#NonExecutiveDirector
Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly
Board Member, UK National Commission Board of Directors – Education Specialist
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Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly is an expert in education, contributing to the progress of UNESCO’s fight for education to be recognised as a human right through his role as Board Member for the UK National Commission. He works to improve child literacy, access to books, education in emergencies and the quality of refugee education.
Joseph is an education specialist, with two decade’s worth of experience working internationally and extensive knowledge on the role of education in human rights campaigns. He has lived and worked in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, with the former in his capacity as the Head of Education Policy & Advocacy at Save the Children, the world’s largest independent children’s rights organisation. He was elected to represent civil society on the new board of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and chaired the Strategy and Policy Committee where he oversaw a range of important developments including a new funding window for countries in crisis and the Partnership’s first gender equality policy and strategy.
Joseph was also a key member of the design team for Education Cannot Wait, the world’s first global fund for education in emergencies, where he served on its Executive Committee. He is the founding Chair of the Global Book Alliance, a multi-stakeholder initiative working to transform book development, procurement and distribution to ensure that no child is without books and has co-chaired the preparatory committee for the High-Level Meeting on Action for Refugee Education at the 2018 UN General Assembly. Amongst other achievements, Joseph has also Directed the Promising Practices in Refugee Education initiative and held various leadership roles in the education sector in the UK; including within Send My Friend to School, the umbrella body for UK based civil society organisation’s working on education globally.

#Institution
Global Book Alliance
Founding Chair
SINCE 2017
#Alma-Matter
Victoria University, BA. University of East London, LLM.
1996 -1998 and 2002-2003
#Role at UNESCO
Member of the UK National Commission for UNESCO’s Board of Directors
SINCE 2018
QUOTE
“During my seven-year term on the GPE board — the last four as chair of the board’s Strategy & Policy Committee — I worked with colleagues on various reforms. This included the creation of a new mechanism designed to provide speedy support to countries affected by emergencies, or in need of funding to support early recovery. I’m proud of that work, but it didn’t resolve the panoply of wider challenges for education in emergency situations.”
Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly, writing an opinion piece for Devex.com
Liaising with the UK’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO and approved by HM government, our Non-Executive Directors help steer the direction of the UK National Commission for UNESCO, and are each responsible for overseeing a particular field of UNESCO’s work in the UK.
ROLE AT UNESCO
Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly is a member of the UK National Commission for UNESCO’s Board of Directors, providing expertise upon the subject of education as a human right.
Institutions
UK National Commission for UNESCO
Board Member, Education Specialist
FROM 2018
Save The Children UK
Head of Education Policy and Advocacy (amongst other roles)
From 2010 -2020
Global Book Alliance
Chair
Since 2017
Role at UNESCO
Member of the UK National Commission for UNESCO’s Board of Directors, Education Specialist
SINCE 2018
COMMISSION
The UK National Commission for UNESCO
ESTABLISHED 1946 – LONDON, ENGLAND

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) is the United Nations body responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication. The UKNC is a hub for all UNESCO-related matters in the UK, and the Board of Directors take part in formulating and regularly reviewing the strategic aims of the commission.
Publications
SELECTED PUBLISHED WORK
Read about some of the incredible projects that Joseph has been instrumental in developing.

The Global Book Alliance
2020
#BooksBy2030
The Global Book Alliance is a partnership of donor agencies, multilateral institutions, and civil society organisations that are committed to bringing books to every child in the world by 2030. Joseph is Founding Chair of the Steering Committee.

Education Cannot Wait (ECW)
2017
#EducationForAll
Education Cannot Wait is a new global fund to join up governments, humanitarian actors and development efforts, with the aim of delivering a unified and rapid response to the educational needs of children and youth affected by crises.

Opinion: Education sector must align, accelerate, and account for efforts toward SDG 4.
2019
#SustainableDevelopmentGoals
Joseph provides commentary on the current projections for global education by 2030, with only 1 in 10 children from low-income countries predicted to have secondary-level education.
LATEST
QUOTE
“Ensuring animals are healthy is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Animals, particularly livestock, play a significant role in food security, water security and improved income, benefitting the most vulnerable communities in low and middle income countries.”
Joseph Nhan-O’reilly, discussing the need for further research into animal diseases and wet-market implications.
#MoreExperts
RELATED EXPERTS
Meet the UK National Commission for UNESCO Accredited Experts
#Education #Policy

Sheila McLean
ACCREDITED EXPERT
#Bioethics
Professor Sheila McLean, OBE and Professor Emerita of Law and Ethics in Medicine at the University of Glasgow, is an Accredited Expert representing the UK on UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee.
RELATED CHAIRS
Read more about our related Chairs in Education and Advocacy.

Chair in New Media Forms of the Book at the University of Bedfordshire
PROFESSOR ALEXIS WEEDON
#Communication
examine how forms of collaborative authorship can break down assumptions and change publishing practices.

Chair in Adult Literacy and Learning for Social Transformation
PROFESSOR ANNA ROBINSON PANT
#Education
The UEA UNESCO Chair is an international partnership with university departments specialising in adult literacy and community learning in countries across the globe.

Chair in Inclusive and Quality Education for All
PROFESSOR LEON TIKLY
#Education
The Chair is based in the Centre for International and Comparative Education (CIRE) at the University of Bristol, and their key objective is to undertake innovative research that will increase access to a good quality education.
FULL LIST
A global network of universities that carry out research to address pressing challenges and contribute.
*by alphabetical order
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Liaising with the UK’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO and approved by HM government, our Non-Executive Directors help steer the direction of the UK National Commission for UNESCO, and are each responsible for overseeing a particular field of UNESCO’s work in the UK.
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