Our Executive Team

Abiola Ajetomobi
Abiola Ajetomobi
Abiola has more than 17 years management experience in local and state government as well as in not for-profit organisations, in Australia and overseas. She has a background in humanitarian work, business, accounting, financial services and social entrepreneurship. Abiola’s most recent qualification is a graduate certificate of management of not for profit organisations from the Australian Catholic University.
Originally from Nigeria and fluent in English and Yoruba, she brings to the ASRC a strong focus on innovation and developing processes to bring stakeholder ideas into organisational activities and decision making. In 2015 she won the Future Leader Award at the International Women’s Day Awards in the southern metropolitan region of Melbourne. Abiola’s current role with the ASRC oversees empowerment programs & services that fosters people seeking asylum‘s ability to thrive.
PROFILE
Alan White
Alan White
Some might say Alan is a little obsessed with fundraising. More than that, he is passionate about building communities of donors and connecting them to a greater cause. Alan has spent 10 years developing fundraising, marketing, development and partnership programs that enable organisations to meet their mission. His expertise is in the education, health and humanitarian sectors.
In a variety of roles, Alan has developed program activity that has seen year-on-year growth and is currently Director, Fundraising & Marketing at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, overseeing a suite of fundraising, philanthropic, institutional funding and marketing/communications programs that enables the ASRC to remain independent in its support of people seeking asylum and refugees.
Alan engages in innovative thinking, taking a data and research-driven approach to strategic decision making with professional study in non-profit management at the Australian Centre for Philanthropy. Prior to this, Alan completed undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Communications/Business and International Development.
Alan is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) the only globally recognized fundraising accreditation, sits on the Fundraising Insitute Board of Directors, on the board of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival and the Fundraising, Advocacy & Brand sub-board of Plan International’s Board.
In 2018, Alan was named one of Fundraising & Philanthropy Magazine’s “Movers and Shakers and in 2019, Alan was awarded The Innovation Index's Fundraising Innovator Award had the privilege of being named Australian Young Fundraiser of the Year at the FIA National Awards of Excellence.
PROFILE
Anastasia Magriplis
Anastasia Magriplis
Anastasia joined ASRC as the Director Advocacy and Campaigns in May 2019. After a long career in the not for profit sector in Queensland and New South Wales, she now serves as the Director of Services and Advocacy Operations. Her career has centred around workforce management and community mobilisation, with more than 30 years working to change systems and build a better community for all people. Her most recent role was Head of Volunteering for UnitingCare in Queensland, a role that managed a voluntary workforce of more than 9000 volunteers across 400 programs, and contributed more than 1.3M hours to the people UnitingCare serve.

Anastasia brings to the ASRC her experience of getting the best out of people to get the best outcomes for people seeking asylum. She is experienced at bringing the organisation's plans and aspirations to life through listening, planning and responding.

Anastasia oversees our Legal, Community Food Program, Housing Support Program and Health Clinic. Her work is focussed on supporting our extraordinary teams to deliver the best possible service to people seeking asylum. Building the case for meaningful and lasting change through the evidence of the people we support each and every day underpins the services she manages. She is driven to build momentum and appetite for cultural and systemic change in Australia so that our policies truly reflect the amazing multicultural society Australia was built on.
PROFILE
Jana Favero
Jana Favero
Jana is Director of Advocacy and Campaigns and has worked for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) for 10 years.

Jana is a regular spokesperson in breaking news on human rights and refugee policy on and offshore. She contributes comment to major publications: Fairfax and Newscorp press, ABC national and local radio and TV, The Guardian, New York Times and Al Jazeera. She is a regular keynote speaker at conferences and events on asylum policy.

With strong, varied global experience, from communications for the private sector in the UK to women’s social enterprise development in the steppe of Mongolia, to leading a campaign to increase the effectiveness and acceptance of women’s leadership in India.

Jana’s global social justice work has sharpened her social justice values and entrenched in her work a basic belief that seeking asylum is a point in someone's life – not a definition of identity.

Jana is committed to seeing through advocacy work until people seeking asylum are treated fairly in Australia.

Outside of work, Jana is a proud member of the Cloud Appreciation Society and in leisure time can be found on a flying trapeze or on a bike path with her three young children in tow.
PROFILE
Joanne Kakafikas
Joanne Kakafikas
Jo Kakafikas is currently on maternity leave, with Julie Rowan in the role of Director of Shared Business Services.

Julie Rowan joined the ASRC in February 2018 bringing over 20 years senior experience in both the government and NGO sectors. Julie began her career as a Chartered Accountant before taking on wider corporate management roles at Mary Potter Hospice, Plunket, Ministry for Women and Heritage New Zealand. Having lived and worked in New Zealand, Uk, Singapore and Australia over her career, she appreciates the need for ensuring a workplace is culturally responsive and welcoming.

As the Director of Shared Business Services at the ASRC Julie oversees finance, information and communication technologies, property services, office management, data and Occupational Health and Safety. She holds a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University, NZ, a Member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants,and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
PROFILE
Kate Mohay
Kate Mohay
Kate is the Director of Finance, and began at the ASRC in April 2020. Beginning her career as an accountant in commercial organisations, Kate quickly realised she wanted to use her skills to offer more value to the community, and sought out a career in for-benefit organisations. Kate has over 10 years experience in the not-for-profit sector mostly in Finance, but also trying her hand at Risk and Operations. She has a strong background in value creation through reporting and financial analysis, but recognises the unique nature of not-for-profits in creating value beyond the financials. Kate is a member of Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA).
PROFILE
Kon Karapanagiotidis
Kon Karapanagiotidis
CEO and Founder
"When I founded the ASRC back on the 8th of June 2001, I started with a simple vision: I wanted to create a place of hope and welcome where no one was turned away. A centre that stood for justice, that was willing to be at the coalface when and where it mattered for people. Where dreams of freedom burned brightly in the hearts of all who entered.

Many years have passed since and some great changes have been achieved, yet there is still much work to be done to create true equality for all asylum seekers. I ask you to join me in this journey. A journey where by you just opening up your heart and offering your hand in support and solidarity can change the world forever."

Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM is the CEO and founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Kon is proudly Greek, growing up in a working class family in a small country town in Victoria. Kon's personal experience of racism and witnessing the exploitation of his parents in factories planted the seeds for his passion for human rights.

Kon went on to become a lawyer, social worker, and teacher. He has been recognised as an Australian of the Year (Victoria) finalist in 2007, was invited to participate in the 2020 Summit in 2008, was voted one of Australia's 20 Unsung Heroes as part of the launch of the new Portrait Gallery in Canberra in 2008, and was voted as one of Melbourne's 100 most influential people in The Age Melbourne Magazine. Most recently, Kon was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2010 and an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2011.
PROFILE
Qutbiallam Timor
Qutbiallam Timor
Qutbiallam Timor joined the ASRC in July 2021 as the Director of Refugee Resource Hub, bringing extensive knowledge with 10 years of experience in government agencies and not-for-profit organisations, within Australia and abroad.

Qutbiallam specialises in business and organisational development, change management, community building, agricultural research, evaluation and extension. Prior to joining the ASRC, Qutbiallam worked with the City of Greater Dandenong, DHHS, Uniting, Australian Aid, and is currently a board member/Deputy of Chair of the Afghan Youth Association in Australia (AYAA). He holds a Masters in Management Studies, in addition, a Masters in International Community Development and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agricultural Studies.

Originally from Afghanistan, Qutbiallam is multilingual; fluent in Pashto (his native language) and in Dari/Persian, English, Urdu and Hindi languages. With a passion for equality and equity advocacy, he brings his lived experience into the role and to the organisation - a fundamental quality for the Refugee Resource Hub. Qutbiallam stands for empowerment and the belief that people seeking asylum deserve the opportunity to live safely and equally.
PROFILE
Robyn Stevens
Robyn Stevens
Robyn joined the ASRC in December 2019 bringing a wealth of experience in both the human resources sector and in leadership roles over the previous 18 years.

Robyn specialises in employment and industrial relations law, bringing a compliance lens to her work, along with a passion for developing people, demonstrating strong leadership and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.

Robyn recognises that workplace culture needs to be at the forefront of all strategic decision making and strives to ensure that the ASRC is a workplace where culture and strategy sit hand in hand.

As the Director of Human Resources Robyn oversees the end to end employment life cycle, including recruitment, onboarding, induction, wellbeing, performance and development.

Robyn originally joined the ASRC in 2011 for over two years as a volunteer in the Employment Program, leading her to study Immigration and Human Rights in Mexico. Robyn holds a Bachelor of International Development, a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
PROFILE
Sherrine Clark
Sherrine Clark
Sherrine Clark is a social worker and founding member of the ASRC. As the Director of Humanitarian Services, Sherrine oversees the General Access, Community Food, Health and Client Services Programs of the ASRC. Sherrine has over 15 years’ experience developing a holistic, human rights-based model of practice working with people seeking asylum. She is committed to upholding the human rights and welfare of people seeking asylum.

Before her career with the ASRC, Sherrine worked as social worker focused on mental health and family services with Isis Primary Care and Western Region Health Centre.
PROFILE