People leading the IHRA
Meet some of the people who lead the IHRA. They are supported by our staff at the IHRA’s Permanent Office.
Meet some of the people who lead the IHRA. They are supported by our staff at the IHRA’s Permanent Office.
Discover some of the key people working at the IHRA.
Lord Pickles serves as the UK Special Envoy on Post Holocaust Issues, a position he has held since 2015, demonstrating his commitment to remembrance of the Holocaust and genocide of the Roma on a global scale. He served as the Vice President of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust from 2019 to 2023 and as the Chairman of Conservative Friends of Israel in the House of Lords since 2018.
Lord Pickles’ career reflects a legacy of public service. He has held a seat in the House of Lords since 2018 and was a Member of Parliament for Brentwood and Ongar for 25 years (1992 – 2017) prior to that. He served as the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from 2010 – 2015, was the Minister for Religion from 2012 – 2015, and Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2009 – 2010. Lord Pickles played a pivotal role as the UK Anti-Corruption Champion from 2015 to 2017, and took on the responsibility of chairing the Government’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments in 2020.
The UK IHRA Presidency runs from 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025.
Dr. Kathrin Meyer has been the Secretary General of the IHRA since 2008. She provides support and guidance to the IHRA Chair and maintains continuity from Presidency to Presidency. Together with her colleagues at the IHRA Permanent Office she coordinates the organization’s activities. Dr. Meyer also serves as the IHRA’s primary spokesperson.
Dr. Robert Williams was appointed Advisor to the IHRA during the 2022 Gothenburg Plenary. He is the USC Shoah Foundation Finci-Viterbi Executive Director, was on the steering committee of the Global Task Force Against Holocaust Distortion, and served for four years as Chair of the Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial.
Sir Andrew Burns chairs Strategy Implementation at the IHRA, which includes chairing the Grant Review Committee for external projects and the Assessments Board for internal projects. He is a former UK Ambassador to Israel, and served as UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust issues and Head of the UK Delegation to the IHRA for five years.
Understand how the IHRA is structured, including information about Working Groups and Committees, the Permanent Office, and the Presidency.
Useful information about the IHRA and our work for journalists and members of the media.
Learn more about working at the IHRA and explore our current vacancies.
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