International Justice Mission CEO and leadership

Blair Burns serves as IJM’s Chief Partnerships Officer where he leads the development and execution of the global program and activation strategy to make justice for the poor unstoppable. Blair also leads the development and drives the execution of a global activation strategy that mobilizes key centers of global power to provide the resources and influence necessary for the transformation of local justice systems.

Most recently, Blair served as IJM’s Chief Program Officer where he directed IJM’s casework operations around the world in Latin America, Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia, developing intervention strategies and advocating with local and national authorities; he supervises the HQ Field Operations, Aftercare, Investigations and International Church Mobilization departments. Before that, Blair served as the Vice President of Regional Operations for Southeast Asia. Blair joined IJM Chennai in 2004, and over the course of four and a half years he led a team to rescue more than 700 people from slavery.

Before IJM, Blair worked as an associate lawyer at Bersch, Rhodes & Butler, where his practice focused on business, corporate and elder law. Blair holds a B.A. from James Madison University and a J.D. from Wake Forest University. He lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife,

Seasoned executive dedicated to leading mission-driven organizations to bring hope, care, rescue, and restoration to those in greatest need. Proven track record of providing inspirational vision, developing thriving teams, scaling operational effectiveness, and delivering high-impact results. Demonstrated ability to build, motivate, influence, and engage globally diverse, interdisciplinary teams in high-growth and dynamic environments.

Seasoned finance executive with diverse, global experience across finance, operations and general management.

Specialties: Planning, forecasting and reporting; control; governance; strategy development; venture financing and assessment; turnaround management; start-up business; business development; organizational development