Girish is an experienced charity sector leader. His most recent executive role was as Interim CEO of UNICEF UK. Prior to this, he was the CEO of STiR Education for over 3 years after serving ActionAid UK as Chief Executive for over 5 years. He brings almost 40 years’ experience as a leader in the international development sector, having previously held roles as International Programmes Director and Deputy CEO at WaterAid UK, where he was responsible for programmes across 22 countries in South Asia and sub Saharan Africa.

Girish was born and brought up in India, and started his career with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme. He has also worked at ActionAid, Plan International and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID)  in India. Since moving to London in 2005, he has also served on the boards of various not-for-profit organisations including the Disasters Emergency Committee and Plan International UK. He is currently on the board of Hope and Homes for Children, UK and the Fundraising Regulator UK. He is a member of the Programme and Partnerships Committee of the British Asian Trust. He has also been a consultant, adviser and mentor in the social sector.

Professor Stephen J Toope OC, LL.D. is 346th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, the first non-UK national to hold the post. He was Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, and President, the University of British Columbia. A former Dean of Law, McGill University, Toope was also Chair of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances.

Professor Toope publishes in global journals on human rights, international dispute resolution, international environmental law, the use of force, and international legal theory, and has lectured at universities around the world.

His current book project with Professor Jutta Brunnée explores mechanisms and processes fostering stability and change in international law.