Jonathan Ellis

Background

About Jonathan Ellis

Jonathan has developed a distinctive approach to campaigning over the past 25 years, which he uses as a campaigner, teacher and catalyst. As an independent CAMPAIGNER, he leads Detention Forum a network of over 50 NGOs challenging the use of immigration detention in the UK. Previously, he led advocacy campaigns for the British Red Cross, Oxfam, the Refugee Council, and Action on Empty Homes. He has also stood twice as a Parliamentary candidate in the UK. As a qualified TEACHER in secondary and higher education, he has a proven track record of teaching campaigning skills to civil society groups around the world including in: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Georgia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Peru, Senegal, Serbia, Somaliland, South Africa, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine and across Europe. He has run advocacy campaign training for Bond, NCVO and SMK; leadership training for Shpresa; and is author of a global advocacy toolkit and train the trainers course for the International Federation of Red Cross. He has online campaigning courses on Udemy (over 4,700 students in 136 countries) and on Listenable. He has also published books on campaigning and public speaking, and was a visiting lecturer on the MA in political communication at City University in London. As a campaigning CATALYST, he supports people across the world to campaign for change. He is an advisor to: Open Society Foundations supporting coalitions in Armenia, Georgia, Serbia, and Tajikistan; Eurochild supporting the Early Childhood Development campaign in 10 countries across Europe; Trust for Social Achievement in Bulgaria supporting health care campaigns by Roma community groups; and Alliance 2015, Concern and Helvetas supporting their global advocacy. He has also supported the Refugee Council and the Red Cross in the UK, UNESCO in Kazakhstan and UNHCR globally. Previously he was National Chair of City of Sanctuary UK and remains active in his local group. Born in South Africa, he was educated at Durham (BA Hons History), Leicester (PGCE), Loughborough (MBA) and City (PG Certificate in Academic Practice) universities.