news
Staff changes
The Board of Directors, Council of Advisors and colleagues of the IICI extend their gratitude to John Hunter Ralston, who stepped down as Executive Director on September 1, 2016. His steady and imaginative leadership guided the Institute to its current position as the world’s premier training organization for the investigation of serious violations of international humanitarian law. Our warmest best wishes go with him.
We also take this opportunity to say farewell and thank you to two other staff members who have contributed greatly to the development of IICI in recent years, Head of Office Niamh Hayes and Project Officer Ulic Egan. We wish them both every success in the future.
Director Ralston is succeeded as Executive Director by Philip Trewhitt. A British national, Philip has over 17 years’ experience of conducting and leading investigations including into violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, as well fraud and corruption within international organisations.
From 2003-2004, he was the UK government focal point on transitional justice in Baghdad; he then headed the Baghdad team conducting investigations into breaches of Iraqi sanctions under the United Nations Oil-for-Food Programme. Following a number of positions in the United Nations, he was appointed in 2011 to lead the investigation team for the UN Commission of Inquiry into breaches of international humanitarian law and human rights by all parties to the Libya conflict. Immediately prior to joining IICI, Philip was a fraud and corruption investigator with the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg.
He holds an undergraduate degree in Law and an MA in War Studies from King’s College, London. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2004 and is a recipient of the Office of the US Secretary of Defense Public Service Award.
We welcome Director Trewhitt to the IICI and look forward to a new and exciting phase in the life of the Institute.