Lysa John takes up the position of Atlantic Institute Executive Director
Lysa John has taken up the position of the new executive director of the Atlantic Institute, following a high-impact career at CIVICUS, Save the Children and the UN. She has been an advocate for equity and the power of international collaboration for over two decades. There are now over 1,000 Atlantic Fellows in the global community so, working closely with the seven Atlantic Fellows programs, one of her first tasks is to develop a strategic plan that provides effective, sustainable ways of supporting the growing Atlantic Fellowship worldwide.
The Atlantic Fellows programs are built on the idea that fairer, healthier and more inclusive societies require leaders with diverse perspectives to find solutions and learn from one another. The Atlantic Institute, formed in 2016 in partnership with the Rhodes Trust, connects the seven Atlantic Fellows programs, building a catalytic global community of courageous leaders who address the systemic causes of inequity.
Today there are around 1,000 Atlantic Fellows across 80 countries. As executive director of the Atlantic Institute, based in Oxford, U.K., Lysa will provide support and direction to the global community of Atlantic Fellows. The Atlantic Institute provides both Fellows and staff with the networks, architecture and resources to connect, learn and act together - both locally and globally.
Lysa John said: "Each of the Atlantic Fellows programs offers an extraordinary opportunity to equip emerging leaders with the skills and experiences required to make real change in their home countries and the world. The Atlantic Institute promotes collaboration and shared approaches, connects the Atlantic Fellows program community to a broader network of equity-oriented initiatives and raises global awareness of their crucial work.”
Lysa brings a rich international perspective to the Atlantic Institute, which she joins after serving as the Secretary General of the CIVICUS Alliance for five years. In that role, Lysa has championed human rights and international mobilization and was responsible for progressing the strategic objectives of the Alliance and overseeing the work of its global Secretariat. She started her career working for grassroots organizations fighting to end urban poverty, and spearheaded large-scale campaigns calling for government accountability to the Millennium Development Goals. Before joining CIVICUS, she worked as Global Campaigns Director at Save the Children, and as Head of Outreach for the U.N. panel that drafted the blueprint for the Sustainable Development Goals.
