John Holmes served as the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC) from 2007 to 2011. Prior to joining the UN, Holmes had a long career as a British diplomat in several missions, having also held a number of high-level posts with the British Government.

In this episode, John Holmes explains how he navigated the delicate world of politics during his time as the ERC. He reflects how he applied his diplomatic skills to deliver on the humanitarian mandate of the UN in world’s most complex and challenging crises at the time, including Sudan and Sri Lanka.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of individual speakers and do not imply approval, expression of any views or responsibility on the part of UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).