David Miliband is the President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee. He oversees the agency’s operations in 40 crisis-effect countries and its refugee resettlement and assistance programs throughout Europe and the Americas. The IRC’s mission is to help the world’s most vulnerable people, whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by conflict and disaster, including the climate crisis, to survive, recover, and regain control of their future. In 2021 alone, the IRC served more than 31.5M people in countries affected by crisis, more than 2.7M people with water sources, and more than 1.3M people with malnutrition prevention assistance.

Prior to joining IRC, David had a distinguished political career in the United Kingdom. From 2007 to 2010, he served as the 74^th Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, representing the United Kingdom throughout the world. His accomplishments have earned him a reputation, in former President Bill Clinton’s words, as “one of the ablest, most creative public servants of our time.” In 2016 David was named one of the World’s Greatest Leaders by Fortune Magazine and in 2018 he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

David is also the author of the book, Rescue: Refugees and the Political Crisis of Our Time. As the son of refugees, David brings a personal commitment to the IRC’s work and to the premise of the book: that we can rescue the dignity and hopes of refugees and displaced people, and if we help them, in the process we will rescue our own values.

WHY THEY’RE JOINING US

We are so fortunate to have David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, join us again at SVWC 2024. Miliband will bring his insights and first-hand knowledge of how today’s global issues, conflicts, and the climate crisis are affecting our world and where humanitarian efforts should be focused, both now and as we look into the future.

Photo courtesy of IRC