Michael Lerner

Michael Lerner is an experienced professional currently serving as a Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Officer with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, where responsibilities include resettling refugees in Kakuma, Kenya. Previously, Michael held the role of Senior Development Officer at UNHCR Colombia, focusing on employment and economic inclusion for refugees, particularly Venezuelans, and worked on durable solutions for displaced persons. Prior to UNHCR, Michael operated as a self-employed consultant with expertise in law, governance, and human rights, providing services to organizations such as ILO and UNICEF. Michael's career includes significant roles at ILO, where management of labor law compliance projects occurred, and Human Rights Watch, where research on business and human rights was conducted. Michael holds a JD in Law and an MIA in Human Rights from Columbia University, as well as a BA in Asian Studies from the University of California, Berkeley.