Our vision is a fair and equitable society where all communities are able to fulfil their potential.
Our purpose is to support newly arrived communities and individuals, empowering them to participate actively in all aspects of life in Australia.
We achieve our purpose by delivering high quality services in collaboration with communities, stakeholders, volunteers and professionals.
Our purpose is to support newly arrived communities and individuals, empowering them to participate actively in all aspects of life in Australia.
We achieve our purpose by delivering high quality services in collaboration with communities, stakeholders, volunteers and professionals.
Download a copy of our annual report by clicking the image on the left.
Kathryn Kingston
President
Kathy Kingston joined the ARA Board in November 2018 and was elected President in 2019. Now retired, Kathy brings over 30 years’ experience as a business manager and accountant, and has recently retired as director of a public company. Kathy has broad experience in finance, administration and management within small to medium organisations and has extensive experience as a board member. She has a strong commitment to human rights and social justice and has been actively involved in voluntary roles with several not-for-profit organisations for more than 35 years. Kathy was on the board of Amnesty International Australia for nine years, including four years as Chairperson followed by six years on the International Membership Appeals Committee. During that time she represented the Australian Section at several international meetings and gained extensive experience in corporate governance, strategic planning and budgeting, policy development, campaigning and fundraising.
Iain Murchland
Vice President
Iain Murchland joined the Board in 2015 and was elected Vice President in 2019. He is currently a business analyst with the Department of Human Services. His qualifications include a Bachelor of Science (Hons), PhD and a Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology Commercialisation. Iain brings a range of skills from a professional background in science, IT and commercialisation. With previous roles spanning tertiary education, private enterprise and government sectors, his experience includes business planning and development, business management systems and services, innovation, strategic planning and project management. Iain has a strong commitment to social inclusion and social justice, which has found expression in volunteer roles including policy advocacy, governance roles within the Uniting Church and with ARA prior to joining the Board.
Chelsea Thomas
Treasurer
Chelsea Thomas first came to ARA as a volunteer in the social support program, engaging with a family who had recently arrived in Adelaide and helping them to feel at home in their new city. She joined the ARA Board in 2017 following time as an invitee to the audit subcommittee. As a chartered accountant with more than 10 years’ experience, Chelsea brings a finance focus to the Board with a commercial understanding of the challenges faced by not-for-profits. Chelsea’s current role as the finance manager at Pulteney Grammar School sees her involved in all aspects of school life including budgeting and forecast modelling, enterprise agreement negotiations, Pulteney Foundation philanthropy, the development of business cases for significant capital works programs, grant funding acquittals and the occasional workplace health and safety presentation for senior students.
David McGlennon
Board Member
David McGlennon joined board in November 2019. His career spans nearly two decades in international higher education and research management, following two
decades in fisheries and marine research, policy and management in Australia. His responsibilities in higher education have included the management of advanced multinational research centres, the development of research infrastructure, the management of competitive research funding, and the development of collaborations and partnerships. His experience in marine science includes biological research of marine species and ecosystems, evaluation of resource allocation within fisheries, as well as fisheries and aquaculture management and policy. He has recently been appointed as the independent Chair of a Federal Government Management Advisory Committee in fisheries. David has lived and worked overseas for 20 years, primarily in the Middle East but also in Indonesia, and has broad experience working with multicultural groups. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and has completed the AICD Foundations of Directorship.
Heather Pascoe-Smith
Board Member
Heather Pascoe-Smith joined the board in 2014. Heather is the general manager of Expanding Horizons, a group tour wholesaler, who provides back office support and tour itineraries to over 80 tour operators in Australia and overseas. Her background is varied--having trained and worked as a registered nurse, she also holds business management and training and assessment qualifications. She has worked at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Ashford Community Hospital in a nursing capacity; at Adelaide TAFE and Flinders University as a lecturer; and the NSW Tourism Commission and Expanding Horizons in tourism management. She is currently on the Australian Tourism Export Council (SA), The National Travel Industry Technical Advisory Committee and is an Affiliate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Outside her work environment Heather volunteers through the ARA Social Support Network.
Gokhan Ayturk
Board Member
Dr Gokhan Ayturk joined the board in November 2019. He has had an international career in advocacy and health research, and has worked across university, state government, private consultancy and not-for-profit sectors in Adelaide over the past 15 years. Gokhan has vast experience providing strategic guidance in relation to the social determinants of health, and culturally safe and ethical project management based on values of respect and reciprocity. Gokhan specialises in social policy, health research and ethics with a doctorate from UniSA and master’s degree in Social Policy from the London School of Economics. Gokhan’s knowledge and experience enable him to provide informed and pragmatic advice to achieve culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care through tailored support programs in housing, education, social inclusion, gender, human rights and livelihoods.
Chris Kwong
Board Member
Chris Kwong joined the Board of the Australian Refugee Association in November 2020.
Chris is a son of a refugee from the Vietnam War and fifth generation born Chinese Australian. He holds a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice (Honours) and a Bachelor of International Studies.
He has practised as a lawyer, mostly in commercial litigation for the South Australian Government. He has held an executive role in the South Australian Public Sector, and was an adviser and chief of staff to a former South Australian Deputy Premier and Attorney-General.
Chris is currently the Executive Adviser to the Chief Executive Officer of Australian Red Cross. From March to October 2020, Chris was seconded to the role of Pandemic Lead for Australian Red Cross – helping ensure a cohesive and effective response to COVID-19 across the organisation.
He has previously served three years on the Australian Red Cross Board as a Non-Executive Director, including chair of its National Youth Advisory Committee and Governance Committee. He is also currently an advisory board member for Welcoming Australia.