Level 4, 39 Webb Street
Mount Cook 6011
Mon - Fri: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Office hours
+64 4 801 5812
Office phone
Our People
CRF is governed by 8-10 Board members. As a refugee-led organisation, 80% of our Board is composed of people from refugee backgrounds who represent the interests of all refugee-background communities, rather than merely the communities they belong to.
We have an operations team, currently of 13 people, who work towards implementing the Strategic Plan developed by the board in consultation with the CRF Leaders Council.
Meet Our People
Our Board
Mardia Abdulaziz | Board Chair
My name is Mardiya from the Somali community. I am currently studying a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and was born in New Zealand. It’s such a pleasure to be representing the community as a youth and I hope to inspire more youth to be on different board groups too.
Megersa Rundasa | Board Treasurer
My name is Megersa Rundasa. I’m from the Oromo Community of Ethiopia. I have a BCom Degree from Victoria University, majoring in Accounting and Commercial Law and I currently work as a self-employed cabbie. I was heavily involved with the Oromo Community before my term expired and it’s been a great pleasure for me to work with all ages of our community members. I also support my daughter’s school sports team during a school game. I believe working with a community of all ages is value adding and improves their cohesiveness. I am grateful to be a part of the vibrant CRF team and help our multicultural community to meet its goals.
Lana Dawit | Board Chair Deputy
Shlama! My name is Lana, I am from the Assyrian community. I am a 21-year-old Health Psychology student at Victoria University. I have a strong passion for understanding the connection between mental health and the refugee experience. With my knowledge of Health Psychology, I aim to help refugees navigate the complex process of resettlement diaspora and adjust to their new surroundings here in Aotearoa.
Eyob Teshome | Board Member
Aidrus Ibrahim | Board Member
Margaret John | Board Member
Oo Meh Nga | Board Member
Melissa Denzler | Board Member
Kia ora Koutou
Ko Melissa Denzler tōku ingoa. Ko Ngāti Maniapoto, ko Te Rarawa ngā iwi.
Hello. I am delighted to be a Board member of ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum.
I come from a background in the education sector, having worked for the past 12 years as a Deputy Principal in 3 large secondary schools in the region. I worked closely with our refugee and new migrant community at my most recent school and established solid connections with CRF. I now work as an edcation advisor at the New Zealand Council For Educational Research. I look forward to supporting the mahi of CRF and the wonderful communities it represents.
Ngā mihi nui
Megan Williams | Board Member
Megan Williams has worked in refugee law in the UK at a small human rights NGO, and in Aotearoa leading the Refugee and Immigration Legal Advice Service (RILAS) at Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley for nine years, with a particular focus on refugee family reunification and family violence visas. Megan now works at Community Law Centres o Aotearoa, the body representing all law centres within Aotearoa, as a law reform advocate in the areas of immigration and refugee law, social welfare and housing law, family violence and access to justice. She continues to provide legal supervision to the RILAS team and is a member of the New Zealand Law Society and the Auckland District Law Society Immigration and Refugee Law Committees. Megan also has a background in Treaty of Waitangi claims and settlement negotiations.
Adam Awad | Patron
Adam Awad is a founder of ChangeMakers and has been involved in leading and developing refugee background communities locally, regionally and nationally, with over two decades of community leadership, management, strategic oversight and field experience in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Adam is driven by the challenges of unlocking the potential of refugee background communities and, through professional and honest discussions, to achieve a best possible outcomes for everyone. He has a strong relationship with stakeholders, government and the philanthropic sector.
Adam holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and is completing his postgraduate Diploma for Management of Not-for-profit Organisations.
