July 22, 2021 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) UK is pleased to announce the appointment of three new Trustees to its UK Board.
The primary focus of the Board is on growing and improving the support that IRC clients receive. To this end, Board members work closely with IRC UK’s leaders in setting strategic direction in areas such as fundraising, advocacy, communication and on technical oversight of programmes.
The new Trustees will bring a wealth of expertise in conflict and displacement, and humanitarian and development issues, from decades of experience in government, finance and digital communications Two of the Trustees also bring passion and lived experience from their own experience growing up in migrant communities and in civil war contexts. Their passion and expertise are highly welcome as humanitarian needs are currently on the rise around the world.
We warmly welcome the following new Trustees to the IRC UK Board:
- Najwa Al Abdallah, Director of Corporate Services at Money Advice Trust
- Rt Hon Alistair Burt, Former Minister of State for the Middle East at the FCO and former Minister of State for DFID
- Huey Nhan-O’Reilly, Head of Production at Fat Beehive
Dr Titilola Banjoko, Chair, International Rescue Committee UK, comments:
“I am delighted to welcome Najwa, Alistair and Huey to the International Rescue Committee UK Board”
“Together they bring invaluable experience from their respective lives and careers, as we galvanise our efforts to support people affected by the devastating impact of conflict, economic turmoil caused by Covid, and climate change. Their insights and direction will be ideal for the next stage of the International Rescue Committee UK’s journey.”
Najwa Al Abdallah, who grew up in a small village in Lebanon in poverty, during the civil war, and who has since built over 20 years’ experience working for several international NGOs around the world, overseeing finance, HR, IT and compliance and risk management, said:
“I am thrilled to be joining IRC UK’s Board at this crucial time.”
“Humanitarian needs are significantly increasing around the world, and IRC’s work is needed more than ever. I look forward to working with the team, as we support people whose lives have been devastated by conflict and disaster.”.
Rt Hon Alistair Burt, who is currently the UK’s Commissioner on the International Commission for Missing Persons, a treaty-based organisation in The Hague, said:
“In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, rising hunger and record levels of displacement, the work of IRC UK has never been more urgent than it is now. I am honoured to be joining the Board at this time and look forward to working with fellow Board members, as we respond to some of the world's worst crises, delivering aid that saves lives while paving the way for long-term recovery.”
Huey Nhan-O’Reilly, who has over 25 years’ experience in digital services in the charity sector, and who himself grew up in the migrant communities of Melbourne after fleeing Vietnam on a boat with his family, said:
“IRC UK’s work to restore health, safety, education and economic wellbeing to people devastated by conflict and disaster is inspirational. I am hugely excited to start working with fellow Trustees as we seek to grow our work supporting displaced people around the world and develop our programmes to support refugees in the UK.”