Location:
Ireland
John is an Irish international development and migration specialist with over 25 years of experience working across Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Caribbean, and Africa. He has extensive expertise in counter-trafficking, migrant protection and international protection, with a strong focus on human rights and victim-centered approaches.
Throughout his career, John has led high profile initiative in migration including the national policies, regional frameworks and national procedures to combat human trafficking and support vulnerable migrants. His work has spanned multi-country program management, capacity building, and policy advisory roles with international organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNICEF.
He is fluent in English and competent in French and Khmer, holding a Master of Science in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, as well as postgraduate certifications in Education, Project Management, and Immigration Law.
Clients
John has collaborated with government ministries, regional bodies, and international organizations in countries including Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Nigeria, Tunisia, and more. His consultancy work focuses on strengthening legal frameworks, institutional capacity, and frontline responses to trafficking and migrant vulnerabilities.
His career highlights include developing SOPs for victim identification and assistance under JTIP-funded projects, managing regional counter-trafficking programs in Southeast Asia, and coordinating multi-country research on asylum and migration management across Europe. He is currently a Pamel Member with the International Protection Office (IPO), at Ireland’s Department of Justice.
Education
MSc Development Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
Postgraduate Certificate in Education, University of Greenwich
Postgraduate Certificate in Project Management for Development (EdX)
Certificate in Immigration Law and Practice, Law Society of Ireland
Publications, Talks, and Committees
Selected Publications
Conducted pioneering research on trafficking trends, including the trafficking of men into the fishing industry and Cambodian marriages to South Koreans.
Published key regional studies on victim protection and reintegration guidelines in Cambodia and Southeast Asia.
Authored national-level policy handbooks on case management and reintegration of trafficking victims.
Talks and presentations
Presented at international conferences and workshops on migrant protection and trafficking, representing IOM in Asia-Pacific , Africa, and Europe.
Delivered thematic training sessions to government officials and civil society on human trafficking, gender-based violence, and migrant rights.
Honours
Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Sahametrei, awarded by the Royal Cambodian Government (2006) for distinguished services in combating human trafficking.
JOHN McGEOGHAN
Technical Specialist
Specialism: Protection, Counter-Trafficking, Migration