Haley St. Dennis
Head of Just Transitions, IHRB
Expertise
Haley has extensive experience in the application of international human rights and responsible business standards within a wide range of industry sectors, including renewable and traditional energy, buildings and construction, sport, ICT, employment and recruitment agencies, apparel, and agriculture. Haley’s legal research background is complemented by her expertise in integrated external and internal communications across a variety of mediums.
Current Work
As Head of Just Transitions, Haley leads IHRB's work on responsible climate action, developing an evidence base for stronger norms and standards to guide how companies and industries can responsibly transition to a net-zero world in ways that respect the human rights of the workers and communities affected by the tremendous change underway across every sector and system.
Prior to taking up IHRB's Just Transitions portfolio, Haley headed IHRB's Communications function from 2015-2022. During this time she developed IHRB's digital systems from scratch, embedding a communications-led ethos within IHRB's research and engagement strategies in support of IHRB's mission to make respect for human rights part of everyday business.
From 2016-2018, Haley also co-led IHRB's early work on the sport sector, building the case for the creation of a permanent, independent human rights organisation for the world of sport through an extensive and collaborative research process and multi-stakeholder platform. The Centre for Sport and Human Rights was launched in 2018, where Haley continues to serve as an Advisor.
Haley joined IHRB in 2011 as a legal and policy researcher, supporting a range of initiatives and outputs, including: some of the first-ever "sector guides" on the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights, for the oil and gas, employment and recruitment agencies, and ICT sectors; the establishment of the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business and its foundational sector-wide impact assessments for the oil and gas and ICT sectors; two IHRB "state of play" reports (on human rights and business relationships as well as the political economy of states); and the pilot methodology for the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark; amongst others.
Before IHRB
Originally from Utah, Haley's background is in politics, serving as a legislative assistant to the Utah Attorney General's Office, and later as a Parliamentary Advisor to two Members of the Scottish Parliament for several years.
Haley has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Utah, Master of Arts with Distinction in Human Rights Law from the University of London's School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS) and Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) with Distinction from the University of Law.
I'm keen to engage with practitioners working toward people-centred climate action and net-zero transitions.
24 January 2023
22 April 2022
01 November 2021
01 November 2020
09 July 2020
14 February 2020
17 June 2019
15 October 2018
21 March 2018
07 November 2016
19 August 2016
01 September 2015
04 January 2015
04 September 2014
10 June 2014
10 June 2014
01 December 2012
01 November 2011
24 January 2023
01 November 2020
07 November 2016
01 September 2015
04 September 2014
10 June 2014
10 June 2014
01 December 2012
21 March 2018
17 June 2019
04 January 2015
01 November 2011
Commentary: One Year On – 5 Takeaways from South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP)
Whilst South Africa is one of Africa’s largest economies, it is also the most unequal country in the world, with extreme levels of unemployment and poverty. It is highly vulnerable to climate shocks, but also one of the world’s largest coal...
20 October 2022
By Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions, IHRB
Commentary: Just Transitions: Exploring the Need for International Rules Based on Local Realities
This week, IHRB is collaborating with the UK’s Wilton Park to hold a global dialogue on just transitions. At the centre of our discussions is the growing need for clearer rules of the road to guide how net-zero transitions around the world are...
05 October 2022
By John Morrison, Chief Executive, IHRB, Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions, IHRB
Commentary: Calling for People-Centred Net-Zero Scrutiny
This Earth Day is marked by the IPCC’s latest major reports, both on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability and on Mitigation. We have less than three years to halt the rise of global emissions and less than a decade to cut them in half. The oil and...
22 April 2022
By Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions, IHRB
Commentary: New Opportunities to Integrate Human Rights Considerations into EU Public Procurement
In 2014, three new European Union (EU) Directives governing the way EU Member States purchase goods, works and services came into force.
Public procurement makes up a substantial share of world trade flows, amounting to €1000 billion per year. In...
03 November 2015
By Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions, IHRB
Commentary: The Post-2015 Agenda Needs to Set its Private Sector Priorities
Last week the Hungarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade hosted the 7th Annual Budapest Human Rights Forum. The event brought together a diverse group of participants to discuss a range of pressing issues.
These included preventing mass...
25 November 2014
By Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions, IHRB
Commentary: Kiobel Case a Reminder of Remedy Gaps Still to be Bridged
This week, the United States Supreme Court is at the centre of the global business and human rights agenda.
The Court is hearing oral arguments in Kiobel v Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., a highly anticipated case expected to determine whether claimants...
28 February 2012
By Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions, IHRB
Commentary: The Elephant in the Room: Addressing International Investment Conditions to Improve Human Rights
Over the past two decades, international investor-State dispute arbitration has exploded alongside a surge in Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) ratifications.
The International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) is cited...
14 June 2011
By Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions, IHRB
09 July 2020
19 August 2016
01 November 2021
14 February 2020
15 October 2018
Commentary: We need new strategies to redesign agriculture and food systems for people and planet
The role of business is crucial in shaping truly regenerative food systems that are better for human rights and a decarbonised future. This includes prioritising the agency of farmers, workers, and farm communities in the design of regenerative...
10 March 2023
By Guna Subramaniam, Asia Regional Manager, Migrant Workers Programme, IHRB, Haley St. Dennis, Head of Just Transitions, IHRB