An Ebiquity Company

Graham Baxter

Graham Baxter, Chief Executive, International Business Leaders Forum

A graduate of both Oxford (MA Geology) and Liverpool Universities (PhD Oceanography), Graham worked as a geologist in the oil and gas sector for 11 years before joining Britoil in 1981. He subsequently worked in a number of commercial roles in BP's exploration, production and gas businesses in the UK, before joining BP Solar in 1999 where he was initially Chief of Staff and then Vice-President of Solar Solutions.

Moving in 2003 to head up Communications and External Affairs at BP Group HQ in London, Graham developed a comprehensive corporate responsibility framework for the organisation. As Vice-President, Corporate Responsibility, he was accountable for implementing the framework, managing international NGO and socially-responsible investment relationships, as well as shaping community engagement and investment globally. During this period, Graham was also a founding Board member of the Extractive industries Transparency Initiative.

Graham's key attributes are: a strong instinct for grasping and shaping the responsible business agenda; high competence in convening and chairing complex encounters at the highest levels; ability to make a compelling case for business engagement in development issues as part of core business and, above all, a passionate commitment to the idea of business making a significant and positive impact on the lives of the most vulnerable.

His strong interest in Africa and his belief that business can - and should - play a central role in building prosperity by building sustainable and inclusive business models brought Graham to a senior role in IBLF. Since 2007, as IBLF's Director, Global Programmes. In this capacity, Graham leads IBLF's programme team on business standards, human capital, prosperity and environment.