The Humanitarian Leader

The Humanitarian Leader, a diamond open access journal, is an independent voice for the humanitarian sector. We tell stories that challenge our collective assumptions and present concepts that help make humanitarian aid more just, equitable and effective.   

View the Submission Guidelines.

Humanitarian Leader authors include researchers, activists, volunteers and operational practitioners. It provides a platform for non-peer-reviewed academic articles, commentary, analysis, opinion, reflections and book reviews and allows authors to test ideas and insights in an accessible academic setting. All papers are published by Open Journals at Deakin.

Papers and articles should broadly engage with issues of humanitarian leadership, and/or transforming systems of support for humanitarian crises.  

Launched in August 2019, the journal will traditionally publish 10 papers online each year, with an annual print and online edition released in December. In 2025, the Humanitarian Leader recorded more than 59,000 downloads and abstract reviews.