Our People

Nicole is a community development practitioner with ten years experience working in not for profit and government agencies. Nicole completed a Masters of Social Development from UNSW and has extensive experience working in the refugee sector with agencies such as Australian Red Cross and Settlement Services International. She is passionate about building community capacity to drive long lasting and sustainable change that delivers meaningful outcomes for the community.

Shabnam is a driven community development practitioner passionate about cultivating true partnerships between communities and structures of power to create lasting solutions. Inspired by her own experience of forced displacement from Afghanistan, she is a strong advocate for meaningful participation of refugees in addressing the complex challenges of resettlement, inclusion, and belonging. She has founded and led multiple initiatives in Australia and abroad supporting refugees and host communities, particularly focusing on strengths-based and capacity-building approaches. Shabnam is the inaugural chairperson leading the National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group (NRAAG), a refugee-led organisation creating spaces for effective elevation of voices with lived experience in key decisions, policies, and discourse about refugees. She was recently inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women for her tireless work in promoting refugee rights and social cohesion.

Vivienne has more than 15 years of experience in forced migration policy advocacy, research, and program implementation in the Asia Pacific region. She has worked with diverse groups inside and outside of government to develop and implement complex strategies to support migration policy reform. In her previous roles at the International Detention Coalition and Asylum Access, and as former chair of the Immigration Detention Working Group of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network, Vivienne has led advocacy and research initiatives on migration governance, immigration detention, and alternatives to detention at the regional and global levels. Vivienne holds a Law degree from the University of Cardiff, Wales, and a Masters in International Human Rights from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. Prior to joining the humanitarian sector, she practiced as a corporate finance lawyer for Clifford Chance LLP in London and Thailand.

Kash joins the CRSA Team with 8 years of experience in refugee protection and casework support for people seeking asylum in Australia and internationally. After completing a Master of International Development at La Trobe University Kash worked as a Family Reunification caseworker in Northern Greece and as an Operations and Protection Officer on Lesvos Island. Kash also worked at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in the Detention Rights Advocacy Program where she provided complex casework support for families and individuals held on Nauru and Papua New Guinea throughout their time offshore, and during their medical evacuations. Kash also lectures for the Diploma and Bachelors of Community Services at Stotts College in Melbourne and provides student placement liaison support. Kash is dedicated to the refugee sector in Australia and believes in making our community stronger through education, student placement opportunities, and partnerships with key stakeholders and everyday Australians.

Mirrin has a background working in refugee settlement agencies, local government and not-for-profits. She has a special interest in regional settlement and enjoys supporting local communities to build on their strengths and work together to welcome refugees. Mirrin is from a rural area herself and has lived and worked in Melbourne and regional Victoria for more than 10 years. During this time she has been involved in programs supporting volunteers and sponsors of refugees in both the community support program (CSP) at AMES Australia, and the bridge to regional employment and opportunities project in the Grampians region, a secondary migration initiative for refugees. Mirrin also worked in capacity building programs and supported the regional sponsored migration scheme in regional Victoria. Previously, she worked in northern Thailand for a feminist organisation delivering strengths based, women-led empowerment projects. Mirrin has qualifications in International and Community Development from Deakin University and is motivated by the opportunities that arise when people come together with a shared vision.

Lilly joins CRSA with 8 years’ experience in the non-profit sector across governance, partnerships, evaluation and community development. Lilly is passionate about empowering communities to achieve a more just and inclusive society and in the 5 years prior to joining the CRSA team in Narrm/Melbourne was working alongside First Nations leaders and families in Central Australia. Lilly holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Indigenous Cultures & Histories and is currently undertaking to complete a Graduate Certificate of Business Administration. In addition to her work and study, Lilly volunteers on the board of Guts, a contemporary dance organisation based in her hometown of Mparntwe/Alice Springs.

Meli is an Administrative Officer with a Bachelor of Arts and a passion for inclusive and vibrant communities. Originally from New Zealand, she completed her studies at the University of Auckland, majoring in Sociology and Communications. She is committed to fostering meaningful connections, assisting those in need and utilising her attention to detail and problem-solving skills to support and streamline practices.