Akaash Maharaj

Bio

Akaash Maharaj is Chief Executive Officer of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), and leads the international alliance of democratically‑elected legislators in its work combatting corruption, strengthening good government, and upholding the rule of law. GOPAC has 62 national chapters, and is present in every region of the world.

In addition to his overall responsibilities, Akaash directs GOPAC’s project on international prosecution of Crimes Against Humanity, its efforts on institution building in fragile states, and its work on reconciliation in post-conflict states.

Outside of his professional life, he was an international athlete, and was a triple gold medallist at the International Championships of Equestrian Skill‑at‑Arms. He subsequently led the overall Canadian Equestrian Team and federation as its CEO during the team’s most successful Olympics and Paralympics of all time. He maintains a special interest in anti-corruption in international sport, and seves as a Director of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.

Akaash earned his MA from Oxford University in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and was the first overseas student elected President of the student government in the University’s history. He is a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, of the Royal Society of Arts, and of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

He has been decorated twice in Canada’s national honours, for his work on peace in the Middle East and for his service to integrity in international sport. He has also been commissioned a Kentucky Colonel, the state's highest honour.

Akaash’s personal web site is www.Maharaj.org.

Select publications

Online Publications  

Making a Difference: Victories in the Fight Against Corruption, Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption, 2014: https://maharaj.ca/2oapPD5  

Prosecuting Grand Corruption as an International Crime, Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption, 2013: https://maharaj.ca/2CldChy      

Articles in blogs, non-peer reviewed journals and newspapers  

"WADA and the IOC Will be One Another's Salvation or Undoing”, Montreal Gazette, 20 October 2016: https://maharaj.ca/2eJ9NaH  

“Addressing the United Nations on Political Corruption”, Huffington Post, 04 October 2015: http://maharaj.ca/1Ma2Ebe  

"Grand corruption is a crime against humanity”, Thomson Reuters Foundation, 29 November 2013: http://maharaj.ca/2dJTPgA  

"The True Price of Political Corruption”, Huffington Post, 29 November 2013: https://maharaj.ca/2ClgFX2      

Reports  

The Corruption-Security Nexus in Ukraine, Report to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, October 2015: https://maharaj.ca/2AZBdnK  

Corruption and Afghanistan, Report to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, October 2015: https://maharaj.ca/2C5j9I8  

Role of Parliamentarians in Combating Corruption, Report to the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration, February 2013: https://maharaj.ca/2BloXRp