Shift, the new independent, non-profit center for business and human rights practice is pleased to announce the formation of its Board. Chaired by Professor John Ruggie, the former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Business and Human Rights, the Board will also comprise:

Annabelle Abaya, (Philippines) former presidential advisor on the Philippines Peace Process, creator of mediation units in 200 public and private organizations, and professional mediator, including in company-community disputes;

Professor Philip Alston, (Australia) Professor of Law and co-Chair of the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at New York University, and holder of numerous high-level UN human rights positions over past years;

Maria Livanos Cattaui, (Switzerland) member of the Board of Directors, Petroplus Holdings; former Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce and previously Managing Director of the World Economic Forum;

Dr Alexandra Guaqueta, (Colombia) currently with Flinders University, Australia, and a member of the newly appointed UN Special Procedures Working Group on business and human rights. with a prior career ranging from Cerrejon Coal and Occidental Petroleum to Ideas para la Paz and the International Peace Institute;

Auret van Heerden, (South Africa) President and CEO of the Fair Labor Association, founder of the Global Forum for Sustainable Supply Chains, with more than 30 years experience in international human and labor rights, including with the ILO; 

Herbert McLeod, (Sierra Leone) Advisor to the Government of Sierra Leone, leading efforts to ensure the application of human rights in the extractive industry; following a 35-year career in development in fragile states for the UN Development Program.

On announcing the Board, Professor Ruggie commented, “I am delighted that individuals of this international calibre, and from such a range of professional perspectives, have agreed to join the Board of Shift. It reflects a shared recognition both of the real opportunity and need we now have to put the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights into practice, and of the fact that the Shift team is uniquely well-placed to make a major contribution to this task.”

Shift provides the expert knowledge and guidance for businesses and governments to put the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights into practice. Based on lessons from this work, it will develop public guidance materials to support improved practices for the respect and protection of human rights globally. The Shift team was centrally involved in shaping and writing the Guiding Principles. The Center will formally launch its work later this autumn.

Look out for more about the formal launch of Shift at: http://www.business-humanrights.org. For further information, please contact Caroline Rees, Shift, caroline_rees (at) harvard.edu or Rachel Davis, Shift, rachel_davis (at) hks.harvard.edu.

Shift

Shift

Shift is an independent, non-profit center for business and human rights practice.

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