The Trustee Board

Sir Nicolas is the former President of the European Court of Human Rights, where he was the Judge of the Court for over 14 years, elected in respect of the UK. Sir Nicolas’ incomparable experience and expertise is an invaluable source of advice and guidance and inspiration for BIHR. Watch Sir Nicolas discussing the importance of our Human Rights Act and the European Convention system in a Channel 4 news piece here.

 Sir Nicholas describes his motivation for Chairing our Board of Trustees as:

“The British Institute of Human Rights is an organisation I have long admired. After fourteen years as a judge in the European Court of Human Rights, and an even longer career as a lawyer, I see the powerful and vital role BIHR plays in making sure we all know that human rights are not a remote, technical subject. I urge you to join in ... your support can make the difference, helping strengthen work to bring rights to life in these challenging times.”

 

Tanni is a celebrated Paralympian, broadcaster and sits as a Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords. Tanni’s passion and experience of advocating for equality both within parliament and in her wider work brings important insights to BIHR. Speaking in the above video, Tanni describes her motivation for joining BIHR’s Board of Trustees as:

"I became a trustee of the British Institute of Human Rights because I was already working on welfare reform, benefit reform, legal aid, disability rights; and for me it was that peice of the jigsaw that pulled everything together"

Imran is the founding member of Imran Khan & Partners Solicitors, and well known for his representation of the family of Stephen Lawrence, and spearheading legal challenges which hold state officials to account for human rights abuses. Speaking in the above video, Imran describes his motivation for joining BIHR’s Board of Trustees as:

"BIHR is not about sitting around and debating, it is about how do we change people's lives for the better, using the Human Rights Act in a way to change society"

 

Stephen retired as the Trust Secretary of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust in 2012, a key foundation supporting human rights work in the UK. Stephen was responsible for the Trust's programme on democracy, human rights and corporate accountability.  Before joining JRCT, Stephen spent 10 years in local government in London in roles involving liaison with the voluntary sector and support for community development. 

 

Edith Prak is Director of Development at The Elders, with a background in international economics and politics and has worked in teaching, in advisory roles and in fundraising. She was previously, Director of Development at The Open University, where she was responsible for all fundraising and the ground-breaking capacity building programmes in the developing world. Prior to this she worked at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, a development advisor at the UN in Fiji, fundraising manager at Oxfam and economic advisor to the Union of Industrial Workers in the Netherlands.

Mark Hilton is Chief of Staff at The Elders. Prior to joining The Elders in May 2013, Mark was the Executive Assistant to the Director-General at the International Planned Parenthood Federation. Before this Mark spent 23 years in the Royal Air Force, serving both overseas and in the UK in a wide variety of human resources roles. Mark has a BSc in International Relations and an MSc in International Development Management, both courtesy of the Open University.