Our People
CRSA’s staff, board of directors and ambassadors draw on their breadth of experience and knowledge to implement the organisation’s vision.
Jump to: Our Team | Our Board of Directors | Our Ambassadors
Our Team
Lisa Button
Chief Executive Officer
Lisa has been leading the work of CRSA since she instigated its establishment in 2018. She began her career as a commercial lawyer and has been working in refugee law, policy and programs for more than 15 years with organisations such as the Centre for Policy Development, Save the Children and Refugee Legal. Lisa is also a Fellow with the Centre for Policy Development and has served as a director of a number of refugee-led organisations. Lisa holds a Masters in Public and International Law in addition to her BA/LLB(Hons) from the University of Melbourne. She has served as a member of the Settlement Advisory Council, advising the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. She lives in Melbourne and is the proud mum of three boys.
Sophie Bosch
General Manager
Sophie is an Operations and Project Manager who specialises in helping to scale early stage startups. She also has a long standing passion for refugee and human rights issues with a particular interest in programs that offer employment, language and literacy support to new Australians. Sophie holds Masters degrees in Journalism and Management from the University of Sydney. She enjoys using her creative and analytical skills to support the sustainability and growth of innovative organisations that are shaping the future.
Romy Vitalien
National Program Director - CRISP
Romy has spent more than a decade working in refugee settlement, leading a range of government, philanthropic and participant-funded programs that enable people with refugee backgrounds to establish a home in Australia and to participate fully in all aspects of the Australian community.
Romy has a Master of Social Work, a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts, and has worked extensively with people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds including with Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre, Australian Red Cross, AMES Australia and the Legal Aid Scheme in Ghana. She is a proud mother of two and is driven by the sheer joy of welcoming people with refugee experiences to Australia, and the opportunity to harness the enormous contributions that this resilient cohort can offer to Australian society.
Lilly Alexander
Program Officer - Community Partnerships & Engagement
Lilly joins CRSA with 9 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 Anthropology and Indigenous Cultures & Histories and 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.
Nat Medcalf
Operations & Program Engagement Coordinator
Nat joins CRSA with experience in people and culture, operations and program coordination within the refugee and youth sectors in Australia and the United States. Most recently Nat coordinated operations in the volunteer program at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Nat is passionate about community development, committed to the refugee sector, and holds a Masters in International Community Development, with a focus on the social exclusion of people seeking asylum in Australia.
Nicole Watkins
National Manager - Community Learning and Development
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.
Blaise Itabelo
National Manager - Community Partnerships & Engagement
Blaise was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sadly the 1996 war in DRC forced Blaise and his family to flee and for the next decade and a half, Blaise and his family called a Refugee Camp home. Blaise migrated to Australia in 2011 and he’s a proud Australian citizen. He has extensively worked on assisting newly arrived migrants, refugees, and people seeking asylum in their settlement journey in Australia. Blaise has over ten years of experience in Community Engagement and Development with a particular interest in community capacity building and mobilisation and has held various roles with local and International NGOs including Access community services Ltd, SSI, and WorldShare.
Vivienne Chew
National Policy & Advocacy Advisor
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 Wall
CRISP Community Liaison Officer
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.
Renata Kanagasabai
CRISP Community Liaison Officer
Renata joins the CRSA team with fifteen years of experience in refugee protection and forced migration in Australia and internationally. She has previously worked on the delivery of social programs at Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre, Australian Red Cross and Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project as well as international humanitarian projects in Greece, Lebanon and displacement-related research on Sri Lanka. Renata has postgraduate degrees in Community Development and Social Work, while also pursuing further study on the intersection between gendered violence and forced migration. She is a strong believer in people power and the active role of communities in working toward social change.
Our Board of Directors
CRSA’s Board currently comprises the following individuals.
Noel Clement OAM
Director & Chair
Noel is a not-for-profit sector leader with over 30 years experience across a diverse range of social causes, with a particular depth of experience in migration and emergency management. He recently left Australian Red Cross after 20 years, most recently as Director of Australian Programs, and is now pursuing a range of new opportunities to contribute his knowledge and skills.
Noel has extensive experience in asylum seeker and refugee program implementation, advocacy and policy. He’s sat on Ministerial Advisory Councils, presented to Senate Select Inquiries and has implemented programs at scale including humanitarian settlement services, immigration detention monitoring, and asylum seeker community care. He was a co-chair of the Global Red Cross Movement’s Migration Leadership Platform and has worked on migration issues at local, national, regional and global levels.
A critical thinker, Noel looks to unpack organisational and community issues to shape strategic and tactical responses. He has substantial experience in building effective relationships and collaborative partnerships.
Noel is a qualified Social Worker (PIT 1988) and holds a Masters in Social Policy (RMIT 2000).
Naomi Steer AO
Director
Naomi is a longstanding advocate for refugees and other forcibly displaced people from her early days as an Australian diplomat working on human rights at the United Nations in New York and then for 22 years as National Director of Australia for UNHCR , the UN Refugee Agency’s National Partner funding UNHCR’s international humanitarian work.
Naomi has worked and travelled to many refugee situations and conflict zones sharing the experiences , stories and voices of refugees she has met to help promote greater understanding and support in the Australian community . In a parallel career, Naomi has been a longstanding Trustee of superannuation funds and is currently Chair of the Sydney Financial Forum.
Since retiring from Australia for UNHCR in 2022, Naomi has continued her work supporting refugees locally and globally including supporting refugee women in Uganda through her initiative Connectors For Good.
Naomi has a BA (Hons) and LLB from UNSW and an MSc in Conflict, Security and Development Studies from Leicester University, UK.
Mamuch Chuol
Director
Mamuch Chuol is a dedicated social entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of NextGen Unite, a not-for-profit organisation committed to empowering South Sudanese Australian communities. His mission is to bring together like-minded individuals to build a more inclusive and cohesive society through holistic approaches that involve collaboration with government, non-governmental organisations, and corporate partners.
Mamuch is a passionate public speaker who draws on his personal journey as a former refugee to foster deeper understanding of the refugee experience and highlight the meaningful contributions refugees make to Australian society. He actively advises local, state, and federal bodies on strategies to better support migrant and refugee communities, ensuring their voices are not only heard but valued in policymaking processes.
In addition to his leadership at NextGen Unite, Mamuch serves as a Director on the board of Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA), where he brings his lived experience and community insight to guide programs that empower local groups to support newly arrived refugees. His work with CRSA strengthens the national movement toward community-led refugee resettlement and inclusion.
Mamuch is currently pursuing a double degree in Laws and Arts, alongside holding an Advanced Diploma in Legal Practice. With a long-term vision of influencing policy, he aims to use his legal knowledge to help shape more equitable and effective policies that support Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities across Australia.
Ian Smith AM
Director
Ian Smith is the founding partner of corporate and political advisory firm Bespoke Approach, working with national and international blue-chip companies. He is also a Senior Adviser to Albright Stonebridge Group, a Washington-based strategy consultancy. Ian is deeply involved in refugee advocacy, chairing Barefoot to Boots, a charity assisting refugee camps and their host communities. He is a member of the University of South Australia Council. He became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in June 2018. He is married to former Senator and Ambassador Natasha Stott Despoja and they have two children, Conrad and Cordelia.
Ashley Monckton
Director
Ashley is a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society and has been a registered psychologist in Australia for over 10 years, specialising in Organisational Psychology. With 17 years experience in consulting across executive assessment, executive development, senior executive and CEO succession planning, leadership development and talent development in London and Sydney, Ashley is now Head of Leadership Development at Westpac. She has international experience spreading across corporate, government and not for profit, over multiple industries. Her passion is in developing and uncovering talent and executives to deliver organisational strategy and positively impact the communities they serve. Ashley has an MSc in Occupational Psychology and BSC in Psychology from Nottingham University, also holding accreditations in numerous global assessment and development tools. Originally from the UK, Ashley has a keen interest in community integration, having undertaken volunteering positions in London for asylum seekers and the homeless.
Ric Benjamin
Director
Ric has spent more than 30 years balancing private sector management with NGO leadership and governance. Ric is an experienced board chair and director, having served on a number of organisations including Stand Up (director then Chair); Fareshare ( director then Chair); FoodBank Victoria (Board Member) and the New Israel Fund ( director and now Chair). In 2010, Ric changed careers, moving from the corporate to NGO sector by taking up the role of CEO of Foodbank Victoria. Ric continues his professional work with a technology NGO, Infoxchange, providing leadership around engagement with government and sector organisations, large and small. As an alumni of Leadership Victoria, Ric has also mentored various NGO boards and executive officers to improve business models and/or develop mission driven outcomes.Having completed his 12 months as part of a CRISP Community Support Group, Ric hopes to bring his understanding of the sector, volunteer and community engagement to further strengthen the work of CRSA.
Our Ambassadors
We are grateful for the public and behind-the-scenes support of the following esteemed individuals.
Professor Peter Shergold AC
Peter led a government-commissioned independent inquiry into Integration, Employment and Settlement Outcomes for Refugees and Humanitarian Entrants in Australia in 2019. He is currently the Coordinator General for Refugee Settlement in NSW and Chancellor of the University of Western Sydney.
Libby Lloyd AO
Former Director & Chair
Libby has a strong background working with refugees. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2022 for her distinguished service to the community, particularly to women and refugees, through a range of social welfare initiatives. This followed her earlier appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia in 1992 for her contribution to refugees and to the international community in Iraq and Kuwait. She co-founded the White Ribbon Foundation in 2007 and is currently patron of the Indigo Foundation and the Chair of CRSA’s board of directors.
Nyadol Nyuon
Nyadol is an Australian lawyer and human rights advocate, who was born in a refugee camp in Ethiopia, of a family fleeing the Second Sudanese Civil War. She currently works for the Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety and is also a writer, speaker and media commentator. In addition to her role with CRSA, she is Chair of The Harmony Alliance.
Andrew Kaldor AM
Andrew arrived in Australia in 1948 as a refugee from Hungary. He went on to become a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist and, together with his wife Renata, established the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at the University of New South Wales.
Phoebe Wynn-Pope
Tim Costello AO
Tim is the Chairman of the Community Council of Australia. He is Director of Micah Australia and a Senior Fellow for Centre for Public Christianity. He is well known as a leading spokesperson on social justice issues including problem gambling and homelessness.
Watch Tim Costello on the Role of Faith Communities in Community Refugee Sponsorship
Om Dhungel
Om, a former engineer, is now a consultant and a practitioner of Strength-Based Approach to refugee settlement and community engagement, offering his services as a trainer, mentor and a speaker. A Graduate and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, he is currently a Director on the Board of Asylum Seeker Centre, a Member of NSW Police Multicultural Advisory Council and has served on a number of other boards. Formerly a refugee from Bhutan, Om is the founding President and currently a senior member of the Association of Bhutanese in Australia (ABA) Sydney. Om is a recipient of the 2017 University of Technology Sydney (UTS) International Alumni Award and 2016 NSW Premier’s Multicultural Community Medal for Lifetime Achievement.
Arash Bordbar
Arash Bordbar is a former Refugee originally from Shiraz in Iran. Arash is the Co-ordinator of the UNHCR Global Youth Advisory Council and is also currently working with the CMRC as a Youth Employment and Enterprise Officer. He has just finished his Bachelor of Civil Engineering(Hons). Arash is the Chair of Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN). He was awarded the Young People’s Human Rights Medal in 2016 for his advocacy on human rights in Australia and the Asia Pacific, chosen to be an Australian Ambassador since 2018 for Australia Day.