Nick Dearden: Champion of Global Justice, Trade Fairness, and Health Equity
Nick Dearden is one of the United Kingdom’s most influential voices in global justice, trade reform, and health equity. As the Director of Global Justice Now, he has spent over two decades fighting against corporate globalisation and advocating for an international economic system that prioritises people over profit. Through his leadership, activism, and authorship, Nick Dearden has become a powerful advocate for fairness, transparency, and sustainability in the modern global economy.
His professional journey—from his early campaigning days at War on Want to directing the Jubilee Debt Campaign and now leading Global Justice Now—reflects an unwavering commitment to tackling inequality and corporate dominance. His work, writings, and media presence show a consistent message: economic systems must serve humanity, not the other way around.
Early Life and Education Of Nick Dearden
Nick Dearden’s Academic Foundation
Nick Dearden’s intellectual foundation was built at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in History between 1993 and 1996. His historical training shaped his analytical perspective, giving him deep insight into the global structures of power and inequality. The study of history enabled him to see how past economic systems continue to shape present realities — a perspective that underpins much of his later activism.
Career Journey and Advocacy
Campaign Beginnings at War on Want
Nick Dearden began his career in 2000 as a Campaigner at War on Want, a UK-based organisation focused on fighting global poverty and injustice. During his six years there, he engaged directly with grassroots movements, advocating for fair trade, ethical supply chains, and workers’ rights across developing nations. His work at War on Want exposed him to the harsh realities of corporate exploitation and deepened his commitment to challenging the power structures that perpetuate global inequality.
Leadership at Amnesty International UK
From 2006 to 2008, Nick served as a Campaign Manager at Amnesty International UK, where he focused on corporate accountability and human rights. This period helped him merge his economic justice activism with a strong human-rights framework. His efforts contributed to raising awareness of how multinational corporations influence human rights policies and economic fairness in vulnerable countries.
Director at Jubilee Debt Campaign (Now Debt Justice)
In 2008, Nick Dearden became the Director of the Jubilee Debt Campaign, where he led one of the UK’s most impactful movements for debt relief and financial justice. Over five and a half years, he fought for the cancellation of unjust debts imposed on developing nations and challenged the international financial institutions that trap poorer countries in economic dependency.
His leadership at Jubilee Debt Campaign marked a crucial turning point in his career — it amplified his global profile and solidified his reputation as a leading voice in economic justice. Nick’s advocacy contributed to transforming the global narrative around debt, shifting it from a financial issue to a moral and ethical one.
Director of Global Justice Now
Since September 2013, Nick Dearden has been the Director of Global Justice Now, based in London. Under his leadership, the organisation has grown into a powerful movement that campaigns against corporate greed, trade injustice, and climate inequality.
At Global Justice Now, Nick Dearden focuses on:
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Exposing the hidden power of multinational corporations.
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Advocating for trade deals that protect workers, farmers, and the environment.
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Campaigning for fair access to medicines and vaccines.
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Challenging the privatisation of public services.
Nick’s work at Global Justice Now connects the dots between corporate policies, government trade strategies, and global inequality — empowering citizens to demand accountability and change.
Publications and Thought Leadership
Author of Pharmanomics: How Big Pharma Destroys Global Health
In 2023, Nick Dearden published his critically acclaimed book, Pharmanomics: How Big Pharma Destroys Global Health. The book exposes how multinational pharmaceutical corporations prioritise profits over people’s lives. He explores how patent systems, trade rules, and privatised healthcare structures deny access to essential medicines in poorer countries while enriching shareholders in the Global North.
In Pharmanomics, Dearden argues that the global health system has been captured by powerful interests, creating a structure that perpetuates inequality. His analysis resonates particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, where vaccine inequality became a global moral crisis. The book calls for radical reform of pharmaceutical governance to ensure health equity worldwide.
Trade Secrets and the Fight for Fair Global Trade
Nick Dearden is also the author of Trade Secrets, another significant work in which he critiques how international trade agreements are often shaped by corporate lobbies. He explains how mechanisms like Investor-State Dispute Settlements (ISDS) allow corporations to sue governments for implementing environmental or social regulations.
Through this work, he sheds light on the dangers of secretive trade negotiations that undermine democracy, public welfare, and sustainability. His insights make Trade Secrets an essential read for anyone seeking to understand how global trade can be restructured to serve communities instead of corporations.
Advocacy Themes and Global Influence
Fighting Corporate Globalisation
Throughout his career, Nick Dearden has consistently exposed the flaws in the global economic order dominated by corporations and powerful nations. He challenges the myth that globalisation automatically brings prosperity, arguing instead that it often deepens inequality and weakens democracy.
Debt and Financial Justice
Nick’s long-standing campaign for debt cancellation continues to influence modern debates on financial fairness. His advocacy promotes the idea that debt should not be used as a tool of control or exploitation, especially for countries in the Global South struggling with poverty and climate crises.
Health Equity and Big Pharma Accountability
One of Nick’s most passionate causes is health justice. He argues that the pharmaceutical industry must be accountable to the public, not shareholders. His book Pharmanomics and his numerous articles highlight how the profit-driven model of Big Pharma undermines global health and scientific progress.
Climate Justice and Sustainable Development
Under his direction, Global Justice Now links climate change to economic and corporate structures. Nick Dearden argues that addressing the climate crisis requires transforming the global economic system — tackling overconsumption, fossil fuel dependency, and corporate impunity.
Media Presence and Public Engagement
Public Commentator and Campaign Voice
Nick Dearden regularly writes for major media outlets such as The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and The New Internationalist, providing in-depth analysis on trade, globalisation, and justice. His ability to connect complex economic systems with human stories has made him a sought-after commentator.
Social Media Influence
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), under the handle @nickdearden75, he shares updates, opinions, and campaigns with more than 14,000 followers. His posts reflect both his passion for activism and his personal commitment to educating the public about social justice, fairness, and equality.
Personality and Vision
A Leader with Integrity and Vision
Nick Dearden’s leadership is rooted in empathy, intellectual rigour, and moral conviction. Colleagues and campaigners recognise him as a strategist who blends policy knowledge with grassroots mobilisation. His vision for the future is one where the economy serves humanity — where justice, health, and sustainability replace exploitation, inequality, and greed.
Empowering the Next Generation of Activists
Beyond his professional achievements, Nick Dearden dedicates much of his time to empowering young activists and students to challenge injustice. He frequently participates in academic discussions, public talks, and advocacy workshops, inspiring future leaders to take bold action for global change.
Conclusion
Nick Dearden stands as a beacon of courage and integrity in a world dominated by corporate interests and political short-termism. His journey from a history student at LSE to the Director of Global Justice Now reflects a life devoted to fighting inequality and defending human dignity. Through his writing, campaigning, and leadership, he continues to challenge unjust systems and champion a vision of a fairer, more equitable world.
From Pharmanomics to Trade Secrets, his work exposes the mechanisms of global power while offering hope for transformation. Nick Dearden reminds us that justice is not a luxury — it is a necessity for a sustainable and humane future.
