IHRB was founded in 2009 under the leadership of Mary Robinson, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Ireland, who served as its inaugural Chair and since as its Patron. IHRB’s subsequent Chair was the late John Ruggie, author of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
IHRB’s current Chair is Margot Wallström, the former Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Chair convenes IHRB’s International Advisory Council to review and reflect on IHRB’s strategic direction, programming, and the global context in which it operates.
IHRB’s International Advisory Council is composed of influential thinkers across business, government, finance, trade unions, civil society, and academia.
Patrons
Chair, The Elders; Patron, IHRB
Patron Emeritus, IHRB; Author, UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights
Patron, IHRB; former Head of Community Affairs, BP
International Advisory Council
Chair, International Advisory Council, IHRB; former Swedish Foreign Minister
Member, UN Working Group; Professor, Univ. of Washington; International Advisory Council, IHRB
Founder China Dialogue; Visiting Professor, the Lau Institute KCL; contributing editor Prospect
Executive Director, CREER; International Advisory Council, IHRB
Founder, Vienna Solutions; International Advisory Council, IHRB
International Advisory Council, IHRB
Director, Raoul Wallenberg Institute; International Advisory Council, IHRB
Partner, Clifford Chance LLP; International Advisory Council, IHRB
Building Feminist Economies Manager for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID); International Advisory Council, IHRB
Former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation; International Advisory Council, IHRB
Author, ESG/Strategic Communications Expert; International Advisory Council, IHRB
Director, Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business; International Advisory Council, IHRB
Trustees
Also members of the International Advisory Council