Michael Keating is Executive Director of the European Institute of Peace, an independent body active across the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Europe’s eastern neighbourhood.

In an increasingly difficult geopolitical landscape with growing threats to peace, security and human dignity, he overseas initiatives that strengthen dialogue - by reaching out to parties to conflict and their backers, whether states or non state actors, by setting up back channels, providing negotiation support, designing and facilitating meetings and political processes, or by amplifying the voices and agency of those directly affected by violence.

Keating’s career has been divided between the private and public sectors, including in photography, financial publishing, TV documentary production and strategic communications. Assignments have included serving as Executive Director of the Africa Progress Panel, working closely with its chair, Kofi Annan; Associate Director of Chatham House in London; and Board member or Trustee of a variety of non profit organisations.

He has had senior United Nations roles with humanitarian, development, environmental and political responsibilities, including in Afghanistan, the Middle East, Malawi, Geneva and New York. He led the team that designed Ban ki Moon’s Human Rights Up Front initiative. His most recent UN assignment was as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia until 2018.

He has authored or co-authored many articles, essays and books, including War and Peace in Somalia (Hurst 2018), The Contribution of Human Rights to Protecting People in Conflict in ‘Protection of Civilians’ (OUP 2016) and Aid, Diplomacy and Facts on the Ground on the Middle East conflict (Chatham House 2005)

He was born in Uganda, is married to a public health expert and midwife, has four daughters and an MA in History from the University of Cambridge.