Mitra Khakbaz has over 20 years of experience working with humanitarian, settlement and displacement-focused organisations. Mitra is currently the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of HOST International and leads the organisation’s work across the Asia-Pacific region, including operations in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. With HOST International and in previous roles, she has developed and led projects centred on regional humanitarian settlement, economic participation, community wellbeing, youth engagement, case work, intensive support services and child protection. Mitra was recently awarded a Churchill Fellowship to review best practices regarding employment pathways and livelihoods in accessing economic independence, with a particular focus on women at risk, children and families. Mitra has also contributed to the boards and management committees of various organisations, including the Immigrant Women’s Support Service and National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. Mitra has a Master of Social Administration, Postgraduate Diploma Social Policy and Community Development, Master of Applied Linguistics and Bachelor of Arts and Humanity. She is currently based in Brisbane, Australia.

Vivienne Chew has worked with the International Detention Coalition since 2012, coordinating its work across the Asia Pacific region and serving as Acting Co-Director in 2020.  She has over a decade of experience working with refugee and asylum seeking communities, predominantly in countries of first asylum. She successfully established and managed refugee legal aid programs for Asylum Access in Thailand and Tanzania. Vivienne has undertaken a number of research projects on children’s rights, birth registration, statelessness, and the inclusion of refugees in the formal labour market in Malaysia. Vivienne holds a Law degree from the University of Cardiff, Wales, and a Master’s degree in International Human Rights from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. Prior to joining the humanitarian sector, she practiced as a corporate finance lawyer for Clifford Chance LLP in London and Thailand. Vivienne is an Obama Foundation Asia Pacific Leader and is currently based in Melbourne, Australia.

Loretta has been working as a CFO in the Australian community sector for over 20 years and brings with her a history of leadership in the Not for Profit sector. Loretta has led business development and expansion of a number of national organisations and has been involved in establishing financial systems and processes responsive to the unique nature of start-up organisations. Loretta has led negotiations and financial modelling of complex funding and tender processes and has supported diverse executive teams in meeting fiduciary responsibilities. She holds a Bachelor of Business in Business Management and is currently CFO for Welcoming Australia Ltd.