Question 1: What was your vision when you first started your mandate as director?
I’m not sure I had a fully formed vision at the outset. What I can say is that I was very interested in the opportunity because I had known the Centre since its early days. I was a student at the University of Manitoba in 1981 when I attended a meeting at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law in the then recent Fauteux Hall. At the time, the Centre was involved in organizing events related to what would become the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the patriation of the Constitution. I found that fascinating as a student.
I had become aware of meetings happening here as well as a major conference held at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City that brought together international experts to discuss integrating international human rights into the prospective new Canadian Constitution. That purpose-driven approach really resonated with me. I was interested in international human rights, peace, and stability, so I felt a connection to this place from early on.
After that, I spent nearly 30 years abroad, initially for post-graduate studies in International Law and thereafter a career in its international practice. When someone mentioned this at HRREC, I saw it as a meaningful reconnection. I had been the director of a significant centre in the UK, and the idea of returning to Canada in a similar role felt like a poetic continuation of my journey.
I was also drawn to Ottawa itself—the bilingualism, the civic culture, and the breadth of subject matter. I looked at the Centre’s unique pedigree and its strong commitment to bridging academia and practice, and I found that very compelling. My vision, then, was to ask: how could I contribute to its important mission?
During the interview process, I gave a job talk and was asked about Indigenous rights. I noticed that the Centre wasn’t doing much in that area at the time, which struck me as odd. I thought we should focus more on that. Interestingly, the interviewers were also interested in how to make the Centre more practice-oriented, which suited me well. e Following many years working with inter-governmental organisations, I had created an inter-disciplinary human rights clinic at the University of Essex and I generally came more from a practice-based than academic background.
So, my vision was practical: to create structures that would support real-world engagement, to reach out more, and to take advantage of our location in Ottawa—especially with the diplomatic community. One of the first things we did was organize a conference on the Inter-American human rights system, which hadn’t previously involved the diplomatic community, which seemed like a missed opportunity.
I wanted to rejuvenate and ignite new collaborations, and to broaden the conversation around human rights—both within Canada and internationally. I was also very clear that my own areas of expertise, notably conflict mediation and protection of minorities, would not simply become the Centre’s foci. Rather, the Centre needed to be a place of community and mutual benefit, adding value for each member and partner across the breadth of specific topics.
We spent the first year developing a strategic plan. Initially, I thought we might need to narrow our focus, as many human rights centres around the world now specialize in areas like health, migration or geographic situations. I considered whether we should prioritize the Americas and/or Indigenous rights, especially given the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s work was concluding with a nationally impactful report about to be published.
But through our consultations, it became clear that the Centre’s strength lies in its breadth and richness. The original vision of the Centre—bridging disciplines and connecting research with practice—remained valid. My role was to find ways to add value to all the excellent work already being done and to extends its reach and impact while elevating the Centre as a whole.
Question 2: What accomplishments are you most satisfied about?
That’s a hard question to answer. First, I’d say we achieved many of the goals we set out, and I believe that’s been recognized. This was especially meaningful given that we were a small team starting out together. I’m particularly grateful to the Faculty of Law for allowing me to sit in on the selection process for the Associate Director, Viviana Fernandez, before I officially took up my own post. That was a thoughtful and enlightened approach, and it helped us start off on the right foot, with complementary expertise at the leadership level and a core team rowing together.
Soon after, we made some staffing changes and brought in new people—one of whom, Caroline Faucher, is still with us today. By the end of our second year, we had built a new team, put our house in order, brought in a new endowment, and began realizing our vision with an approved strategic plan. We were on our way.
Over the course of my two full terms—in fact, a decade and more—I believe we accomplished a great deal. Quantitatively, we delivered around 650 events, which is remarkable. But what’s even more satisfying is that we did this in collaboration with about 100 different partners. In recent years alone, we’ve reported 50 or more partners annually. These include a wide range of organizations, and through our clinic we supported various UN special rapporteurs and hosted many important figures, including UN senior officials.
But beyond the numbers and prestigious relations, I think the most meaningful accomplishment is how we fulfilled the Centre’s core mission: to be a space and an instrument for the study, promotion, and overall education of human rights. And we’ve done it with open doors, minds and arms and a genuine spirit of honest collegial endeavour.
We’ve supported countless graduate students, and I think we’ve elevated the Centre’s recognition nationally and internationally. We became a known and trusted address in Canada—an institution people could turn to for support and collaboration. Over the years, we’ve hosted numerous visiting scholars, post-doctoral fellows, Fulbright Visiting Professors, doctoral candidates and hundreds of undergraduate students benefitted from our various courses and programmes. We positioned ourselves as part of a global movement, contributing meaningfully to the broader human rights project in Ottawa, Canada and internationally.
So, I do feel a deep sense of satisfaction that we have largely fulfilled—and continue to fulfill—our stated aims and objectives. That, to me, is a great accomplishment.
Question 3: Can you name the top 5 activities/projects/initiatives that stand out to you?
It’s difficult to narrow it down without overlooking something important, but I’ll try to highlight five initiatives that stand out to me.
- Fostering collegiality and community among postgraduate students
Beyond the volume of activities we undertook, I’m especially proud of the spirit in which they were carried out. One of our key initiatives was intentionally creating and cultivating a sense of community and collegiality—particularly for postgraduate students and emerging scholars. Supporting our Clinic project coordinators, postdocs, and graduate students was a central undertaking, and many of them have gone on to hold significant positions. That, to me, is proof of the impact we’ve had and is enduring. - The Human Rights Clinic
The clinic was a major interdisciplinary initiative that brought students together and supported project coordinators—most of whom were postgraduate students. It was never independently funded, which was a challenge, but we found the resources and made it work. The clinic supported a wide range of projects and actors with 100s of students from various faculties and helping a wide range of beneficiaries. I consider it a very meaningful accomplishment. Special thanks go to our Clinic Directors who so ably and long led, starting with Salvador Herencia and more recently also with Slava Balan. - Reviving and publishing the Canadian Yearbook of Human Rights
I’m pleased that we were able to revive the Yearbook and publish three editions, with two more in the pipeline. In a country with surprisingly few dedicated human rights journals—aside from the Canadian Journal of Human Rights published by the University of Manitoba—this was an important contribution. We featured contemporary issues and profiled leading Canadian human rights advocates whose stories are little known. Although it still needs more work, I see the Yearbook as a significant achievement. - Summer School on Arts + Human Rights: Indigenous Arts & Culture
This summer school was a true innovation. It required a great deal of thought and effort, and its realization featured a majority of Indigenous contributors. It was initiated even before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued its Calls to Action, which shows we were ahead of the curve. To this day, people still write to us about how impactful that initiative was. It’s something I’ll always remember and wish we could have continued it. - Arts and Human Rights Program
Closely related to the summer school, the broader Arts + Human Rights Program was another important initiative. Again, we maintained it with very few resources, relying largely on goodwill and genuine interest from collaborators. In recent years, it included international meetings and laid the groundwork for future growth. It demonstrated how much can be accomplished when there’s sincere commitment and shared purpose.
These initiatives were carried out using the resources available to us, often without dedicated funding, which makes their success even more meaningful. We made the most of our physical space and institutional support, and I remain deeply grateful for that. But the credit goes to the many members and others who gave freely of their ideas and energies.
Question 4: Are there any memorable moments of collaboration with faculty, staff, students, and partners that left a lasting impression?
One of the things I often reflect on is how the ideas of collegiality and community were expressed in very concrete ways. I spent a lot of time on the fifth floor of Fauteux Hall; if I wasn’t traveling, I was almost always there, often into the night. Before COVID, the space was quite full, especially with doctoral students who typically worked late.
What stood out to me was how these students came from different countries and backgrounds, and were working on completely different topics. Yet, they would sit in their cubicles side by side, take breaks together, and engage in deep conversations. I’ll never forget some of those moments. Occasionally, I’d step out of my office and join them, and we’d end up talking for an hour or two about all sorts of things—substantive, philosophical, and sometimes personal.
These weren’t just enriching intellectual exchanges; they were also deeply supportive on a personal level. Doctoral work can be incredibly isolating. You might only see your supervisor occasionally, and interactions with your thesis committee are limited. So having peers to bounce ideas off, to say “I’m working on this—what do you think?”, to exchange perspectives and to engage in real dialogue was invaluable. I witnessed “Ah-Ha!” moments with profound realizations, and moments of confidence building, and of intellectual breakthroughs. Those were powerful moments which changed peoples work and sometimes their lives.
Some of this collaborative spirit had further manifestations. For our anniversary conference, we held a special seminar featuring papers by current and former PhD students and postdocs. That led to a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Human Rights, which has just been published. It includes seven excellent contributions—some of which, I believe, will have real impact on contemporary issues.
So for me, the most memorable moments are those linkages—between people, ideas, and disciplines—that weren’t just aspirational, but real and tangible. We created the conditions for them to happen, and they did. I had the privilege of witnessing them, and that’s something I’ll always carry with me.
Question 5: What were some of the most significant challenges you faced as director?
One of the initial challenges for me was simply returning to Canada. This was my first job in the country in almost 30 years—I had left in 1985—so coming back after three decades meant that a lot had changed. I had to establish connections across Canada, as my professional network was international.
Another challenge was reintroducing and reasserting the Centre’s presence—both on campus and nationally. Even though human rights are central to the University’s mission, I felt there was a need to raise the Centre’s profile and remind people of its purpose and value.
Institutionally, I was also new to the University, so I didn’t know many people at the outset. Like anyone stepping into a new environment, I had to build relationships from the ground up. That took time and effort.
That said, I never felt that the challenges were insurmountable. I was always warmly received, and support was at hand. It was more a matter of catching up, updating certain things, and shifting the Centre slightly to align with contemporary needs and opportunities. In many ways, it was about raising the profile and modernizing the Centre’s approach, rather than overcoming any major obstacles.
Question 6: What role do you think the Centre plays today in the broader academic or human rights landscape?
I feel fairly confident in saying—without wanting to sound self-congratulatory—that we are a leader in the Canadian context, particularly among academic institutions working in the field of human rights. We’ve become a reference point not only within academia but also for Canadian media, government, Parliament, and even the diplomatic corps here in Ottawa.
Our proximity to these institutions certainly helps, but proximity alone isn’t enough—you can be nearby and still be forgotten. I don’t think that’s the case for us. We are present and active in the landscape. We don’t just observe; we engage.
We’ve also not hesitated to take public positions, even when they might be seen as controversial. That’s part of the nature of human rights—it’s often political, frequently contested. But we’ve remained unapologetically committed to human rights. It’s central to our mission and mandate: to promote, study, and educate about human rights.
Through the visibility we’ve gained, we’ve been able to fulfill that mission more effectively. And that visibility, in turn, creates new opportunities for collaboration, influence, and impact. So yes, I believe we play a meaningful and active role in the broader academic and human rights landscape—both in Canada and internationally through associations we’ve joined and initiatives we’ve made.
Question 7: What are your hopes for the future of the Centre?
In completing my own tenure, I believe the Human Rights Research and Education Centre is on solid ground. My hope and expectation is that it will continue to grow and go from strength to strength. I am confident it will.
This moment coincides with a number of exciting developments: a highly competent new director who has long been part of the Centre, a new Gordon F. Henderson Chair in Human Rights, a new Gordon F. Henderson postdoctoral fellow, and a Fulbright Canada Research Chair. There’s a real spirit of enthusiasm, fresh ideas, and promising projects.
All of this is built on a strong foundation and supported by an excellent team. So my hope is simple but meaningful: that the Centre not only continues its work, but thrives—expanding its impact, deepening its collaborations, and continuing to be a leader in the field of human rights.
Question 8: How has this experience shaped you professionally or personally?
On a personal level, this experience brought stability that was very important for my family at the time. We live nearby the University, in a secure and welcoming city, and that allowed my wife and children to feel settled. And my children attended and graduated from the University of Ottawa. So having the proximity, sense of security and satisfaction at home made it possible for me to fully engage with my work.
Professionally, there have been many positive outcomes, but one of the most meaningful is that this experience reaffirmed my belief in the importance of human rights. It confirmed for me—not just in theory, but in practice—that human rights truly make a difference in people’s lives, in our communities, in our country and in the world.
It also reinforced my belief in the power of collaboration. Within academia, we often speak of collegiality, but more broadly, the idea of working together—of reaching out, inviting others in, and building partnerships—was central to everything we did. We rarely did anything alone. We were usually the ones initiating collaboration, asking others, “Would you like to join us?” That spirit of rowing together, of shared endeavour, was essential.
This experience also reminded me that you don’t need a lot to make a difference. Yes, you need some basic resources—our jobs, our physical space, a modest budget—but beyond that, what really matters is goodwill, good ideas, and sincerity. When those are present, collaboration can lead to real change.
So professionally, I’ve come away with even more experience that confirms my faith in the value of human rights work and the necessity of working together to advance it.
Question 9: What will you miss the most?
Well, I’m not leaving town! I’ll remain an active member of the Centre and am honoured to continue as a professor at the university, in the Faculty of Law. That said, I must admit I’m already feeling a certain sense of liberation from the more administrative and routine aspects of the role. Those tasks are, of course, necessary in any institution, and I think we did a good job of bringing our systems—our accounts, our methods, our reporting—up to a high standard. In fact, I’d say we became a model in some respects. But that took a lot of effort, and I won’t necessarily miss that part.
What I will miss is the very close collaboration with the team. Even though I’ll just be down the hall, there’s something special about the immediacy and rhythm of working closely together every day. I’ve worked in other professional environments where teamwork was difficult—where people didn’t collaborate well or were even at odds. By contrast, here, we had something rare: a team that worked together seamlessly, understood each other, and could rely on one another. It was a pleasure to come to work.
It’s a bit like a good marriage—you don’t have to think about it too much. You just know you can count on each other, and if something comes up, you’ll deal with it together. Few things fazed us. That level of trust and cohesion is special, and I’ll miss that daily dynamic. But again, I’ll still be nearby, and I look forward to continuing to contribute in a different way.
Question 10: Do you have any anecdotes that you think capture the spirit of the past ten years?
That’s a tough one—not because there aren’t any, but because there are so many. I often reference anecdotes, and they come to mind in different contexts.
Just recently, I was walking into Global Affairs Canada for a meeting when someone stopped me at the entrance and said, “Professor Packer?” I didn’t recognize him at first, but then I realized he had been a student in our International Humanitarian Law Summer School. He told me how impactful that experience had been for him. Moments like that remind me why we do this work—when you see former students now in meaningful roles, contributing to public service or international organizations, it’s deeply rewarding.
We’ve had students from our clinic and summer schools go on to work at the Ministry of Justice, the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and other significant institutions. These aren’t just accomplishments—they’re evidence that the knowledge and skills we helped cultivate are being put to use in the world.
One particularly memorable moment was during our Summer School on Arts and Human Rights, when the renowned filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin joined us. She was over 80 at the time, yet fully engaged—eloquent, generous, and deeply moving. The films she presented were powerful, but it was her interaction with the students and participants that left a lasting impression. The room was captivated. It wasn’t just a screening—it was a moment of shared insight and emotional resonance. You could feel it.
Another unforgettable evening was recently with Albie Sachs, the South African jurist and former Justice of the Constitutional Court appointed by Nelson Mandela. His response to a deeply personal question about his upbringing and its relevance to today’s challenges was filled with humility and dignity. He didn’t shy from responding. I wish more people had been there to witness it. It was one of those rare moments where history, humanity, and hope all converge in a single conversation.
Of course, we’ve hosted major figures—like the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court or high-level human rights officials, current and former Ministers and the like—but what I remember most are the quieter, more intimate moments. For example, when the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights graciously agreed to a side meeting with students, and the exchange that followed was so modest yet so inspiring. Those are the moments that stay with you.
Finally, I want to acknowledge that all of this builds on a legacy. As we approach the Centre’s 45th anniversary, I’m deeply aware of the foresight and dedication of those who came before me—those who created the conditions for this work to flourish. My role was to honour that legacy and contribute to the ongoing evolution of the Centre. I hope I’ve done that.
In conclusion
As a final observation, I have noticed that people attracted to work on human rights generally want badly to make a difference – to change something they perceive as needing change, or at least to have an impact. As such, they tend to be passionate.
Certainly, we must think before we act and so our policies, laws and practices should be informed by evidence, sober evaluations, and sound theories. But, ultimately, the preoccupying question is “So what?” I am aware that scholarship might best be pursued dispassionately and even somewhat detached from subjective feelings. However, achieving impact and, better, positive change is not a light matter and certainly not indifferent for the victims of human rights violations nor potential beneficiaries whose lives may be significantly improved.
In my experience, there is a greater chance for such achievements when those pursuing them are at least in some part driven with passion – a thirst for justice, a deep desire to do right, the need for better lives. I have been privileged to know and work with many such persons and to witness their achievements.
So, it was a special privilege and a significant responsibility to serve as Director of the oldest Human Rights Centre in Canada and help colleagues, students and partners to advance at least some way in their important research, studies, projects and initiatives.