Meet Our Team
Humanitarian Affairs Asia was founded with a mission to empower emerging world leaders. When young people are provided with the right tools, knowledge, and network, they stand the most excellent chance to champion positive societal and environmental change.
With this in mind, we work with multi-cultural and multi-talented individuals from all over the world. The key is to unlock dynamism, creativity, and resilience by embracing diversity. As a result, our team resembles mini-United Nations, where passionate young people come together to make a difference.
Together We Work Towards
A World of Inclusivity, Equality, and Harmony.
Janice Leong
Regional Director
Janice Leong
Regional Director
Janice has tried it all and is looking for her next big challenge. She always gives her best and has a strong will to succeed.
What do marathons, mountain- and rock-climbing have in common? They say a lot about you.
Despite having a high fever, she fought a mental battle and climbed Japan’s Mount Fuji on a harsh winter day.
After giving up a lucrative career at one of America’s biggest corporations, Janice has served as the Regional Director of Humanitarian Affairs Asia since 2011.
Janice is devoted to nurturing the next generation of compassionate world leaders. She is a leader, team player and friend. Her willingness to listen to those under her wing has inspired many youths to embark on a journey of endless possibilities.
Snowie
Chief Morale Officer
Snowie
Chief Morale Officer
It is said that God created dogs for human beings because they need a faithful companion – someone who would love unconditionally. We have much to learn from our furry friends.
This is where Humanitarian Affairs’ youngest Chief Officer of Morale, Snowie, “pawsitively” shines.
Born in Chiang Mai, Thailand with her ancestry originating in Japan, her tale of hardship to now loved teammate is a heart-warming one. Snowie was sold, neglected and unwell and has to undergo a major orthopedic surgery when she was a few months old.
Every dog has her day and for Snowie, it is best spent keeping a keen eye on her friends and colleagues. For Snowie, love is not a feeling but action. Whether it’s a bark in the morning to say hello or sitting close by to keep you company at work, Snowie is always there to support you.
Elisabeth Perrin
Global Communication Specialist
Elisabeth Perrin
Global Communication Specialist
Strong writers can make strong human connections. Marketers can replicate the art of storytelling by creating content that moves people. It can advance a cause. Spread a powerful idea. Rally a team. Change minds. Create hope. Leave a legacy. Words can move mountains.
For Elisabeth, the opportunity to contribute to a greater cause by nurturing emerging leaders to become Compassionate Global Citizens, is meaningful work.
The journey with HA started when she was a delegate at the 9th University Scholars Leadership Symposium 2018. Already an UN SDG Advocate through her volunteering work with the Young Professionals Committee of the UN Association of Australia in Melbourne, the USLS reaffirmed in her that your biggest responsibility to the world is to reach your potential.
Eager to advocate for the UN SDGs at a more international level and to a more global community, she joined the team as Global Partnerships Associate in 2020.
She was then invited to pursue HA’s mission as part of the Management Trainee Program, specialising in writing content and implementing the Lead the Change newsletters and other initiatives to achieve more to empower more young people to have the confidence, knowledge and skills to effect positive change.
Elisabeth is passionate about grassroots diplomacy, global cooperation and creating bridges across peoples and cultures.
Natasha Godsiff
Program Advisor
Natasha Godsiff
Program Specialist
One small act of kindness can have a lasting impact – and at Humanitarian Affairs Asia, our actions hold the power to bring about positive change.
For Natasha Godsiff, a final-year Law student at the University of Cambridge, her determination to make a positive impact alongside her studies is driven by her passion for human rights.
In the past, she has led a university society dedicated to improving education in Nepal, served as a voluntary adviser for her local community through Citizens Advice, and mentored students from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain places at top universities.
Natasha’s journey with Humanitarian Affairs Asia began at the 10th University Scholars Leadership Symposium (USLS) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The program was an unforgettable week of learning, sharing, and forming global networks with young leaders from across the globe. Natasha left the symposium empowered to leave a purposeful life and motivated to start her own social project.
Inspired by the following quote delivered by Katie Couric at the 10th USLS: “Changing the world doesn’t happen all at once. It isn’t a big bang. It’s an evolution, the sum of a billion tiny sparks. And some of those sparks will have to come from you,” Natasha is elated to join Humanitarian Affairs Asia as a Program Specialist.
An opportunity she says will allow her to become part of the evolution and create sparks that will make a real change in the world.
Sirawit Khanthik
Account Manager
Sirawit Khanthik
Account Manager
The possibilities are endless when it comes to numbers. Yet one thing rings true – that our time spent on Earth is limited. This is why we must live authentically and with passion, serving others through our natural talents. A fascination with numbers is what led a young and curious Sirawit to study accountancy at one of Thailand’s leading Universities. Thanks to his acquired skills and hard-work, with over 24 years of public accounting experience, Sirawit achieved an M.B.A in Finance from Ramkhumheang University and is a certified public accountant. After extensive experience with commercial enterprises, Sirawit became determined to add value by giving back to society. Naturally Humanitarian Affairs Asia was the right choice for his skills. Sirawit hopes to use his accounting expertise to strengthen the value of Humanitarian Affairs Asia, an organisation he believes truly cares for the well-being of our future generation.
Indiana Luthra
Program Specialist
Indiana Luthra
Program Specialist
Conflict is ever-present and naturally occurring. It is not negative or positive, yet it is what we do that will result in more violence or more peace. It offers choice. The choice to lead, the choice to serve, the choice to join in Humanitarian Affairs. Indiana has always had a passion for helping others and has endured to see fairness prevail. From a young age, she pursued leadership roles including as a peer support leader and as a mentor at Macquarie University. Indiana also attended two National Leadership Camps in Australia hosted by Burn Bright that aimed to create an environment that teaches high school students to embrace their own values and traits, creating a leadership style that is completely unique. Indiana attended the Peace Summit of Emerging Leaders, held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, hosted by Humanitarian Affairs Asia in 2018. Indiana felt so inspired by the Speakers that she decided to pursue legal study after completing a Bachelor of Marketing and Media. Though Indiana was born and resides in Australia, having a mother who is half Thai and half English, and a father who is Indian; multiculturalism has always played a huge part of her life. The sincerity Indiana experienced with Humanitarian Affairs Asia and the positive impact it has had on her life, has led her to want to share it with others. Indiana is ready to join the HA family as a Program Specialist, where she hopes to inspire and encourage others about all that HA has to offer.
Rahila Haidary
Program Advisor
Rahila Haidary
Program Advisor
Connection thrives, diversity is celebrated, and peace enjoyed in communities where empathy is fostered through shared stories. Sometimes, hearing someone’s story of triumph and action is just what is needed for others to make moves towards their worthwhile causes. Her story is one of oppression of the Afghani people by the Taliban, which limited access to education for girls. Eventually, her family managed to triumph and find freedom on shores thousands of miles away from home. It gave her the courage to be a voice for the voiceless and a catalyst for female economic empowerment. She had a story that a community of young leaders needed to hear. Rahila has become an outstanding young leader who has generously shared her own story and used her rich intellectual capital to promote understanding of the refugee experience, strengthen cross-cultural empathy, and advocate for gender equality and human rights. She has launched Afsana, a social enterprise that economically empowers women in Afghanistan and other developing countries by giving them opportunities and hope. She also simultaneously launched Youth-Led Inc, an innovative NGO that offers support and funding to young Australians wanting to initiate their own good causes. Rahilia is not only an advocate for education and female economic empowerment, but an inspiring storyteller of remarkable calibre. She has benefited from the Humanitarian Affairs programs and has now stepped forward to be counted.
Jack Growden
Program Advisor
Jack Growden
Program Advisor
This 20-year-old university student was on the plane home from Papua New Guinea when he saw his name in its national newspapers with the headline; “Aussie student promises 12 laptops to school”. Getting donations for the laptops, covering travelling costs and navigating cultural dynamics, legalities and customs – this seemed like an impossible task. Jack did not quit. He rolled up his sleeves, raised $7,000 and returned to Papua New Guinea to fulfil his promise, establishing the first computer lab in a Papua New Guinean primary school. His insatiable energy and determination fueled the founding of LiteHaus International, a fully-fledged multinational development agency. The agency has assisted over 2,000 young people from three countries in their educational pursuits. Jack supports Humanitarian Affairs Asia in mentoring young people who are willing to take on the challenge of making a difference in the world.
Kimberley Bates
Communications Specialist
Kimberley Bates
Communications Specialist
When you commit to a role that you love and that gives meaning, you never have to work a day in your life. For Kimberley, the opportunity to support her Humanitarian Affairs Asia family as a Communications Specialist, has given her more meaning than she could have possibly imagined. The journey with HA started for Kimberley when she was a delegate of the inaugural Peace Summit of Emerging Leaders 2018. Feeling inspired, she joined the team for the 2nd edition of the Peace Summit where she was recognised for her contribution. Kimberley is passionate about mental health and is currently planning on conducting an exploratory narrative that highlights the positive contributions made to domestic violence prevention in a cross-cultural context and turning it into a short documentary feature. Kimberley continues to serve and empower young people as she soon hopes to lead a team of bright young people to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals by establishing projects that will make a positive social impact through a Millennium Fellowship. For Kimberley, she believes that we all must “Be Kind, Have Courage and Never Stop Learning.