He is the fifth Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, succeeding Dunja Mijatović, Nils Muižnieks, Thomas Hammarberg and Álvaro Gil-Robles y Gil-Delgado. The Commissioner’s mandate lasts for six years and is non-renewable. Michael O' Flaherty served as Director of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency from 2015 to 2023, as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee from 2004 to 2012, and as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission from 2011 to 2013. He also held various posts at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, notably helping to establish operations in conflict-affected countries including Sierra Leone and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Throughout his career, he has contributed extensively to the promotion and protection of human rights through publications, teaching and public service.

She previously lectured at the Free University of Amsterdam and conducted research on the socialisation of migrants in the Netherlands. At the Institute, Wies focuses on translating policy and legal frameworks on discrimination and equal treatment into practical action. Before joining the Institute, she worked extensively with the Dutch police, leading programmes to promote diversity and non-discrimination.

She also worked as a book author, journalist and columnist for publications including Der Spiegel, Tagesspiegel and Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg and set up Mediendienst Integration, a research-based information platform for journalists. Most recently, she founded a consultancy firm for diversity. Ataman has been involved in various associations that stand up for more diversity in the media and equal participation in society and was a member of the advisory board of the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency.

A journalist by training, Niklas Hofmann worked for various media outlets in Germany before joining FADA in 2014 as a press officer. He graduated in Communication Studies, Political Science and Modern History from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.

He graduated from the Faculty of Law of Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, and he also holds a Master of Economic Science degree from University College Dublin in Ireland. Tamás has published articles on equality and non-discrimination, spoken at numerous international conferences and acted as a trainer and expert in various EU, Council of Europe, OSCE and USAID-funded projects.

Michaela has extensive experience in tackling racism and discrimination and strengthening the collection of equality data, including through work at the Ministry of Justice and the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman’s Office in Finland. She has also held a number of senior roles in civil society organisations advocating for fundamental rights.

Previously, he served for seven years as a Legal Advisor at the Independent Qualification Commission, contributing to Albania’s transitional re-evaluation process of judges and prosecutors. Earlier in his career, he held managerial and expert positions in public institutions and state agencies. He holds academic degrees in law and business administration and has participated in international training and professional activities in human rights, governance and European integration. His experience in justice reform, public administration and non-discrimination provides a broad perspective on the implementation of fundamental rights and effective legal remedies.

In 2011, she co-founded and coordinated the Racist Violence Recording Network, a recognised best practice in recording hate crimes, supporting victims and building synergies between human rights institutions, civil society and national authorities. She was elected as a UN Expert Member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in 2020, served as Vice-Chair from 2022 to 2024 and was re-elected for a second term in 2023. She was appointed by the Committee as the CERD focal point for cooperation with European mechanisms. She is the CERD rapporteur for the elaboration of General Recommendation No. 37 on racial discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to health, adopted by the Committee at its 113th session on 23 August 2024.