David Miliband
David Miliband is the President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee. He oversees the agency’s relief and development operations in over 40 countries and its refugee resettlement and assistance programs throughout the United States. In addition, he leads the IRC’s advocacy efforts in Washington, Geneva, Brussels and other capitals on behalf of the world’s most vulnerable people.
Miliband has had a distinguished political career in the United Kingdom. From 2007 to 2010, he served as the youngest U.K. Foreign Secretary in three decades, driving advancements in human rights and representing the United Kingdom throughout the world. As Secretary of State for the Environment he pioneered the world’s first legally binding emissions reduction requirements. 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," and as an effective and passionate advocate for the world's uprooted and poor people.
Earlier Miliband was Minister for Communities and Local Government (2005–2006); Minister for Schools (2002–2004); and Head of Downing Street’s Number 10 Policy Unit (1997–2001). He has also been a Member of Parliament representing South Shields. He is Co-Chair of the Global Ocean Commission.
Miliband graduated from Oxford University in 1987 with a first class degree in philosophy, politics and economics, and received his master’s degree in political science in 1989 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which he attended as a Kennedy Scholar. He is married to the violinist Louise Shackelton and they have two sons.
Miliband’s parents fled from their home in Belgium to England in the 1940s. As the son of refugees, he brings a personal commitment to the IRC's work.
Miliband studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. In 1988 he won a Kennedy Scholarship to study for a Masters' Degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Upon returning to the UK, Miliband worked in a variety of policy positions for several organizations.
From 1994-97, Miliband served as Head of Policy for Tony Blair, working on the policies that would help propel the Labour Party into government. He served as head of the Prime Minister's Policy Unit on Downing Street during Labour's first term in office from 1997-01.
Under Prime Minister Tony Blair, Miliband served as Environment Secretary, focusing on making climate change a priority for UK policy makers, after having served in various junior ministerial posts, including at the Department for Education and Skills.
Miliband is a Fisher Family Fellow at the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.
