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Personal Profile
Canadian citizen; Born 26 October 1954, in Montreal; Bi-lingual:
English and French.
Derek Evans received a degree in Comparative Religion, followed by
specialization in Ethics at McGill University, and doctoral studies
in Adult Education at the University of British Columbia. |
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Lecturer in Comparative Religion (Islamic Studies) at McGill
(1978-79), he was an adjunct faculty in Social Ministry at VST
(1981-86) and the University of Toronto (1986-90). He is a Charter
Member of the Canadian Academy of Independent Scholars, and an
Associate of the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University.
He was awarded the McGeachy Senior Scholarship (2005-2006) for his
work in community and international reconciliation, and an
honorary
doctorate (DD, 2010) (will open as a 2 page PDF) for his work in
human rights and inter-faith dialogue. |
He was commissioned as a Conference Minister of the United Church of
Canada (Vancouver, 1979-86), with responsibility for research,
advocacy and social policy. He was appointed Executive Director of
the Canada-Asia Working Group, a research and policy institute on
human rights and development of the Canadian Council of Churches
(Toronto, 1986-1990).
Evans joined the International Secretariat of Amnesty International
in 1990 as Head of the organization's Asia and Pacific Research
program. He was appointed Deputy Secretary General (London,
1993-1999), with responsibility for strategic direction of the
organization's global human rights research, campaigning and
development programs. In 1997 he was appointed senior political
advisor of the Amnesty movement, responsible additionally for legal
affairs, inter-governmental relations, and policy formulation.
In 2000, Evans returned to Canada and served as Executive Director of
the Naramata Centre for Continuing Education, one of Canada’s
foremost experiential learning institutes. In 2005 he established an
independent professional consultancy, Evans & Associates, providing
training, resources and leadership in human rights, conflict
transformation, and strategic development. Projects were carried out
in some 25 countries, and included policy development and strategic
planning for UN agencies, strategic evaluation of major international
human rights NGOs, and capacity building with educational and
indigenous people’s organizations. In 2008 he was appointed the
founding Executive Director of CUSO-VSO, the largest international
development NGO working through volunteers in North America. He
received the 2010 Hicks Morley Vision Award for strategic leadership
in human relations in recognition of the success of this merger.
Evans has led more than 70 international delegations in all world
regions, primarily dealing with human rights and conflict resolution.
Throughout his career, Evans has had extensive involvement with
non-governmental and community organizations – local, national, and
global – both in governance and senior management. He frequently
serves as public commentator on human rights and international
affairs, and as a chair, facilitator and mediator.
In addition to extensive publications in ethics and human rights,
Evans has published as a poet and contributed to a number of theatre
and film projects. An accredited member of The Writers’ Union of
Canada, he is the author or co-author of some 14 books, including
most recently Before the War
(Northstone, 2004),
Dispatches from the Global Village (Copperhouse, 2007), and
Creator Glimpsed Serving Tea
(Okanagan Institute, 2008). |
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Professional Experience
Summary
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Thirty
years educational and activist leadership in community advocacy,
social justice and policy work at local, national and international
levels. In depth experience in a wide range of multi-cultural
environments and inter-cultural relations. Continuous direct
involvement with disadvantaged groups, and with both victims and
perpetrators of discrimination and human rights violations.
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Twenty-five years professional experience in the fields of
development, human rights and education. Applied and oversight
experience of field research, program design, project implementation
and evaluation, facilitation and training, coalition-building and
policy formulation in all major world regions. Extensive background
in the governance of not-for-profit and civil society organizations.
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Twenty
years senior management experience in the non-governmental sector,
including the leadership of mergers and major organizational change
processes, the development of effective strategic planning and
accountability systems, and responsibility for direction of up to
400 professional staff. Specialized expertise in leadership of
professional teams, project and organizational evaluation, senior
management appraisal, the development and support of multi-sector
partnerships.
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Substantial background in the assessment and mediation of
organizational and civil conflict situations, including leadership
of human rights investigations, treaty negotiation and public
consultation processes. Ten years experience as senior political
advisor, with responsibility for strategic planning and executive
leadership in the world’s largest human rights organization,
directing Amnesty International’s global research, campaigning,
development and policy operations.
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Exceptional verbal, written, inter-personal and public communication
skills. Extensive experience in media relations and public
consultation, and recognized expertise in negotiation and
facilitation of small and large group decision-making processes. A
substantial publications record, a frequent and effective chair,
presenter and facilitator at community meetings and international
conferences.
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An
accomplished analyst and synthetic thinker. A practical academic and
teaching background in human rights and public policy, comparative
religion and ethics, strategic management and governance.
Specialized experience in field research, community and
organizational development, conflict transformation and change
management. A demonstrated commitment to supporting personal and
professional development.
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