About Us

Our Values

  • RESPECT

  • INCLUSION

  • EMPATHY

  • INTEGRETY

  • IMPACT

  • COMPASSION

  • TRUST

  • PARTICIPATION

About The Refugee Alliance

The Refugee Alliance is a collective of member organisations who advocate for systemic change to create positive settlement journeys and brighter futures for refugees in Aotearoa. The Refugee Alliance strengthens the collaboration between NGOs, community groups and their allies to collectively advocate for high level policy and strategy changes at a government level. Member organisations both large and small have opportunities to come together around key issues and add their voice to create meaningful change. The work of The Refugee Alliance is not meant for the benefit of any particular group. It is not a legally constituted entity but a collaborative group. The Refugee Alliance is non-political – has no affiliation with any political party.

The Alliance is funded by The Tindall Foundation and supported by Belong Aotearoa, which serves as the Alliance’s backbone, providing coordination support and resources.

The Refugee Alliance is currently advocating to address critical issues former refugees are facing such the following:

Refugee Family Support Category (Family Reunification): The current system is severely strained, with significant delays (+10 years) preventing many refugees from reuniting with family. These delays and restrictive eligibility criteria cause stress, financial hardship, and hinder settlement success.

Equitable Access to Opportunities: Refugees, particularly asylum seekers, face major delays in accessing employment, education, and upskilling opportunities, worsening mental health challenges and limiting their ability to contribute to society.

How We Are Governed

The Refugee Alliance has a two-tier governance structure:

  • General Membership

    The General Membership consists of non-government organisations (NGOs) and community groups that work with or represent refugee-background communities. Members set campaigns and priority issues, approve the annual budget, participate in advocacy and capacity-building activities, engage in training, and meet four to five times a year or as needed.

  • Steering Group

    At the heart of the Refugee Alliance is the Steering Group, made up of 4–10 people, representing their respective organisations, committed to advancing the work of the Alliance. The group includes a mix of seasoned and emerging leaders who reflect the diversity of the Alliance. Membership is dynamic and based on members’ interest and commitment. At least 50% of the Steering Group are people with lived experience of being a refugee. The Steering Group provides leadership and drives the work of the Alliance in consultation with, and as agreed by, the Member Organisations.

Steering Group Organisation

  • Dr. Khurram Malik

    CEO OF HOPE WORLDWIDE PAKISTAN

    Dr. Khurram Malik is a compassionate humanitarian leader, registered social worker, and mental health advocate who has dedicated his life to empowering marginalized communities. Born and raised in Pakistan, he experienced forced displacement that profoundly shaped his understanding of resilience, compassion, and justice. Since settling in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2009, he has turned his personal journey into a mission to serve others facing hardship and exclusion.

    As the Chief Executive Officer of HOPE Worldwide-Pakistan, Dr. Malik has led transformative programmes in social inclusion, refugee resettlement, food security, education, and climate action. With a strong global presence across New Zealand, Pakistan, and beyond, he leads with faith, vision, and empathy—promoting dignity, belonging, and opportunities for all.

    Renowned for his hands-on leadership and collaborative spirit, Dr. Malik continues to inspire hope and build bridges across cultures, transforming compassion into meaningful action.


  • Pa Riikau Terry-Karepa

    KAUMĀTUA ELDER OF THE HOPE FOUNDATION

    My name is Pa Riikau Terry-Karepa, proud to be a native indigenous of Aotearoa New Zealand.

    As an Kaumātua elder of the Hope Foundation, I'm honored to work in partnership with Tangata Whenua of Ngati Whatua and Kawarau Maki in partnership to forges a powerful partnership between Hope and Māori, built on mutual cooperation and respect for the endeavors of the Hope Foundation.

    The Kaumāturole is to make sure Māori is empowered to participate fully in social services and pastoral care in Waitakere, with equal opportunities to share with hope foundation.

    I Pa the Kaumātua responsibility is to safeguard and promote Māori knowledge, language, and cultural identity, known as tāonga, in partnership with the Hope Foundation, which is of utmost importance.

  • Dawit Arshak

    GENERAL MANAGER OF ASST

    My name is Dawit Arshak. I was born in Ethiopia and am now a proud husband and father of five amazing children. I became a refugee in 1984 and lived in Khartoum, Sudan, for 14 years before coming to New Zealand through the Quota Refugee Programme. I have now lived in Aotearoa for more than 27 years, working in a wide range of roles, no job has ever been too difficult or too humble for me.

    By nature and through lived experience, I am a facilitator, negotiator, and above all, a caretaker. My purpose in life is to be available to help others, regardless of our differences. I feel privileged to have worked across several refugee resettlement sectors in New Zealand, supporting my fellow refugee Whānau.

  • Malu Malo-Fuiava

    PROGRAMME DIRECTOR OF BELONG AOTEAROA

    Malu is the Programme Director at Belong Aotearoa which is a non-profit organisation with a vision of ‘An inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand where refugee-background and migrant communities can thrive’. Belong runs a range of initiatives to address challenges and barriers experienced by communities.

  • Aklilu Hibtit

    CULTURAL DIRECTOR OF RASNZ

    Aklilu Hibtit, originally from Eritrea, East Africa, is a cultural director for Refugees As Survivors New Zealand (RASNZ), a specialist mental health and well-being support service for refugees and asylum seekers. Aklilu is a qualified and registered Social Worker and a highly respected professional within the refugee sector, having worked widely across the resettlement sector in various roles in New Zealand.

Our Wider Membership

More than forty full and associate organisations—from national bodies to local community groups—power our reach and impact. Together, we work across housing, health, education, employment, research, youth leadership, and other areas critical to supporting former refugee communities.

See Member Directory →