Dr Simon Adams works with governments and the United Nations to advocate for the prevention of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. 

A passionate human rights advocate, Simon is Executive Director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, established in 2008 with the support of the former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Refugees International, Oxfam and Human Rights Watch. The Centre is the world’s leading organisation for advancing the international norm of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) at the UN and beyond. 

Simon has worked extensively with civil society organisations in South Africa, East Timor, Rwanda, and elsewhere. Between 1994 and 2002 he worked with Sinn Féin and former IRA prisoners in support of the Northern Ireland peace process. He is also a former anti-apartheid activist and former member of the African National Congress of South Africa.  

The author of four books on international conflict, Simon is a respected media source regarding issues of mass atrocity prevention and international justice, including writing for the New York Times and appearing as an expert commentator on Al-Jazeera and the BBC. 

A “recovering academic” in his own words, he has also held senior appointments at universities, including as Pro Vice-Chancellor (International Engagement) at Monash University, and as Vice-President of its South African campus between 2008 and 2010.