Experience

Physicians for Human Rights

• United States
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Interim Advocacy Director & Senior Advocacy Officer

  • Oct 2019 - Present

  Lead the Advocacy Department in the the creation and implementation of creative advocacy initiatives that center on PHR's unique intersection of public health, medicine, law and human rights. Lead multifaceted advocacy initiatives that include engagement at the grassroots, municipal, state, federal and international levels to affect legal and policy change.Foster and develop partnerships with medical and public health associations, human rights and health organizations, and other groups.Hire, manage, develop, and mentor advocacy staff.

• Advocacy Officer

  • Oct 2018 - Oct 2019

  Michael Payne is responsible for coordinating and supporting PHR’s policy work in Washington, DC and its advocacy work internationally. He helps identify opportunities to promote and address human rights issues at the domestic and international level, and works in collaboration with a broad array of stakeholders to strategically advance the impact of PHR’s advocacy.



Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director Of Advocacy

  • May 2017 - Oct 2018

  Plan and execute ADHRB’s advocacy initiatives with the United States Government, Congress, and the international community to promote civil, political, social, economic and religious rights in the Arabian GulfCoordinate advocacy efforts with a wide range of NGO partners, activists, civil society organizations, interfaith groups and think tanks in the DC & international policy communityPublicly represent ADHRB at events, on panels, in interviews, leading protests, and in print and social mediaManage financial planning, budgeting, disbursement, and reporting for advocacy and programmatic grantsHire and manage staff, fellows, activists and volunteers in Washington and abroadMentor junior staff through project management, editorial oversight, and through trainings on Washington and international advocacy, and through sharing institutional knowledge

• International Advocacy Officer

  • Apr 2015 - May 2017

  Direct & coordinate ADHRB’s international advocacy initiatives at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, the General Assembly Third Committee in New York, and with various DC embassies to promote international human rights standards in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar and YemenDirectly supervise and manage project workflow ADHRB’s UN Liaison based full-time in Geneva, SwitzerlandPublicly represent ADHRB in oral interventions before the Human Rights Council plenary debates, and as a moderator or panelist for various Geneva and Washington based panel discussions and eventsDesign, plan and implement programs for human rights defenders and civil society activists from Gulf Cooperation Council states to build capacity to effectively engage UN & EU bodies and mechanisms, and advocate to foreign governments and other international actors at the UN Human Rights CouncilCoordinate & execute advocacy strategies with NGOs, civil society organizations and think tanks in the DC & international policy community including: advocacy letter campaigns, policy briefs and editorial articlesSupport in executing ADHRB's U.S. advocacy initiatives in Congress and with Executive Departments Communicate advocacy goals to MENA regional telecommunications, online and print media outletsManage flight & hotel reservations, visa requirements and logistics for intl. travel to Europe & MENA regionManage narrative and financial planning & reporting for advocacy and programmatic grantsProvide strategic and editorial support for ADHRB’s research & writing initiativesPlan, coordinate and execute concepts and logistics for public & private events in Washington and GenevaScreen, interview and hire for ADHRB’s Geneva-based positions, as well as DC-based Advocacy Fellows

• Advocacy Associate

  • Sep 2013 - Apr 2015

  Direct & coordinate ADHRB international advocacy initiatives at the United Nations Human Rights Council, the European Union and at the European ParliamentRepresent ADHRB in direct engagement with EU & UN Member States and UN bodies & mechanisms; as a panelist at public policy discussions & UN side events; and in oral interventions before the UN Human Rights CouncilLead, coordinate & collaborate with ADHRB’s international NGO partners, in the European & MENA regions, as well as training GCC regional human rights advocates to engage UN & EU bodies and mechanisms.Directed & provided editorial support for ADHRB’s research & writing initiatives (see publications)Coordinate & execute advocacy strategies with NGOs, civil society organizations and think tanks in the DC & international policy community including: advocacy letters, policy briefs and editorial articlesDirect & coordinate inter-organizational teams in international grassroots, social & traditional media campaignsSupport Advocacy Director in advocating for U.S. policies that support democracy and human rights in Bahrain, both in Congress and in the Executive branch (Departments of State and Defense)Provide logistical coordination & preparation for ADHRB public & private events in Washington and GenevaRepresent and communicate ADHRB's advocacy goals to MENA regional telecommunications and print media outletsHire and co-manage a class of approximately six advocacy interns



Project on Middle East Democracy

• United States
• International Affairs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Policy/Advocacy Assistant

  • Jan 2013 - May 2013

  Collect, prioritize and summarize local Tunisian and international news sources (English, French, Arabic) relating to Tunisia or US-Tunisian relations. Compile news summaries and links to produce POMED's Tunisia Weekly Update publication.Compile US government statements regarding US policy towards the Middle East and North Africa for translation into Arabic; and compile Arabic language news articles regarding US policy towards the Middle East from Tunisian, Libyan, Yemeni, Bahraini and International Arabic news sources for publication in the POMED Arabic Weekly Wire.Published POMED event notes and POMED Wire blog posts regarding regional issues in Tunisia, Algeria, Libya and SyriaContributed to crafting proposed legislative language supporting human rights and free speech in Iran

• Research Assistant

  • Sep 2012 - Dec 2012

  Collaborated to research, co-write & edit: One Year Later: Assessing Bahrain’s Implementation of the BICITranslated and edited policy briefs from a Tunisian partner on new government structures for Tunisia (Fr-En)Compiled lists of future contacts and references for prominent academic and civil society contributors to POMED’s Policy Brief Series regarding democracy development efforts in Egypt, Libya, Jordan, and Syria



Egyptian Democratic Academy

• Program Support Officer

  • May 2012 - Jul 2012

  Developed parliamentary transparency program to track 508 MPs, voting records and legislationReviewed program performance of seven existing projects (Electoral Engagement, POMED Wire, etc.)Created and recruited for EDA’s first structured internship program for local and foreign studentsAssisted research, translation and copy editing and for the POMED weekly parliamentary digest



Ibn Khaldun Center for Democracy Development

• Research Intern

  • Feb 2012 - Mar 2012

  Researched & wrote Lebanon / Palestine country reports for publication in 2011/Arab Spring Annual ReportAssisted in research for political, judicial & human rights sections of Tunisia country report (Arab Spring)



United States Senate

• Legislative Intern in the Office of Richard J. Durbin

  • Jan 2010 - May 2010

  Assisted legislative staff by researching, attending briefings and writing memoranda regarding:US foreign policy in India and Afghanistan; DoD KC-X procurement program; human rights issues regarding political prisoners in Gambia, Cameroon and Turkmenistan, and child labor in Uzbekistan Researched and compile briefing books for the Senator’s CODEL to Ethiopia and Sudan/South SudanPrepared daily press clippings for the legislative staff regarding healthcare

• Legislative Intern in the Office of Robert Menedez

  • Sep 2009 - Dec 2009

  Managed and respond to constituent mail and phone callsResearched legislative issues including U.S. foreign policy regarding Darfur; human rights and religious freedoms in Bahrain; women's health in East Africa; international intellectual property rights; the DoD’s Base Realignment Program;Researched and compiled briefing book for the U.S. Senate delegation to 2009 US-Spain Economic Conference; Valencia, SpainLead constituent tours of the U.S. Capitol in English and German



Alderman Joe Moore, 49th Ward, Chicago

• Constituent Services Intern

  • Nov 2008 - Dec 2008

  Managed office scheduling, correspondence, and constituent services regarding healthcare and housingAttended Chicago City Council meeting and gained experience regarding municipal policy & legislation



International Visitors Center of Chicago

• Non-profit Organizations

• Intern

  • Nov 2007 - Dec 2007

  Organized and assisted operational & logistical support for intl. events & exchange programs Compiled competitive bid proposals for future international exchange programs