Marie Staunton

Marie Staunton C.B.E. has experience of governance in the public, commercial and NGO sectors in the UK, Europe, and internationally.

Marie started her career working with homeless women, men, and families for the Simon Community in London and Belfast. A solicitor, she worked with community groups and women’s organisations at community law centres, was Legal Officer at Liberty and UK Director of Amnesty. She moved to the private sector as Publishing Director of a Pearson company and became vice chair of the global Amnesty Board (the IEC). She moved back to the NGO sector to become Deputy Director of UNICEF UK, then served as CEO of Plan UK launching its girl’s campaign, was subsequently CEO of Plan Canada and of the International Federation of Anti Leprosy Associations.

She served as Chief Executive of Plan UK having earlier worked for UNICEF and Pearson’s. She has been the UK board member at the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, chaired Raleigh International, the Equality and Diversity Forum, Crown Agents, SOAS University, and a variety of NGO and commercial organisations.

IN 2013, she received a CBE for her humanitarian work.