essex; MPA degree from State University of New York at Albany; BA in International Economic Relations from Taraz State University, Kazakhstan. Previous work for Project HOPE in Almaty, Kazakhstan and Genetic Alliance in Washington, DC. Also previously served as an Independent Expert on Kazakhstan for the Evaluation of the European Initiative on Democracy and Human Rights launched by the European Commission Delegation in Central Asia.
Jun-Sep 2009: Marta Kasztelan - a Polish national; Bar Vocational Course at the College of Law in London; LLM in International Human Rights Law from University of Essex. Currently also working at Polish Federation for Women and Family Planning; previously interned at the AIRE Centre.
Jun-Sep 2009: Sophie Snowden - a US national; student at St. Paul’s School, Concord, New Hampshire; three months studying in Santiago, Chile.
Mar-Jul 2009: Ana Abraham - A Chilean national; now completing MA in Human Rights at Birkbeck College, University of London; BA Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Santiago. Press officer of the first International Human Rights Film Festival in Chile. Worked for Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture and UK Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT).
Feb-May 2009: Malena Bengtsson - a Swedish national; now completing Masters in Human Rights at Raoul Wallenberg Institute; previously received Masters in Law from Lund University; part-time work at law firm Advokatgruppen; internships at Permanent Delegation of Sweden to the OSCE and European Court of Human Rights; volunteer with Amnesty International Swedish Section and Lund’s Women’s Shelter.
Mar 2007-May 2009: Sandra Cossart - a French national; LLM in EU law from College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium; MA in East European Studies from Institute of Political Studies, Paris; Degree in Russian from Institute of Oriental civilisations and languages, Paris; Law degree from Paris Sorbonne University. Former associate at Clement Vivien and Associates in Paris. Work on EU-funded projects in Russia. Experience working in UN Economic Commission for Europe, European Parliament and Council of Europe. Voluntary work with human rights NGOs.
Sep 2008-Jan 2009: Kenza Berrada - a Moroccan national; Associate's degree in Economics from Sorbonne University, Paris; BA and MA in Management from EDHEC Business School, Lille; Academic exchange programs at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Krakow University of Economics and (pending for 2009) Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), Mexico City. Business student of the year, France, 2008. Former intern at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in the National Institutions Unit.
Oct 2008-Jan 2009: Amila Jayamaha - a Sri Lankan national; attorney-at-law. BA in English from the University of Colombo; postgraduate diploma in Women’s Studies from the University of Colombo; recently completed a LLM in International Development Law and Human Rights at the University of Warwick. Former Research Assistant at the Law & Society Trust, Colombo.
Jul-Oct 2008: Silvia Nicolaou García - a national of Spain and Cyprus; final year LLB in English and European Law student at Queen Mary, University of London; spent a year at Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II), Paris. Previous volunteer work with the Amnesty International Group at Sorbonne University and with Human Rights Watch Paris, legal intern at the Islamic Human Rights Commission in London, and volunteered with other NGOs.
Jun-Oct 2008: Danielle McMullan – a UK national; LLM in International Human Rights Law at University of Essex. Law LLB (Honours) from University of Reading, where she was Secretary of the Amnesty International Group. Previously a solicitor at Mayer Brown.
Jun-Sep 2008: Xue Yang - a Chinese national; LLM in International Human Rights Law from University of Notre Dame, USA; LLB from Peking University, China. Previous internships with Civil Courtroom, Guilin Intermediate People’s Courthouse, and Peking University Law Clinic; volunteer work with Peking University Legal Aid Association.
Feb-Oct 2008: Nora Serrat-Capdevila - a Spanish national; MA (distinction) in Human Rights from Univ. of Essex, UK; degree in Political Science from Univ. Pompeu Fabra, Spain; degree in Political Science from Institute of Political Studies, Toulouse, France. Previous volunteer work with Amnesty International – International Secretariat, REDRESS, Mexican American Studies & Research Center (University of Arizona).
Jun-Aug 2008: Nina-Liss-Schultz - a US national; student at Claremont High School
Nov 2007-May 2008: Christopher Cairns - a US national; BS in Foreign Service majoring in International Politics from Georgetown University; currently doing an MSc in Human Rights at London School of Economics. Previously research intern at Wal-Mart Watch, editorial intern at the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico City, a Business & Human Rights division intern at Human Rights Watch, and a volunteer for Learning Enterprises in Indonesia. He also has two years combined media experience working for Georgetown University’s main student newspaper and TV station.
Nov 2006-Sep 2007: Jacquie Kiggundu – a national of Canada; BA Honours in Psychology and Sociology from Queen’s University (Canada); Currently studying for MSc in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and Political Science (forthcoming). Former research analyst for Correctional Service Canada. Former co-chair of the board, Sexual Assault Centre of Kingston.
May-Aug 2007: Christopher Pogue – a US national; Master of Arts in Modern History, Univ. of St. Andrews (Scotland); currently pursuing a JD from the Univ. of Cincinnati College of Law on an Arthur Morgan Fellowship provided for by the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights. Former intern with both the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati (Volunteer Lawyers Project) and the Colorado Public Interest Research Group.
Mar-May 2007: Kellie Johnston - a national of Canada; LLM in Intl. Law from Univ. of New South Wales, Australia; LLB at Dalhousie Univ. in Halifax, Canada; BA in English and Classics from the Univ. of Alberta, Canada. Former associate at Fraser Milner Casgain LLP in Calgary, Canada, specialising in energy & environmental law.
Nov 2006-Mar 2007: Barbora Cernusakova - a Slovak national; MA in Political Science and Journalism, Comenius University, Bratislava; currently studying for MSc in Human Rights at London School of Economics and Political Science. Previously worked as Director of Amnesty Intl. Slovakia and Media Coordinator, Friends of the Earth Slovakia.
Nov 2006-Jan 2007: Benjamin Plimpton – a US national; educated at the London School of Economics (MSc Human Rights) and New York University (BA History, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa); coordinated Human Rights Program at the Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (CIS) in El Salvador from September 2003 to August 2005.
Jun-Sep 2006 & Jun-Sep 2007: Alex Avery - a national of USA; student at Menlo School.
Jun 2005-Feb 2006: Joelle Brohier - a French national; founder of an information project on corporate social responsibility in developing countries; held management positions with Unilever, Bosch and Havas Advertising; educated at Sup de Co Rouen, a French graduate management school (DESCAF, 1988); studied development & environment at a postgraduate level in Hong Kong and now pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Decision Making (Open Univ. UK).
Sep 2004-Jan 2006: Oru Mohiuddin - a national of Bangladesh & UK; former Researcher at Transparency International Bangladesh; Programme Officer at Terre des Hommes Bangladesh; educated at Univ. of Birmingham (MSc Governance & Development Management, Chevening Scholar); Marymount Manhattan College (BA magna cum laude Business Management)
Sep-Dec 2005: Adalyat Abdumanapova - a national of Kazakhstan; worked as lawyer at GRATA Law Firm (Kazakhstan); presented Kazakhstan's national television programme "City of the Future"; was part-time journalist for a Kazakhstani youth journal and a member of National Debate Centre; LLM in International Human Rights Law at Univ. of Essex (UK) (Chevening Scholar); Finance Management degree from International Business Academy (Kazakhstan); LLB (honours) from Kazakh State Law Academy.
Jun-Aug 2005: Antoine Raes - a French national; student at ESCE (Ecole Supérieure du Commerce Extérieur), an international business school in Paris specialising in world trade; also pursuing business studies in Germany (Berlin-Fachhochschule fur Wirtschaft FHW).
Jan-Apr 2005: Sylvie Bacquet - a French national; received LLM in International Human Rights Law from Univ. of Essex, MA in International Relations & Diplomacy (cum laude) from American Graduate School of International Relations & Diplomacy (Paris), LLB (Honours) in Law from Univ. of Essex.
Sep 2004-Jan 2005: Rebecca Buchholz - a German national; in final year at School of Oriental & African Studies, Univ. of London, pursuing BA in Development Studies & Economics; former Volunteer at Relief Foundation (Chennai, India)
Aug 2004 and July 2005: Galen Avery - a US national; student at Menlo School
July-Aug 2004: Julia Suriano - a national of El Salvador; Economics major at Duke University; studied at London School of Economics 2003-2004.
Volunteer advisers
Finance & accounts administrators:
- Melvin Coleman (Finance Director, Amnesty International)
- Steve Abrams (Certified Public Accountant; member, Amnesty International USA Board of Directors)
IT advisers:
- Toby Rubenstein (based in London)
- Michael Wiggins (based in California)
