Voluntary Principles Initiative Appoints New Executive Director
May 15, 2026 •
The Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Steven Malby as the VPI’s new Executive Director. Dr. Malby will assume the role on July 20, 2026.
Dr. Malby joins the VPI with a strong track record in human rights, international cooperation, and public policy. He most recently served as Deputy Head of the Human Rights Department at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) within the Government of the United Kingdom. In addition to his civil service career, he has held various roles with international organizations, including the Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna. He qualified as a lawyer with a global law firm in London and holds a doctoral degree in international human rights law.
As Executive Director, Dr. Malby will lead the VPI Secretariat and drive the Initiative’s strategic direction, with a focus on strengthening its global reach and impact. He will work closely with the VPI membership to deepen collaboration, support effective governance and program delivery, and reinforce the Initiative’s long-term sustainability and role in the business and human rights sphere.
Dr. Malby said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Voluntary Principles Initiative at this key juncture. Twenty-five years on from when the Principles were first created, new human rights due diligence laws and investor expectations, combined with complex new global challenges, mean that the Principles are more relevant than ever. Across continents, we’ve seen time and again how the Principles enable business continuity hand-in-hand with thriving communities in high-risk environments. I greatly look forward to working with businesses, governments and civil society to give practical effect to the Principles on the ground — including in new contexts and countries critical to the energy transition.”
Dr. Malby’s appointment is part of a significant transition for the VPI as it establishes for the first time an executive leadership position and a permanent, in-house Secretariat team, to guide the Initiative into its next phase and further strengthen multi-stakeholder implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) worldwide. VPI Secretariat services have previously been performed, since the inception of the Initiative, through contracted service providers.
About the Voluntary Principles and the VPI
The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights are an internationally recognized set of principles that guide companies on how to conduct their security operations while ensuring respect for human rights. To promote implementation of the Principles, the Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI) was created. The Initiative is comprised of over 75 Members and Observers including companies, governments, and non-governmental organizations that share best practices and mutually support the implementation of the Principles.