Matthias Stausberg

Group Advocacy Director, Virgin Group
Member, RBIJ CIC Board of Directors

Advising Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin Group, Matthias Stausberg leads public advocacy and government relations on a broad portfolio of global issues, including drug policy reform, human rights, criminal justice and the global refugee crisis. He also works closely with Virgin Group companies around the world, developing strategies and programmes to translate advocacy into tangible corporate engagement, from second-chance hiring to refugee employment or supply chain integration.

Matthias joined Virgin in 2012, after more than a decade at the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. As Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs, he was a tireless campaigner for more responsible business practices around the world, working to inspire and mobilise companies of all sizes to respect human rights, adhere to universal labour standards, improve their environmental performance, and fight against corruption.

A native of Germany, Mr. Stausberg launched his professional career in Germany’s Internet industry. Both a Fulbright scholar and a German National Merit scholar, he holds a master’s degree in mass communication from the University of North Carolina’s School of Journalism.