About Us

ChangeMakers is a grassroots organisation. It began to take shape in 2001 when a group of former refugees started talking about how to get their concerns about resettlement in front of central and local government, and NGOs. They quickly realised the strength of working together and having a shared voice on issues of common concern.

In 2003, ChangeMakers Refugee Forum was formed as an incorporated society. It is a pan-refugee organisation led by people from refugee backgrounds.

Our Board

ChangeMakers is governed by a board of people from refugee backgrounds who are elected each year at the AGM. The Board provides leadership by developing the vision and strategic direction of the organisation. Board members represent the interests of refugees generally rather then their communities specifically.

Current Board members are:

• Adam Awad (Chairperson)
• Amaal Rasheed
• Awad Hagos
• Fahima Haidari
• Maureen Zaya
• Dagaga Gammachu
• Emile Pacifique
• Fungisai Foto
• Ibrahim Omer Ibrahim
• Sonia Azizi (youth representative).

ChangeMakers is currently managed (from October 2009) by Acting General Manager Karla Gunby.  She will finish her term in June 2010 and a permanent General Manager will be appointed.  ChangeMakers has three full-time and nine part-time staff, plus a number of volunteers who actively support our work. These include the Advisory Group (see below).