After an extensive global search process led by members of the IGH Advisory Committee, we are pleased to announce that Peter Mackie has been selected as IGH’s next Executive Director, beginning November 18, 2025.
From the IGH Advisory Committee
“We are thrilled to welcome Peter Mackie as the next Executive Director of the Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness. Peter brings a deep expertise in prevention, systems change and housing, and a genuine commitment to working alongside communities and governments to end homelessness. His global leadership, research expertise, and collaborative spirit will strengthen IGH’s mission and help carry forward the incredible progress made under Lydia Stazen’s leadership.”
– Louise Casey, Baroness Casey of Blackstock, Chair of Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness
“Peter Mackie is an outstanding leader in the field of homelessness and housing policy,” His work has already shaped how nations think about prevention, and his leadership will help IGH continue bridging research, practice, and compassion on a global scale. He is exceptionally well positioned to lead IGH’s work and strengthen its impact worldwide.
– Father Dennis H. Holtschneider, CM | IGH Board Member and DePaul University Chancellor
Peter Mackie is an internationally recognized expert in homelessness and housing policy. His research and policy work have informed national legislation and prevention strategies in multiple countries. Most recently, he served as Professor of Human Geography at Cardiff University. Peter has held advisory roles with FEANTSA, The Royal Foundation, and the Centre for Homelessness Impact, and regularly supports charities, umbrella bodies, and national governments. He has also collaborated with the European Commission and UN-Habitat.
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Joining the Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness as Executive Director is both an honour and a privilege. Across the world, communities and partners are working tirelessly to end homelessness—addressing one of the most urgent and shared challenges of our time. Their efforts reflect the power of collective action and a shared refusal to give up. I am committed to building on this work, strengthening collaboration with colleagues old and new, and advancing our collective focus on preventing homelessness before it begins.
– Peter Mackie
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Biography of Peter Mackie
With over 18 years of post-PhD experience spanning academia and the voluntary sector, Peter has built a distinguished career dedicated to driving social impact. He began his professional journey with two formative years in the third sector, working for a homelessness charity, before moving into academia. Over the past 16 years, he has become a leading international authority on efforts to prevent and end homelessness. Alongside his academic work, he has served for 15 years as a Trustee — and most recently as Chair of Llamau, Wales’s leading homelessness charity for young people and women.
Peter’s research and advocacy focus on two main areas. First, he is recognized globally as an expert in homelessness, particularly in prevention. His research has informed new legislation, policy, and practice across multiple countries. Second, he maintains a long-standing interest in urban livelihoods across the world, exploring topics such as child labour, livelihoods in conflict and crisis contexts, and the working lives of refugees. He has worked and published research across a wide range of cultural and geographic contexts, including Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somaliland, Tanzania), Asia (India, Nepal, Pakistan), the Middle East (Egypt, Jordan), Latin America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru), North America (USA, Canada), the UK, much of Europe, and Australia. Peter currently holds advisory roles with FEANTSA, The Royal Foundation, and the Centre for Homelessness Impact, and regularly advises charities, umbrella bodies, and national governments. He has also collaborated with the European Commission and UN-Habitat on several major initiatives.