About Jonathan

Campaigner | Teacher | Catalyst

Jonathan has developed a distinctive approach to campaigning over the past 25 years, which he uses as a campaigner, teacher and catalyst.

Campaigner

Speaking at Oxford Refugee Conference

Jonathan is an independent campaigner. He leads Detention Forum a network of over 50 NGO challenging the use of immigration detention in the UK. Previously, he led advocacy campaigns for the British Red Cross, Oxfam, the Refugee Council, and Action on Empty Homes. He has also stood twice as a Parliamentary candidate in the UK.

Teacher

Jonathan is a qualified teacher in secondary and higher education and was a visiting lecturer on the MA in political communication at London’s City University.

He has a proven ability to teach campaigning skills to civil society groups around the world including in: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Georgia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Peru, Senegal, Serbia, Somaliland, South Africa, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine and across Europe.

He has run advocacy campaign training for Bond, NCVO and SMK, and leadership training for Shpresa. He has published Campaigning for Change: an Essential Guide for Campaigning around the World; as well as  Speaking with Impact: an Essential Guide to Public Speakingwritten a global advocacy toolkit for the International Federation of the Red Cross/ Red Crescent (piloted with the Nepal Red Cross); has on-line campaigning courses with over 4,700 students from 136 countries; and has an audio course on campaigning available on Listenable.

Catalyst

Jonathan also works as a catalyst providing strategic campaigning advice. He is an advisor to: Open Society Foundations supporting campaigning coalitions in Armenia, Georgia , Serbia, and Tajikistan; Eurochild supporting the new Early Childhood Development campaign in 9 countries across Europe; Trust for Social Achievement in Bulgaria supporting health advocacy by Roma community groups; and Alliance 2015, Concern and Helvetas supporting their global advocacy. He has also supported the Refugee Council and the Red Cross in the UK, UNESCO in Kazakhstan and UNHCR globally. Previously he was National Chair of City of Sanctuary UK and remains active in his local group.

Previously his work has included supporting: Caritas on their global migration campaign; UNHCR on their global statelessness campaign; the Opening Doors for Europe’s Children Campaign; Helvetas on their labour migration advocacy in Sri Lanka; Alliance 2015 on their food nutrition advocacy in Ethiopia and Pakistan; Migrant Voice; Shpresa; Hibiscus Initiatives; People in Need (PIN) on their new European climate change campaign; and strategic advice to the Oak Foundation

Born in South Africa, he was educated at Durham (BA Hons History), Leicester (PGCE), Loughborough (MBA) and City (PG Certificate in Academic Practice) universities. He is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.