Australia for UNHCR’s new Chief Executive Officer Trudi Mitchell says her focus will be on working with her team and the UN Refugee Agency globally to help more people than ever reach safety, amid record displacement worldwide.
Ms Mitchell today officially takes over the leadership of Australia for UNHCR, which raises funds and awareness for the UN Refugee Agency.
“I’m enormously excited to be appointed Chief Executive Officer of Australia for UNHCR. I look forward to taking the organisation from strength to strength in our work for refugees,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The Board is delighted that Trudi Mitchell is the new Chief Executive Officer of Australia for UNHCR. She has extensive leadership experience in the not-for-profit sector and a genuine compassion for refugees and displaced people,” said Board Chair, Michael Dwyer.
“She is also highly respected by staff, partners and colleagues at UNHCR globally,” he said.
Ms Mitchell has spent the past six years as Deputy National Director of Australia for UNHCR. She has played an integral role in the organisation’s focus on investing in technology to improve advocacy and increase fundraising for refugees. She replaces founder and former National Director Naomi Steer, who has stepped down after 22 years.
“It is a great privilege to be leading Australia for UNHCR at this challenging time when more than 100 million people are displaced worldwide due to conflict and persecution,” said Ms Mitchell.
“My focus will be on working with my team at Australia for UNHCR to achieve its vision of empowering refugees worldwide. More than 100,000 Australians support our work and I hope we can increase that number,” she said.
Ms Mitchell has extensive experience in senior management in a range of not-for-profit organisations. She was previously Director of Marketing and Communications at the Cancer Council NSW, a Director of Weave Youth and Community Services, and was on the Board of the Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA).
Ms Mitchell is on the Board of the Emergency Action Alliance (EAA) – a group of 15 Australian organisations working together on humanitarian emergencies around the world. Ms Mitchell is also a Trustee of New Zealand for UNHCR.
