About Us - ARA

VISION AND PURPOSE

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.

STRATEGIC PLAN

ARA has a new strategic plan for 2022-2025. Building on the substantial foundations of ARA's first 45 years, the plan is a roadmap for ARA's goal of achieving our vision and delivering on our purpose.

View the strategic plan by clicking the image on the left.

ANNUAL REPORT

Annual Report
2020 - 2021
Annual Report
2019 - 2020
Annual Report
2018 - 2019
Annual Report
2017 - 2018
Annual Report
2016 - 2017
Annual Report
2015 - 2016

Download a copy of our annual report by clicking the image on the left.

SENIOR STAFF

Deb Stringer

Chief Executive Officer

Semira Julardzija

Deputy CEO and Migration Manager

Namam Salih

Family Safety Manager

Karen Kretschmer

SETS Programs Manager

Lynda Morgan

Fundraising and Marketing Manager

Carolyn Cheah

Corporate Services Manager

BOARD MEMBERS

Chris Kwong

Chairperson

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.

Iain Murchland

Deputy Chair

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.

Kathryn Kingston

Board Member

Kathy joined the ARA Board in 2018 and served as Chairperson from 2019 to 2021. Now retired, she brings over 30 years’ experience as a Business Manager and Accountant in addition to extensive experience as a Board member. Kathy has broad experience in finance, administration and management within small to medium organisations and considerable Board experience in not-for-profit organisations and public companies. 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 40 years. Kathy was on the Board of Amnesty International Australia for 9 years, including 4 years as Chairperson followed by 6 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.

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.

Molly Scanlon

Board Member

Molly Scanlon joined the Board of the Australian Refugee Association in June 2021.

Molly is a senior civil litigation lawyer with broad experience across a number of sectors.

Molly has advised and represented a wide range of clients from large commercial entities, government agencies to individuals. Most recently, she has provided crucial legal assistance to disadvantaged South Australians through her work in the community legal sector. Molly has a keen interest in administrative law and particularly, litigated migration matters. This passion culminated in Molly's role as the Coordinator of JusticeNet SA's Refugee and Asylum Seeker project through which crucial assistance was provided to refugee clients with their migration matters before the Federal Courts. Molly has a strong interest in social justice and is committed to using her skills to improve the lives of those in greatest need, having played a significant role in coordinating and developing South Australia's pro bono legal sector in recent years.

Molly is currently in the process of moving to the independent bar in SA and will complete the Bar Readers' Course in 2022.

Shelley Collins

Board Member

Shelley has a broad professional background, having spent the most recent 14 years working in the international development sector in various locations around the world including Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and the previous 14 years working in business development, marketing and strategy roles in the private sector.

In the last 8 years Shelley has been developing and managing humanitarian programs for refugees living in refugee camps and transit countries who have been displaced through various global crises. This has given her a critical insight into key issues facing refugees during their journey, as well as a good understanding of the contexts and cultures from which they originate.

She also has experience in domestic refugee issues, being an ARA homework club volunteer since February 2020 and having worked as a volunteer English Language teacher at the Refugee Council UK for 3 years. She hopes to become an even stronger and more visible advocate for refugees through her appointment to the ARA Board in June 2021.

Shadan Doyle

Board Member

Shadan Doyle has joined the Board of the Australian Refugee Association in June 2022. She is from the CALD community herself and is very familiar with the challenges of navigating life in Australia as a member of a minority group.

She is exceptionally passionate about Human Rights and has previously served as a Peace Ambassador for Humanitarian Affairs Asia. She is an advocate for inclusion and fights discrimination to ensure everybody, including the most vulnerable members of our community, have fair access to the essential services and adequate opportunities they need to thrive in life.

She has over 12 years of management experience both in the private and not-for-profit sector. She is currently a Human Resources Manager working for SHINE SA Limited. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Laws, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management and a Bachelor of Engineering majoring in Agriculture and Economics.

She is very experienced in strategic planning, business analytics interpretation and implementation, budget management, policy and procedure development and management of Industrial relations.

Andrew Mills

Board Member

Andrew joined the ARA Board in June 2022. He is currently CEO of HomeStart Finance, a state government-owned lender that makes home ownership a reality for more people via innovative mortgage products. Immediately prior he was HomeStart's CFO and previously held executive roles with responsibilities across strategy, marketing, product development, distribution, innovation, stakeholder engagement, and project management. His 25 years experience in the finance sector also includes roles in financial markets and business advisory. He enjoys the challenges of balancing social and commercial outcomes, and is driven by a strong sense of fairness and equity. Andrew's qualifications include a Bachelor of International Business, Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance & Investment, MBA, and Melbourne Business School's Advanced Management Program.