Personal statement

I was appointed as a Professor of Practice in Human Rights Law in August 2019 and teach on the LLM Human Rights.

The appointment was in recognition of my experience as a human rights leader and practitioner with a proven track record nationally and internationally, as illustrated below under Expertise and Capabilities.

The role is twofold – firstly, to enable students to benefit from my practical experience and, secondly, to promote the university throughout my leadership activities.

These activities currently include the following:

Internationally…

• I am currently working with the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights to lead the development of guidance on a human rights-based approach to the development and implementation of national climate laws, to be launched in early 2027.
• In April 2026, I advised the Ukraine Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights (UPCHR) in its successful application to be accredited as an “A status” national human rights institution. This status grants the UPCHR important speaking rights at the UN Human Rights Council and strengthens its role within Ukraine to independently protect and promote human rights.

Nationally...

• I continue to help lead the preparation of the Scottish Human Rights Bill due to be introduced by the Scottish Government in the current session of the Scottish Parliament. At the invitation of the then First Minister, I served as the Independent Co-Chair of the National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership whose recommendations are now helping shape the preparation of the Bill.