John Packer is Neuberger-Jesin Professor of International Conflict Resolution and Director of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre in the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa (Canada). He previously taught at the Fletcher School (Tufts University, USA) and the University of Essex (UK), held Fellowships at Cambridge and Harvard Universities, and has lectured at academic and professional institutions around the world. Over his 30-year career, he was a UN staff member for almost a decade (UNHCR, ILO, OHCHR) and was Senior Legal Adviser then first Director of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (1995-2004).  In 2012-2014, he was the Constitutions and Process Design Expert on the UN’s Standby Team of Mediation Experts (UN DPPA). He has advised numerous governments, communities and other actors in over fifty countries on all continents.  The focus of his research and practice is at the inter-section of human rights (including minority rights) and security, notably conflict prevention and quiet diplomacy, international mediation, transitional arrangements, and institutional developments at domestic and multilateral levels.