Team

Haley St. Dennis

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.

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

pictured left to right: Joanne Yawitch, Head of South African JETP Secretariat;  Zainab Usman, Carnegie Endowment; Nani Hendriati, Department for Environment & Forestry, Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, Indonesia; Simon Harford, Gl

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

A woman installing solar panels on the roof in Bhutan

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

As of May 2011, 157 countries have signed the ICSID Convention.

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