PEOPLE BEHIND APRRN
APRRN LEADERSHIP
DAVID KEEGAN
APRRN Chair
DAVID KEEGAN
APRRN Chair
David is the CEO of HOST which has operations supporting refugee inclusion in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand. He has been the Acting Deputy Chair of APRRN since early 2023 and the chair of the Regional Protection Working Group since 2021. David has been an active member of APRRN for 10 years and has also led a large resettlement program in Australia. David is an experienced not-for-profit director and has extensive program leadership and advocacy experience. He has been integral in leading the strategic planning process and is motivated to support APRRN through the implementation of the plan which includes strengthening inclusive member networks and advancing refugee inclusion as well as bringing focus to our advocacy work.
HOST has been undertaking innovative projects on ATD and community-based protection including advocacy for inclusion in national systems. HOST also delivers employment and settlement programs for refugees including community sponsorship in NZ. HOST also specialises in community inclusion and digital participation. Through HOST, David has promoted the inclusion of refugees and many projects include RLO partners. Therefore David brings a diverse range of experiences across different thematic areas and is able to support APRRN to transition into the next phase of APRRN's development including support for diverse leadership and simplified governance.
LYNETTE NAM
APRRN Deputy Chair
LYNETTE NAM
APRRN Deputy Chair
Lynette is a qualified lawyer with over 10 years of practice experience in immigration and asylum law in the Asia Pacific. She is currently the Executive Director of Justice Centre Hong Kong, where in her prior role as Senior Legal Advisor, she was responsible for designing and implementing legal services and strategies to advance protection and fair systems for refugees and other displaced people in Hong Kong. She has previously worked on legal aid and empowerment projects in Australia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Through the last two years, Lynette has chaired APRRN’s Legal Aid & Advocacy Working Group and contributed to the development of APRRN's incoming strategic plan.
Board
Steering Committee
Chalida Tajaroensuk
FRDP Board President & APRRN Board Member
Chalida Tajaroensuk
FRDP Board President & APRRN Board Member
PEF, Thailand
Yuhanee Jehka
FRDP Board Treasurer & APRRN Board Member
Yuhanee Jehka
FRDP Board Treasurer & APRRN Board Member
Host International, Thailand
Puttanee Kangkun
FRDP & APRRN Board Member
Puttanee Kangkun
FRDP & APRRN Board Member
Fortify Rights, Thailand
Ashok Gladston
APRRN Board Member
Ashok Gladston
APRRN Board Member
OfERR, India
Carolina Gottardo
APRRN Board Member
Carolina Gottardo
APRRN Board Member
Carolina Gottardo is a feminist migrant lawyer and economist who has worked on human rights issues for more than 20 years in different countries and contexts. Her areas of specialisation are migration, asylum and gender. Carolina is the Executive Director of the International Detention Coalition (IDC) advocating to end immigration detention. In the past she was the director of the Jesuit Refugee Service in Australia and the Latin American Women's Rights Service (LAWRS) in London and has been a senior manager at other NGO including the Refugee Council of Australia, the British Institute of Human Rights and the British Red Cross. Carolina has served on a number of boards related to human rights, gender and migration issues in London, Melbourne, Bangkok, Bogota and Brussels. She is currently a member of the board of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) and the Global Coalition for Migration (GCM). Carolina is currently a member of the Global UN Women Expert Working Group to address the human rights of women in the GCM, a co-lead of the UN Migration Network Working Group on Alternatives to Detention and a steering Committee Member of the UN Migration Multi Partner Trust Fund. Carolina has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Economics from the Universidad de los Andes, as well as a MSc in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Carolina is the mother of three boys and enjoys spending time with her family.
Paul Power
APRRN Board Member
Paul Power
APRRN Board Member
Refugee Council of Australia
DAVID KEEGAN
APRRN Chair
DAVID KEEGAN
APRRN Chair
David is the CEO of HOST which has operations supporting refugee inclusion in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand. He has been the Acting Deputy Chair of APRRN since early 2023 and the chair of the Regional Protection Working Group since 2021. David has been an active member of APRRN for 10 years and has also led a large resettlement program in Australia. David is an experienced not-for-profit director and has extensive program leadership and advocacy experience. He has been integral in leading the strategic planning process and is motivated to support APRRN through the implementation of the plan which includes strengthening inclusive member networks and advancing refugee inclusion as well as bringing focus to our advocacy work. HOST has been undertaking innovative projects on ATD and community-based protection including advocacy for inclusion in national systems. HOST also delivers employment and settlement programs for refugees including community sponsorship in NZ. HOST also specialises in community inclusion and digital participation. Through HOST, David has promoted the inclusion of refugees and many projects include RLO partners. Therefore David brings a diverse range of experiences across different thematic areas and is able to support APRRN to transition into the next phase of APRRN's development including support for diverse leadership and simplified governance.
LYNETTE NAM
APRRN Deputy Chair
LYNETTE NAM
APRRN Deputy Chair
Lynette is a qualified lawyer with over 10 years of practice experience in immigration and asylum law in the Asia Pacific. She is currently the Executive Director of Justice Centre Hong Kong, where in her prior role as Senior Legal Advisor, she was responsible for designing and implementing legal services and strategies to advance protection and fair systems for refugees and other displaced people in Hong Kong. She has previously worked on legal aid and empowerment projects in Australia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Through the last two years, Lynette has chaired APRRN’s Legal Aid & Advocacy Working Group and contributed to the development of APRRN's incoming strategic plan.
DAVID KEEGAN
APRRN Chair
DAVID KEEGAN
APRRN Chair
David is the CEO of HOST which has operations supporting refugee inclusion in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand. He has been the Acting Deputy Chair of APRRN since early 2023 and the chair of the Regional Protection Working Group since 2021. David has been an active member of APRRN for 10 years and has also led a large resettlement program in Australia. David is an experienced not-for-profit director and has extensive program leadership and advocacy experience. He has been integral in leading the strategic planning process and is motivated to support APRRN through the implementation of the plan which includes strengthening inclusive member networks and advancing refugee inclusion as well as bringing focus to our advocacy work. HOST has been undertaking innovative projects on ATD and community-based protection including advocacy for inclusion in national systems. HOST also delivers employment and settlement programs for refugees including community sponsorship in NZ. HOST also specialises in community inclusion and digital participation. Through HOST, David has promoted the inclusion of refugees and many projects include RLO partners. Therefore David brings a diverse range of experiences across different thematic areas and is able to support APRRN to transition into the next phase of APRRN's development including support for diverse leadership and simplified governance.
LYNETTE NAM
APRRN Deputy Chair
LYNETTE NAM
APRRN Deputy Chair
Lynette is a qualified lawyer with over 10 years of practice experience in immigration and asylum law in the Asia Pacific. She is currently the Executive Director of Justice Centre Hong Kong, where in her prior role as Senior Legal Advisor, she was responsible for designing and implementing legal services and strategies to advance protection and fair systems for refugees and other displaced people in Hong Kong. She has previously worked on legal aid and empowerment projects in Australia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Through the last two years, Lynette has chaired APRRN’s Legal Aid & Advocacy Working Group and contributed to the development of APRRN's incoming strategic plan.
Zaki Haidari
Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Working Group Chair
Zaki Haidari
Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Working Group Chair
The refugee rights campaigner at Amnesty International Australia whose area of campaign is to advocate to the Australian government to respond to the current refugee crisis in our region by increasing the current humanitarian intake. Therefore, Zaki Haidari is really interested in connecting with other NGOs, advocates, and people with lived experience through APRRN. Zaki is a person with lived experience, a refugee from Afghanistan, and has lived under Australia's harsh refugee policies for the past 10 years. He is a national refugee rights campaigner with AIA. Zaki has been an active advocate for the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum since his arrival. He has been in high-level discussions with the minister of immigration and other politicians to advocate for his rights and the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum. He is regularly talking to the media about current refugee and asylum policies. He has a deep understanding of Australia's refugee policies and the politics of the country. He has the support of AIA for this role, which provides his flexibility to dedicate time and resources to attend meetings and participate in the working group. He has worked in different positions at private and none for-profit organisations. Zaki Haidari worked at the Australian National University for four years before moving to the refugee sector and has been working in the refugee sector for the past three years in different capacities.
Jean Kim
East Asia Working Group Chair
Jean Kim
East Asia Working Group Chair
Jeannie is an attorney at law and has represented migrant workers, immigration detainees, and refugees. She has also engaged in legislative advocacy to guarantee their rights as well as in advocacy to implement international human rights treaties and relevant instruments to set forth legal standards and normative principles in the Republic of Korea, including lobbying at the UN. She is a member of the UN regional workstream for promoting alternatives to detention and has engaged in the learning process there. She has a series of advocacy experiences at the international, regional, and national levels, and has knowledge of international law and the Korean law/system relating to the rights of refugees. Last year, she and her team of lawyers won an unconstitutional ruling on the immigration law and also collaborated well with a Taiwanese NGO for that litigation, which would help other East Asia Working Group members to explore collaboration areas and set up outcomes. In the last two years, she's been leading and facilitating the East Asia Working Group at APRRN, and has been providing excellent facilitation and helped members feel comfortable participating in activities. In the next two years, she will lead a greater impact in the East Asia Working Group.
Gopal Krishna Siwakoti, PhD
South Asia Working Group Chair
Gopal Krishna Siwakoti, PhD
South Asia Working Group Chair
President of INHURED International (Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC, UN), Dr. Siwakoti has nearly 40 years of experience in the field of human rights protection and promotion. In the capacity of former Chair of Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) and current International Advisor to Platform for Disaster Displacement, he has led multiple missions in Asia-Pacific and beyond in the course of advancing the rights of refugees through global dialogues, civil diplomacy and advocacy campaigns. In the capacity of international trainer and senior observer at Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), he has joined several exploratory and observation missions in post-conflict societies like Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, South Africa and many others. He has represented at various UN forums relating to human rights, peace and migration including the General Assembly, Human Rights Council sessions and UNHCR-NGO Annual Consultations. He has been conferred several credits/awards including Swiss Statistical Bureau’s Who’s Who on Global Refugee Protection-2002; Summit Person of the Year-2008; Global Nonviolence Advocate-2010 along with National Peace Award-2010; Nominee of UNHCR’s RealLife Hero, 2021 and Human Rights Hero-2022 just to name a few. Other areas of his engagement include guest lectures on refugee protection, disaster response, climate action, transitional justice, electoral freedom at various universities and academic institutions in all continents. A former prisoner of principle imprisoned for four years and torture survivor, his personal biography and scruples have been radiated in different global media outlets as recognition of his valor and conviction towards safeguarding civil liberty and democratic freedom within and beyond borders. He has authored, edited and produced several books, research reports, journals, films and documentaries on electoral freedom, migration, refugees, disaster displacement, transitional justice, human rights and peace.
Christopher Eades
Southeast Asia Working Group Chair
Christopher Eades
Southeast Asia Working Group Chair
Chris Eades is the Asia Regional Representative of Church World Service (CWS) and is based in Bangkok, Thailand. CWS has six country offices in Asia and works with and for refugees in Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand while supporting programming in a number of other countries. Chris is a US attorney and British lawyer. Previously, Chris served as the Secretary General of APRRN (2021-2023) and in a range of other senior positions including as the Executive Director of St Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS) in Cairo (2014-2021), as the Director of Legal Services for the Jesuit Refugee Service in Bangkok (2013-14) and as the Director of Legal Programming for AMERA (2012-13). Chris has a particular interest in refugee leadership and inclusion.
Celia Finch
Immigration Detention Working Group Chair
Sabine Larribeau
Legal Aid and Advocacy Working Group Chair
Sabine Larribeau
Legal Aid and Advocacy Working Group Chair
Sabine is the Director of AMERA International. Sabine has more than 17 years of experience working with refugees in legal and psychosocial fields, leading the provision of direct services, participating in the development of refugee-led programming, and consulting on assessments, evaluations and capacity building of related projects. The latter has included work in Asia Pacific with a range of organisations, including APNOR, JRS, and Caritas. AMERA International’s mission is to strengthen the provision of legal assistance for displaced people that is tailored to needs and furthers rights. The core areas of focus are: knowledge transfer (connecting individuals, organisations, experts and resources for the transfer of knowledge on refugee-related legal issues), capacity building (developing the capacity of lawyers, paralegals, students, and other professionals in refugee law and interdisciplinary representation), and networking and advocacy (supporting coordination, research, advocacy and policy development relating to legal rights of displaced people). All of these core focus areas are relevant to the LAAWG and APRRN, positioning AMERA well to take on the chairmanship of this working group.
Mohammad Nowkhim
Refugee Leadership and Participation Working Group Chair
Mohammad Nowkhim
Refugee Leadership and Participation Working Group Chair
Mohammad is very well connected to RLOs in Bangladesh and has been involved in several initiatives from education to livelihood . He serves on GRF resettlement mega pledge committee and has been travelling to advocate at international conferences like in Singapore and US. He also has mentored other youth across camps in Bangladesh for advocacy and leadership. He is well organised , good financial literacy and strong stakeholder relationships with many other organisations.
Tenzin Dawa
Women, Gender, and Diversity Working Group Chair
Tenzin Dawa
Women, Gender, and Diversity Working Group Chair
Ms Tenzin Dawa is a third generation Tibetan refugee living in exile in India. Ms Dawa is currently the executive director of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD ) based in Dharamshala, India. The centre is committed to advancing human rights and democracy in Tibet and the exiled Tibetan community by empowering Tibetan advocates and monitoring, documenting, and campaigning against human rights abuses. Ms. Tenzin Dawa graduated with an honours degree in Political Science from Delhi University and also earned a master’s degree in Human Rights. She has worked as an intern at the National Human Rights Commission of India. Ms. Dawa is also an experienced rights-based facilitator and conducts numerous human rights training in the Tibetan refugee community. She is passionate about human rights education and is interested in the intersections between statelessness, gender, and human rights. In spring 2020, Ms. Dawa served as an Anamax fellow at the Human Rights Law Centre, University of Nottingham.
Rana Ebrahimi
Youth Working Group Chair
Rana Ebrahimi
Youth Working Group Chair
Rana Ebrahimi is the National Director of the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Australia (MYAN). She leads MYAN to advocate for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds’ rights and best interests in policy and practice. Rana is an expert in social inclusion and humanitarian ethics. Recently, she has been appointed as the reference group for this Multicultural Framework Review (The Review). Rana is the first Iranian woman to be a National Head of Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Iran. She is also President of the Equal Employment Opportunity Network, Director on the board of Australian Youth Affairs Coalition, and member of several advisory groups including Welcoming Australia.
Jason Siwat
Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Working Group Deputy Chair
Jason Siwat
Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Working Group Deputy Chair
Jason Siwat is the Director of the Migrants and Refugees Desk of the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG & Solomon Islands (CBCPNGSI). The Desk was only established in 2021 and Jason took the direct responsibility of helping to grow its capacity and build its network. Currently, the Desk has operations only in PNG, working mainly with West Papuan refugees, those refugees brought to PNG by Australia, and other spontaneous refugee and asylum seeker cohorts. Jason also represents the Oceania region on the Governing Committee of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) which is headquartered in Geneva and Rome. In this role, Jason reports on the refugee and migrant issues and activities in the Oceania region and strives to bring to the attention of ICMC and the world the challenges facing refugees, migrants, and IDP populations in the region.
SATOMI HIYAMA
East Asia Working Group Deputy Chair
SATOMI HIYAMA
East Asia Working Group Deputy Chair
Satomi Hiyama is the secretariat at the Forum for Refugees Japan and is based in Tokyo. Originally established in 2004, FRJ has been a growing nonprofit/nongovernmental national network of NGOs and other civil society organizations working for refugees and others in need of international protection who have fled to Japan. Satomi joined FRJ in 2014 and has been instrumental in fostering networking and facilitating the exchange of crucial information and collaborations among stakeholders. Her efforts have extended to engagement in national-level joint advocacy initiatives including dialogues with the Japanese government. She has been coordinating FRJ's alternatives to immigration detention project targeting those who sought asylum at airports in collaboration with the Japanese Ministry of Justice and the Japan Federation of Bar Association from the beginning of its official launch and currently is a member of the UN regional workstream for promoting alternatives to detention. She is also the national focal point for Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (formerly called Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement). She has previously served as a secretariat member of both the Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan and the Stateless Network based in Japan.
Fatemeh Ashrafi
South Asia Working Group Deputy Chair
Fatemeh Ashrafi
South Asia Working Group Deputy Chair
In the capacity of founder and head of trustees of HAMI(Association for Protection of Refugee Women and Children) Dr.Fatemeh Ashrafi (Ph.D. in Public Policy) has been associated with APRRN and refugee protection works for the last more than two decades. She is an Iranian activist who started her humanitarian activities while she was a student at the university by leading a student team to travel to refugee Bosnian camps in Croatia to help Bosnian Refugee Women and Children. According to the geostrategic situation of Iran in Asia because of hosting millions of Afghani and Iraqi refugees over decades, she established the Association for Protection of Refugee Women and Children. HAMI in 1997 to advocate and protect refugee rights in Iran. HAMI started its activities within Afghanistan in 2002 with a focus on Women's and Children's rights, Increasing the capacity and capabilities of women and NGOs, independent media, and other social groups up to 2020. HAMI's hard efforts and effective advocacy in the field of education and health caused serious changes in the government policies in these two very important sectors in 2015 and 2016, which led to the access of refugee children to free education in the formal education system, as well as national health insurance scheme coverage for Vulnerable refugees in Iran. Fatemeh Ashrafi not only is an active expert in the field of refugees and migrants but also has an advisory role in some other fields such as Women's rights, Child rights, and rural issues in Iran in Government and Non-Government sectors.
Jaffarullah
Immigration Detention Working Group Deputy Chair
Jaffarullah
Immigration Detention Working Group Deputy Chair
Jafarullah is a human rights defender, actively working on issues faced by refugees in India, including arrest and detention, since 2012. He is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Rohingya Human Rights Initiative (ROHRIngya), a refugee-led organisation focusing on human rights advocacy for the Rohingya in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and globally. He has experience helping refugees with their UNHCR refugee status determination, working with Human Rights Law Network to file a petition with the Supreme Court in India calling for better healthcare - especially for women and children, and working with the Rohingya Youth Union getting young people into schools and education programmes. He also serves as a Community Mobiliser with the Development and Justice Initiative (DAJI) furthering his work on assisting youth in formal education programmes and helping community training to help the community understand their rights.
Sabina Dhakal
Legal Aid and Advocacy Working Group Deputy Chair
Sabina Dhakal
Legal Aid and Advocacy Working Group Deputy Chair
Currently, Sabina holds the position of Project Coordinator at International Institute for Human Rights, Environment and Development (INHURED International) and she is entrusted to perform and supervise various refugee-related programs along with pro-bono legal services to forced migrants and other deprived groups of society. In the year 2019, Sabina was selected for the United States Department of State's Fellowship for Professional Leaders based on her work with refugees in Nepal. In the States, she was placed in the Ethiopian Community Development Council for an intensive six-week internship. This experience helped her to learn about the reintegration program for Refugees in the USA in close proximity. In the year 2021, she also initiated her own law firm named Eminent Law Associates in order to give extensive services to people. Through her own practice, she has been assisting underprivileged people by offering free legal assistance to those who cannot afford to pay for these services. In addition, Sabina has attributed paralegal workshops to underprivileged people both refugees and non-refugees, to increase their legal literacy and help them to become empowered in the long run.
Najeeba Wazefadost
Refugee Leadership and Participation Working Group Deputy Chair
Najeeba Wazefadost
Refugee Leadership and Participation Working Group Deputy Chair
Najeeba actively engaged with local refugee communities, understanding their unique challenges, and advocating for their rights. Through grassroots initiatives like the Refugee Leadership Alliance, she has facilitated community engagement with donors and first-time grants made to RLOs by RLOs. Her involvement in national advocacy efforts has equipped her with a deep understanding of policy issues related to refugees and displaced populations. She has actively participated in dialogues with government officials and contributed to the development of refugee-related policies like the ATCR. It was due to their advocacy with other refugees that ATCR has become more inclusive and moved from a Tripartite structure to a multipartite structure and even changed the name to CRCP. Najeeba also has worked with organisations and RLOs operating across borders, she possesses a regional perspective on refugee issues. She has collaborated with regional stakeholders to address challenges like displacement due to conflicts, climate change, and other regional factors. For example, the APSOR ( Asia Pacific Summit of Refugees ) is one platform which other refugee leaders have co-convened to bring RLOs together or now looking to support the empowerment of non-refugee stakeholders in becoming effective allies/champions in refugee participation through a co-designed training by a group of refugee experts across the region specially APRRN. Another example of capacity building is where they collaborated with APRRN and provided skill enhancement courses to 21 RLOs in the region. Lastly, Najeeba has served in leadership roles in civil society actors, where she has honed her governance skills. This experience includes decision-making, strategic planning, and accountability, all of which are vital for any leadership position.
Hanisha
Women, Gender, and Diversity Working Group Deputy Chair
Hanisha
Women, Gender, and Diversity Working Group Deputy Chair
Hanisha is a former refugee from Bhutan who arrived in Australia in 2003 with her family. After four years of statelessness, she attained Australian citizenship in 2009. Hanisha has always been passionate about equality and fighting against injustice. Hanisha has over 15 years of experience working with multicultural communities, which started when she was very young. Her entry into community engagement started with volunteering in cultural programs organised by Nepalese and Bhutanese communities, eventually expanding to encompass a multitude of multicultural organisations. Hanisha commenced conducting Master of Ceremony (MC) in 2010, and since then has lent her skills to numerous significant events. Noteworthy occasions include hosting the annual New and Emerging Communities Festival, the Australian Citizenship Ceremony, and orchestrating the RCAA Annual Gala Dinner in 2021, attended by 600 guests. Hanisha has a Bachelor of International Relations, which is complemented by her experience in federal government offices and unions. This background has equipped her with invaluable knowledge and insights. Currently serving as the Chairperson of Help-Himalayan Youth Foundation Inc. (HHYF), Hanisha spearheads initiatives that bridge the gap between refugee communities, young members, and various agencies. HHYF is comprised of Bhutanese and Karen Burmese refugee youths and Nepali youths. Under Hanisha’s leadership, HHYF has administered events uniting over 40 communities, fostering cross-cultural relationships. Programs like Youth Leadership Camps, Soccer Championships, and Australian Citizenship Ceremonies, in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, exemplify her commitment to community cohesion and empowerment.
Daniel Gamboa
Youth Working Group Deputy Chair
Daniel Gamboa
Youth Working Group Deputy Chair
Daniel Gamboa is the CEO of the New Zealand National Refugee Youth Council (NZNRYC), the only refugee youth-led organization in New Zealand. Daniel has always aimed to create an inclusive and supportive environment that enables refugee youth to thrive, voice their concerns, and contribute to shaping policies and initiatives that promote their rights and well-being. As a proud member of the rainbow community, he has also led a number of initiatives to support the rainbow refugee community. Daniel and his mother fled Colombia when rebels threatened to kill the then 12-year-old boy Daniel because his mother refused to hide their weapons in her restaurant. They then became refugees in Ecuador where they were violently discriminated against because of being Colombian. In 2012 after living in Ecuador for 6 years, the UNHCR resettled Daniel and his mother to New Zealand. His academic background includes a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Development Studies from Victoria University of Wellington, a leadership diploma from the University of Cambridge, and a certificate in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies from Oxford University. He has held senior roles in the New Zealand government. He has worked as a senior engagement advisor for the NZ Department of Internal Affairs and the New Zealand Royal Commission of Inquiry into State Care Abuse. He is the deputy chair for the youth working group of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network. He has attended and participated at the 2023 UNHCR Regional Consultations with NGOs in Asia and the Pacific and has been a guest speaker at the following: CRCP working group in Sydney (2024), Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Conference (2016 & 2023), The Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (2016 & 2017) & Annual consultations with NGOs (2016).
Working Groups
Geographic
Thematic
Zaki Haidari
Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Working Group Chair
Zaki Haidari
Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Working Group Chair
The refugee rights campaigner at Amnesty International Australia whose area of campaign is to advocate to the Australian government to respond to the current refugee crisis in our region by increasing the current humanitarian intake. Therefore, Zaki Haidari is really interested in connecting with other NGOs, advocates, and people with lived experience through APRRN. Zaki is a person with lived experience, a refugee from Afghanistan, and has lived under Australia's harsh refugee policies for the past 10 years. He is a national refugee rights campaigner with AIA. Zaki has been an active advocate for the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum since his arrival. He has been in high-level discussions with the minister of immigration and other politicians to advocate for his rights and the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum. He is regularly talking to the media about current refugee and asylum policies. He has a deep understanding of Australia's refugee policies and the politics of the country. He has the support of AIA for this role, which provides his flexibility to dedicate time and resources to attend meetings and participate in the working group. He has worked in different positions at private and none-profit organizations. Zaki Haidari worked at the Australian National University for four years before moving to the refugee sector and has been working in the refugee sector for the past three years in different capacities.
Gopal Krishna Siwakoti, PhD
South Asia Working Group Chair
Gopal Krishna Siwakoti, PhD
South Asia Working Group Chair
President of INHURED International (Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC, UN), Dr. Siwakoti has nearly 40 years of experience in the field of human rights protection and promotion. In the capacity of former Chair of Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) and current International Advisor to Platform for Disaster Displacement, he has led multiple missions in Asia-Pacific and beyond in the course of advancing the rights of refugees through global dialogues, civil diplomacy and advocacy campaigns. In the capacity of international trainer and senior observer at Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), he has joined several exploratory and observation missions in post-conflict societies like Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, South Africa and many others. He has represented at various UN forums relating to human rights, peace and migration including the General Assembly, Human Rights Council sessions and UNHCR-NGO Annual Consultations. He has been conferred several credits/awards including Swiss Statistical Bureau’s Who’s Who on Global Refugee Protection-2002; Summit Person of the Year-2008; Global Nonviolence Advocate-2010 along with National Peace Award-2010; Nominee of UNHCR’s RealLife Hero, 2021 and Human Rights Hero-2022 just to name a few. Other areas of his engagement include guest lectures on refugee protection, disaster response, climate action, transitional justice, electoral freedom at various universities and academic institutions in all continents. A former prisoner of principle imprisoned for four years and torture survivor, his personal biography and scruples have been radiated in different global media outlets as recognition of his valor and conviction towards safeguarding civil liberty and democratic freedom within and beyond borders. He has authored, edited and produced several books, research reports, journals, films and documentaries on electoral freedom, migration, refugees, disaster displacement, transitional justice, human rights and peace.
Jean Kim
East Asia Working Group Chair
Jean Kim
East Asia Working Group Chair
Jeannie is an attorney at law and has represented migrant workers, immigration detainees, and refugees. She has also engaged in legislative advocacy to guarantee their rights as well as in advocacy to implement international human rights treaties and relevant instruments to set forth legal standards and normative principles in the Republic of Korea, including lobbying at the UN. She is a member of the UN regional workstream for promoting alternatives to detention and has engaged in the learning process there. She has a series of advocacy experiences at the international, regional, and national levels, and has knowledge of international law and the Korean law/system relating to the rights of refugees. Last year, she and her team of lawyers won an unconstitutional ruling on the immigration law and also collaborated well with a Taiwanese NGO for that litigation, which would help other East Asia Working Group members to explore collaboration areas and set up outcomes. In the last two years, she's been leading and facilitating the East Asia Working Group at APRRN, and has been providing excellent facilitation and helped members feel comfortable participating in activities. In the next two years, she will lead a greater impact in the East Asia Working Group.
Christopher Eades
Southeast Asia Working Group Chair
Christopher Eades
Southeast Asia Working Group Chair
Chris Eades is the Asia Regional Representative of Church World Service (CWS) and is based in Bangkok, Thailand. CWS has six country offices in Asia and works with and for refugees in Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand while supporting programming in a number of other countries. Chris is a US attorney and British lawyer. Previously, Chris served as the Secretary General of APRRN (2021-2023) and in a range of other senior positions including as the Executive Director of St Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS) in Cairo (2014-2021), as the Director of Legal Services for the Jesuit Refugee Service in Bangkok (2013-14) and as the Director of Legal Programming for AMERA (2012-13). Chris has a particular interest in refugee leadership and inclusion.
Jason Siwat
Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Working Group Deputy Chair
Jason Siwat
Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Working Group Deputy Chair
Jason Siwat is the Director of the Migrants and Refugees Desk of the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG & Solomon Islands (CBCPNGSI). The Desk was only established in 2021 and Jason took the direct responsibility of helping to grow its capacity and build its network. Currently, the Desk has operations only in PNG, working mainly with West Papuan refugees, those refugees brought to PNG by Australia, and other spontaneous refugee and asylum seeker cohorts. Jason also represents the Oceania region on the Governing Committee of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) which is headquartered in Geneva and Rome. In this role, Jason reports on the refugee and migrant issues and activities in the Oceania region and strives to bring to the attention of ICMC and the world the challenges facing refugees, migrants, and IDP populations in the region.
Fatemeh Ashrafi
South Asia Working Group Deputy Chair
Fatemeh Ashrafi
South Asia Working Group Deputy Chair
In the capacity of founder and head of trustees of HAMI(Association for Protection of Refugee Women and Children) Dr.Fatemeh Ashrafi (Ph.D. in Public Policy) has been associated with APRRN and refugee protection works for the last more than two decades. She is an Iranian activist who started her humanitarian activities while she was a student at the university by leading a student team to travel to refugee Bosnian camps in Croatia to help Bosnian Refugee Women and Children. According to the geostrategic situation of Iran in Asia because of hosting millions of Afghani and Iraqi refugees over decades, she established the Association for Protection of Refugee Women and Children. HAMI in 1997 to advocate and protect refugee rights in Iran. HAMI started its activities within Afghanistan in 2002 with a focus on Women's and Children's rights, Increasing the capacity and capabilities of women and NGOs, independent media, and other social groups up to 2020. HAMI's hard efforts and effective advocacy in the field of education and health caused serious changes in the government policies in these two very important sectors in 2015 and 2016, which led to the access of refugee children to free education in the formal education system, as well as national health insurance scheme coverage for Vulnerable refugees in Iran. Fatemeh Ashrafi not only is an active expert in the field of refugees and migrants but also has an advisory role in some other fields such as Women's rights, Child rights, and rural issues in Iran in Government and Non-Government sectors.
Satomi Hiyama
East Asia Working Group Deputy Chair
Satomi Hiyama
East Asia Working Group Deputy Chair
Satomi Hiyama is the secretariat at the Forum for Refugees Japan and is based in Tokyo. Originally established in 2004, FRJ has been a growing nonprofit/nongovernmental national network of NGOs and other civil society organizations working for refugees and others in need of international protection who have fled to Japan. Satomi joined FRJ in 2014 and has been instrumental in fostering networking and facilitating the exchange of crucial information and collaborations among stakeholders. Her efforts have extended to engagement in national-level joint advocacy initiatives including dialogues with the Japanese government. She has been coordinating FRJ's alternatives to immigration detention project targeting those who sought asylum at airports in collaboration with the Japanese Ministry of Justice and the Japan Federation of Bar Association from the beginning of its official launch and currently is a member of the UN regional workstream for promoting alternatives to detention. She is also the national focal point for Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways (formerly called Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement). She has previously served as a secretariat member of both the Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan and the Stateless Network based in Japan.
Celia Finch
Immigration Detention Working Group Chair
Mohammad Nowkhim
Refugee Leadership and Participation Working Group Chair
Mohammad Nowkhim
Refugee Leadership and Participation Working Group Chair
Mohammad is very well connected to RLOs in Bangladesh and has been involved in several initiatives from education to livelihood. He serves on the GRF resettlement mega pledge committee and has been traveling to advocate at international conferences like in Singapore and the US. He also has mentored other youth across camps in Bangladesh for advocacy and leadership. He is well organised , has good financial literacy, and strong stakeholder relationships with many other organisations.
Sabine Larribeau
Legal Aid and Advocacy Working Group Chair
Sabine Larribeau
Legal Aid and Advocacy Working Group Chair
Sabine is the Director of AMERA International. Sabine has more than 17 years of experience working with refugees in legal and psychosocial fields, leading the provision of direct services, participating in the development of refugee-led programming, and consulting on assessments, evaluations and capacity building of related projects. The latter has included work in Asia Pacific with a range of organisations, including APNOR, JRS, and Caritas. AMERA International’s mission is to strengthen the provision of legal assistance for displaced people that is tailored to needs and furthers rights. The core areas of focus are: knowledge transfer (connecting individuals, organisations, experts and resources for the transfer of knowledge on refugee-related legal issues), capacity building (developing the capacity of lawyers, paralegals, students, and other professionals in refugee law and interdisciplinary representation), and networking and advocacy (supporting coordination, research, advocacy and policy development relating to legal rights of displaced people). All of these core focus areas are relevant to the LAAWG and APRRN, positioning AMERA well to take on the chairmanship of this working group.
Tenzin Dawa
Women, Gender, and Diversity Working Group Chair
Tenzin Dawa
Women, Gender, and Diversity Working Group Chair
Ms Tenzin Dawa is a third generation Tibetan refugee living in exile in India. Ms Dawa is currently the executive director of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD ) based in Dharamshala, India. The centre is committed to advancing human rights and democracy in Tibet and the exiled Tibetan community by empowering Tibetan advocates and monitoring, documenting, and campaigning against human rights abuses. Ms. Tenzin Dawa graduated with an honours degree in Political Science from Delhi University and also earned a master’s degree in Human Rights. She has worked as an intern at the National Human Rights Commission of India. Ms. Dawa is also an experienced rights-based facilitator and conducts numerous human rights training in the Tibetan refugee community. She is passionate about human rights education and is interested in the intersections between statelessness, gender, and human rights. In spring 2020, Ms. Dawa served as an Anamax fellow at the Human Rights Law Centre, University of Nottingham.
Rana Ebrahimi
Youth Working Group Chair
Rana Ebrahimi
Youth Working Group Chair
Rana Ebrahimi is the National Director of the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Australia (MYAN). She leads MYAN to advocate for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds’ rights and best interests in policy and practice. Rana is an expert in social inclusion and humanitarian ethics. Recently, she has been appointed as the reference group for this Multicultural Framework Review (The Review). Rana is the first Iranian woman to be a National Head of Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Iran. She is also President of the Equal Employment Opportunity Network, Director on board of Australian Youth Affairs Coalition, and member of several advisory groups including Welcoming Australia.
Jaffarullah
Immigration Detention Working Group Deputy Chair
Jaffarullah
Immigration Detention Working Group Deputy Chair
Jafarullah is a human rights defender, actively working on issues faced by refugees in India, including arrest and detention, since 2012. He is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Rohingya Human Rights Initiative (ROHRIngya), a refugee-led organisation focusing on human rights advocacy for the Rohingya in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and globally. He has experience helping refugees with their UNHCR refugee status determination, working with Human Rights Law Network to file a petition with the Supreme Court in India calling for better healthcare - especially for women and children, and working with the Rohingya Youth Union getting young people into schools and education programmes. He also serves as a Community Mobiliser with the Development and Justice Initiative (DAJI) furthering his work on assisting youth in formal education programmes and helping community training to help the community understand their rights.
Najeeba Wazefadost
Refugee Leadership and Participation Working Group Deputy Chair
Najeeba Wazefadost
Refugee Leadership and Participation Working Group Deputy Chair
Najeeba actively engaged with local refugee communities, understanding their unique challenges, and advocating for their rights. Through grassroots initiatives like the Refugee Leadership Alliance, she has facilitated community engagement with donors and first-time grants made to RLOs by RLOs. Her involvement in national advocacy efforts has equipped her with a deep understanding of policy issues related to refugees and displaced populations. She has actively participated in dialogues with government officials and contributed to the development of refugee-related policies like the ATCR. It was due to their advocacy with other refugees that ATCR has become more inclusive and moved from a Tripartite structure to a multipartite structure and even changed the name to CRCP. Najeeba also has worked with organisations and RLOs operating across borders, she possesses a regional perspective on refugee issues. She has collaborated with regional stakeholders to address challenges like displacement due to conflicts, climate change, and other regional factors. For example, the APSOR ( Asia Pacific Summit of Refugees ) is one platform which other refugee leaders have co-convened to bring RLOs together or now looking to support the empowerment of non-refugee stakeholders in becoming effective allies/champions in refugee participation through a co-designed training by a group of refugee experts across the region specially APRRN. Another example of capacity building is where they collaborated with APRRN and provided skill enhancement courses to 21 RLOs in the region. Lastly, Najeeba has served in leadership roles in civil society actors, where she has honed her governance skills. This experience includes decision-making, strategic planning, and accountability, all of which are vital for any leadership position.
Sabina Dhakal
Legal Aid and Advocacy Working Group Deputy Chair
Sabina Dhakal
Legal Aid and Advocacy Working Group Deputy Chair
Currently, Sabina holds the position of Project Coordinator at International Institute for Human Rights, Environment and Development (INHURED International) and she is entrusted to perform and supervise various refugee-related programs along with pro-bono legal services to forced migrants and other deprived groups of society. In the year 2019, Sabina was selected for the United States Department of State's Fellowship for Professional Leaders based on her work with refugees in Nepal. In the States, she was placed in the Ethiopian Community Development Council for an intensive six-week internship. This experience helped her to learn about the reintegration program for Refugees in the USA in close proximity. In the year 2021, she also initiated her own law firm named Eminent Law Associates in order to give extensive services to people. Through her own practice, she has been assisting underprivileged people by offering free legal assistance to those who cannot afford to pay for these services. In addition, Sabina has attributed paralegal workshops to underprivileged people both refugees and non-refugees, to increase their legal literacy and help them to become empowered in the long run.
Hanisha
Women, Gender, and Diversity Working Group Deputy Chair
Hanisha
Women, Gender, and Diversity Working Group Deputy Chair
Hanisha is a former refugee from Bhutan who arrived in Australia in 2003 with her family. After four years of statelessness, she attained Australian citizenship in 2009. Hanisha has always been passionate about equality and fighting against injustice. Hanisha has over 15 years of experience working with multicultural communities, which started when she was very young. Her entry into community engagement started with volunteering in cultural programs organised by Nepalese and Bhutanese communities, eventually expanding to encompass a multitude of multicultural organisations. Hanisha commenced conducting Master of Ceremony (MC) in 2010, and since then has lent her skills to numerous significant events. Noteworthy occasions include hosting the annual New and Emerging Communities Festival, the Australian Citizenship Ceremony, and orchestrating the RCAA Annual Gala Dinner in 2021, attended by 600 guests. Hanisha has a Bachelor of International Relations, which is complemented by her experience in federal government offices and unions. This background has equipped her with invaluable knowledge and insights. Currently serving as the Chairperson of Help-Himalayan Youth Foundation Inc. (HHYF), Hanisha spearheads initiatives that bridge the gap between refugee communities, young members, and various agencies. HHYF is comprised of Bhutanese and Karen Burmese refugee youths and Nepali youths. Under Hanisha’s leadership, HHYF has administered events uniting over 40 communities, fostering cross-cultural relationships. Programs like Youth Leadership Camps, Soccer Championships, and Australian Citizenship Ceremonies, in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, exemplify her commitment to community cohesion and empowerment.
Daniel Gamboa
Youth Working Group Deputy Chair
Daniel Gamboa
Youth Working Group Deputy Chair
Daniel Gamboa is the CEO of the New Zealand National Refugee Youth Council (NZNRYC), the only refugee youth-led organization in New Zealand. Daniel has always aimed to create an inclusive and supportive environment that enables refugee youth to thrive, voice their concerns, and contribute to shaping policies and initiatives that promote their rights and well-being. As a proud member of the rainbow community, he has also led a number of initiatives to support the rainbow refugee community. Daniel and his mother fled Colombia when rebels threatened to kill the then 12-year-old boy Daniel because his mother refused to hide their weapons in her restaurant. They then became refugees in Ecuador where they were violently discriminated against because of being Colombian. In 2012 after living in Ecuador for 6 years, the UNHCR resettled Daniel and his mother to New Zealand. His academic background includes a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Development Studies from Victoria University of Wellington, a leadership diploma from the University of Cambridge, and a certificate in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies from Oxford University. He has held senior roles in the New Zealand government. He has worked as a senior engagement advisor for the NZ Department of Internal Affairs and the New Zealand Royal Commission of Inquiry into State Care Abuse. He is the deputy chair for the youth working group of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network. He has attended and participated at the 2023 UNHCR Regional Consultations with NGOs in Asia and the Pacific and has been a guest speaker at the following: CRCP working group in Sydney (2024), Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Conference (2016 & 2023), The Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (2016 & 2017) & Annual consultations with NGOs (2016).
Members
SECRETARIAT
Hafsar Tameesuddin
Co-Secretary General
Hafsar Tameesuddin
Co-Secretary General
Hafsar is a human rights defender and Rohingya activist for gender equality, child marriage, LGBTQI, refugees, and statelessness with more than a decade of experience working with refugee communities, INGOs and NGOs. She is a Steering Committee Member of the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees[ APNOR], a member of the Global Refugee-Led Network[GRN], and an interim working group member of Global Movement of Statelessness, and served as an interim Advisory member of the UNHCR Advisory Group. She has extensive knowledge of the range of SGBV issues faced by refugee women as well as of their experiences before leaving their country of origin and is a passionate advocate for improved prevention and response measures to SGBV, to promote and protect the rights of refugees, stateless people, asylum seekers, and LGBTQ+ communities in the Asia Pacific Region and beyond.
Klaus Dik Nielsen
Co-Secretary General
Klaus Dik Nielsen
Co-Secretary General
Klaus is an international human rights advocate and partnership builder with more than 20 years of practical experience in bringing about positive change for minorities and marginalised people by designing and driving influencing, partnership, mobilisation, and capacity-building strategies. Advocating for rights, social justice, and meaningful inclusion and participation behind closed doors and campaigning in public, Klaus works with civil society, government, funders, the private sector, UN agencies, and other stakeholders. He has worked with Amnesty International (International Secretariat) and the Open Society Foundations and consulted with ActionAid Thailand, the People’s Empowerment Foundation, APCOM, OHCHR, and UNICEF.
Patcharin Nawichai
Operations Coordinator
Patcharin Nawichai
Operations Coordinator
Patcharin supports APRRN in ensuring full and strict compliance with regulations and good practices for managing a non-profit organisation. Her role includes reviewing the network's finances, staff recruitment and representing APRRN at consultations, conferences and other key forums in Thailand.
Sunisa Jaiklaew
Finance Manager
Sunisa Jaiklaew
Finance Manager
Sunisa maintains and manages the accounting system, grant and financial management along with payrolls and taxes for the network.
Lars Stenger
Programme Coordinator
Lars Stenger
Programme Coordinator
Lars's role as Program Coordinator is to work closely with members and partners during the development of programs, communication and advocacy strategies, guiding secretariat staff, volunteers and consultants through implementation and accountability processes.
Ali Reza Yawari
Membership Support & Communication Consultant
Ali Reza Yawari
Membership Support & Communication Consultant
Ali Reza Yawari is a Hazara refugee from Afghanistan and a multifaceted advocate, filmmaker, and published author currently based in Indonesia. Having experienced displacement as a refugee himself and his subsequent involvement in various initiatives that have driven positive social impact, his journey has been marked by a deep commitment to addressing the challenges faced by forcibly displaced communities. As the founder and leading director of a Refugee-led Learning Community and a Youth-led Initiative, he envisions a future where all people of disadvantaged communities can have access to education and meaningful participation in society. Despite the complexities of his situation, his profound interest in IT, Media, and Communication, along with carrying out related training, workshops, research, and projects, has allowed him to continue advancing in his areas of expertise. Ali's extensive skill set encompasses his commitment to storytelling through documentary filmmaking and writing as a means of advocating for the rights of refugees, inclusion, and their meaningful participation. His works are dedicated to shedding light on critical issues such as migration, human trafficking, and refugee rights. Ali's work stands as a commitment to dispelling misconceptions about refugee communities while championing their rights.
Rana Refahi
Vulnerable Populations Consultant
Rana Refahi
Vulnerable Populations Consultant
Rana coordinates our work on Afghanistan including the APRRN Afghanistan website and Facebook page. Rana also focuses on advocacy and solutions for vulnerable refugees in detention across the Asia Pacific. She is a focal point of two Working Groups: the Legal Aid and Advocacy Working Group and East Asia Working Group.
Murtaza haidari (Mobin)
IT Officer
Murtaza haidari (Mobin)
IT Officer
As an IT Consultant and Service Provider for APRRN, Mobin advises and manages the organization's IT systems. His role involves understanding the organization's needs, analyzing existing systems, and providing recommendations for improvements to optimize the IT infrastructure and systems. He ensures that the systems are up-to-date and secure, while also providing technical support and assistance to the team. Mobin's diverse expertise and tailored solutions support the organization's goals and enhance its operations.
Amrita Paul
Rohingya Consultant
Amrita Paul
Rohingya Consultant
Amrita Paul brings a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, specializing in the assessment and refinement of access to justice frameworks for individuals in custody. Her primary focus is on protection concerns vis-à-vis detained refugees and asylum seekers in non-signatory states in the region. Her work encompasses critical aspects such as identification, registration, and facilitating access to legal representation, all aimed at reducing prolonged detention, preventing unnecessary incarcerations, and ensuring effective legal aid for refugees and foreign nationals. Amrita's approach includes research, advocacy, and close collaboration with state entities to develop and implement practical and effective solutions. Prior to her current role, she played a role in advocating for access to justice initiatives at the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).
Emma Goldie
Learning Lead Consultant
Emma Goldie
Learning Lead Consultant
Emma Goldie has, for the last ten years, worked for multiple refugee-led organisations, leading, evaluating, and providing strategic oversight to refugee-led projects, that promote meaningful change and refugee and migrant voices. She has collaborated with numerous refugee-led initiatives, and with a focus on the meaningful participation of those with lived experience has brought together management, community leaders, and service users to design, reflect, and feedback on their projects and organisations. Her most recent evaluation for Saint Andrews Refugee Services in Cairo contributed to the wider movement led by the Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative that is providing growing evidence of the capabilities, strengths, needs, and urgency for refugee-led organisations in the refugee response.
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