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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. |
Lecturer in Comparative Religion (Islamic Studies) at McGill
(1978-79), he was an adjunct faculty in Social Ministry at UBC
(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,
where he is a core faculty member in the graduate program on Dialogue
and Negotiation. He was awarded the McGeachy Senior Scholarship
(2005-2006) for his work in community and international
reconciliation.
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). In 2010 he was elected to receive an honorary
doctorate (DD) by the Vancouver School of Theology.
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.
At the end of 1999, 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, strategic evaluation and
organizational development. Projects have been carried out in some 20
countries, and have 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.
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. He currently
serves on several Boards, including the Executive of Amnesty
International in Canada.
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) and
Dispatches from the Global Village (Copperhouse, 2007). He
lives in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. |
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Skills Profile
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 cross-cultural relations. Continuous direct
involvement with disadvantaged groups, and with both victims and
perpetrators of discrimination and human rights violations.
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.
Twenty
years senior management experience in the non-governmental sector,
including the leadership of 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 team leadership, project and
organizational evaluation and senior management appraisal.
Substantial background in the assessment and mediation of
organizational and civil conflict situations, including leadership
of human rights investigations and treaty negotiation 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.
Exceptional verbal, written and inter-personal communication skills.
Extensive experience in media relations and public discourse, 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.
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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