Our Leadership Team

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
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 13 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
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
Ogy Simic
Ogy Simic
Since arriving in Australia as a refugee when he was 11 years old, Ogy has trained as a lawyer and has worked in a range of campaigning and advocacy roles to promote diversity, inclusion and human rights. He has worked as a campaigner at every level - from grassroots community organising, for federal parliamentarians, as a board member of non-for-profit organisations and an elected representative himself having served as a local government councillor at the City of Port Phillip for four years. With a deep seated belief in the power of movements, Ogy is committed to people driven change - ordinary people pushing beyond their comfort zone, mobilising and volunteering to achieve real and lasting change. Ogy has served as the chair of the City of Port Phillip Multicultural Advisory Committee and has sat on the Board of one of Victoria's largest community housing providers. With a deep seated belief in the power of movements, Ogy is committed to people driven change - ordinary people pushing beyond their comfort zone, mobilising and volunteering to achieve real and lasting change. Ogy speaks three languages and is a past recipient of a Young Citizen of the Year award. He has extensive experience in governance, project management, campaigning and advocacy.
PROFILE
Camille Walles
Camille Walles
As Head of Program Quality and Impact, Camille leads a talented team working to embed continuous improvement and better practice across the ASRC's Community Portfolio. She has the privilege of partnering with the ASRC's incredible frontline and advocacy programs to strengthen the foundations of our practice; capture and communicate the impact we create, and embed a culture of evidence-based learning, planning and reflection to help us all thrive in our work. Camille is passionate about strengthening the ASRC's human rights-based approach and promoting justice, equity and inclusion for people seeking asylum in Australia.
PROFILE
Angela Taylor
Angela Taylor
ngela is ASRC's Chief Financial Officer and joined the organisation in mid 2023. She brings a wealth of experience from both the corporate and for purpose sector, having worked in the education and international development sector. Angela prides herself with building strong teams and developing impactful relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve optimum business outcomes. Angela's focus at the ASRC is financial sustainability and supporting the business to direct funding to where it is most impactful. Angela is a Certified Practising Accountant and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
PROFILE
Hannah Dickinson
Hannah Dickinson
Hannah is the Principal Solicitor and Head of Legal at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, joining in 2022 to lead ASRC’s work to ensure access to justice for refugees and people seeking asylum. She is an LIV Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law with over a decade’s experience across private, government and community legal practice, with particular expertise in complex cases, merits review, detention, legal reform, and litigation. She regularly delivers legal education to practitioners and to the community. Hannah is also the Secretary of Liberty Victoria, and the Chair of the Visa Cancellations Working Group. She was recognised as one of Australasian Lawyers’ Most Influential Lawyers 2023.
PROFILE
Flor Sedighi
Flor Sedighi
Flor is a seasoned professional with over 7 years of dedicated service at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), where she holds the position of Director of Refugee Business. With a strong foundation in both corporate and non-profit sectors, she brings a wealth of global experience to her role. Flor's passion for humanitarian work is evident in her strategic management of social enterprises, where she focuses on social impact and empowerment to facilitate the successful integration of people seeking asylum and refugees to the community. Her leadership within the ASRC’s Social Enterprises is marked by an innovative approach that highlights the potential of each individual she works with. Flor's strategic mindset and deep understanding of social enterprises make her a key player in driving positive change. Flor's commitment to her cause is unwavering, evident in her efforts to forge partnerships, advocate for policy changes, and utilise her business acumen to enhance social impact. Her legacy is characterised by resilience, empathy, and determination, impacting the lives of individuals and the broader humanitarian landscape. As a visionary leader, Flor inspires others to join her in creating a brighter, more inclusive future for everyone.
PROFILE