Nathan Benson combines expertise in law, public policy and strategy gained over two decades working in politics and government, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations – including eight years in leadership roles with Pathways International.

As Director of Strategy, Nathan helps to shape and execute the organization’s vision for transformative change and contributes to key projects and partnerships such as the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative and the Resettlement Diplomacy Network.

Nathan joined Pathways International (then the Refugee Hub) in 2016 as the National Director of the Refugee Sponsorship Support Program, and later spearheaded the organization’s dedicated knowledge team as Legal and Research Director. In this role he led the organization’s engagement in global policy forums and research partnerships, including a partnership with the Columbia University Global Policy Initiative to help inform the development of the UN Global Compact on Migration.

A lawyer by training, Nathan co-founded and taught a clinical course on refugee law at the University of Ottawa and has helped to guide strategic litigation on refugee issues as co-chair of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers’ litigation committee. He has practiced law at Canada’s federal justice department and a leading immigration and refugee firm and clerked at the Federal Court of Canada.

Prior to law school, Nathan worked in progressively senior policy and strategy positions in the non-profit, public and private sectors, including as staff to a Member of Parliament, communications director of a high-profile Ottawa mayoral campaign, and Strategic Advisor to the President and CEO of an electrical utility. He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa a Masters degree in Political Science from Carleton University.

Nathan is based in Canada.