With over 30 years of experience in human rights, social, and political development, Mrs. Samar Haj Hassan has worked across both public and private sectors, both nationally and internationally.

Specialising in international business and marketing from the American University of Switzerland, she has been instrumental in strategic planning for family, youth, and women in Jordan. Mrs. Haj Hassan has chaired the Royal Committee for the Modernization of the Political System and served as an advisor to organizations like UNIFEM, USAID-Jordan, and the World Bank.

A committed advocate for women, youth, and family welfare, she plays a significant role in Jordan’s political and electoral landscape.

Faso is the APF's Gender Equality and Capacity Development Manager. She previously managed the APF’s work in the Pacific region to support the establishment of NHRIs and support existing NHRIs to strengthen their institutional capacity. She also leads the delivery of the APF Gender Strategy as the APF’s Gender Focal Point and has co-facilitated national trainings on women’s and girls’ human rights.

Before joining the APF, Faso was Director of Advocacy at the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) where she oversaw the development of human rights awareness projects and advocacy efforts of the institution.

In addition to her training and advocacy experience, Faso has developed academic and professional expertise through two human rights fellowships. In 2013, she was the recipient of a three-month NHRI Fellowship with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in Lund, Sweden, and in 2014 she took up a place in the year-long Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program in Minnesota, United States.

In her role as Project Officer, Nayela works on a range of APF programs, including the Inter-Governmental Mechanism (IGM) Project, an initiative funded by the European Union that aims to foster strong partnerships between NHRIs in South-East Asia and the Pacific and regional human rights bodies.

Before joining the APF, Nayela was a human rights advocate in Bangladesh, where she worked with Nari Progati Shangha, a leading women’s rights organisation. She later expanded her advocacy to include refugee rights, climate change, and disaster risk reduction during her time with HELVETAS, a Swiss organisation. Her work has consistently focused on protecting and promoting the rights of women, migrants, and refugees.

Pip has served the APF since its establishment in 1996 in various capacities, including Deputy Director, Principal Adviser, Capacity Assessments and International Engagement, and now Principal Adviser, APF Leadership Services.

In this role, Pip directs the capacity assessment, capacity assessment review, high-level dialogues (HLD) and leadership outreach programmes that deliver expert advisory services to APF’s members and prospective members.

Pip has had 30 years’ experience working in human rights and with NHRIs. Prior to the APF, she held positions within the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) in the areas of corporate services, investigation and conciliation, public education and human rights policy. Prior to the AHRC, Pip worked at the Federal Special Minister of State and at various independent Commissions, including the Constitutional Commission.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Politics and History, from the University of Sydney.

Thuy is the APF’s Chief Operating Officer. With over 19 years-experience working with NHRIs, with a focus in the Asia-Pacific region, Thuy is committed to seeking and enabling collaboration, and fostering partnerships to enhance the role and impact of the APF.

Thuy holds bachelor’s degrees in social sciences and international relations, both from the University of Technology, Sydney. Having endured five years of her young life as a refugee, Thuy values the inherent diversity of all human beings and is ardently dedicated to seeking equality and fairness.

If she could have one superpower, it would be to understand and speak all the languages of the world.

Susan joined the APF in January 2023 as Finance Officer. With over 15 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, she oversees the APF’s internal and external financial accounting and reporting, manages budgets and forecasts, and maintains financial systems.

Susan holds qualifications in accounting and not-for-profit governance. She is passionate about advocating for eye health, particularly macular disease. In her spare time, she enjoys post-impressionist art and long beach walks.

For the past 25 years, Kieren has overseen the strategic direction of the APF, which has grown from six founding members to 25 NHRIs across the Asia Pacific. An experienced senior leader, Kieren works closely with the APF Chairperson, member institutions, and secretariat staff to achieve the APF’s objectives of supporting its members to protect and promote human rights.Prior to the APF Kieren worked at the Australian Human Rights Commission and in the university sector and trade union movement.

Kieren has a passion for justice and equality and is a strong advocate and believer in the role of NHRIs. He has qualifications in law, philosophy and social science. Kieren’s hobby is music, and he plays guitar.

Born and raised in Indonesia, Fia’s professional career has spanned human rights law, international development, and the humanitarian sector in the Asia Pacific region. Fia has worked with community legal centres as a graduate lawyer specialising in administrative law, civil law, race discrimination, police accountability, and prisoners' rights.

In her current role as Human Rights Defenders Project Officer at the APF, Fia is responsible for strengthening the capacity of NHRIs to promote and protect human rights defenders.

Previously, Fia has completed several of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (formerly AusAID) development and humanitarian projects in Indonesia and Timor Leste, and worked as a Vulnerable People in Emergencies Project Officer with the Australian Red Cross during the Black Summer bushfires in 2019/20. She was also a legal assistance consultant for the Capital Punishment Justice Project (CPJP) and is currently a PhD Candidate at the Melbourne Law School.

As Communications and Networking Officer, Amy’s role involves sharing and promoting the work of NHRIs and managing strategic communications for the APF. She also collaborates with members of the APF Communications Network.

Amy has a strong commitment to social justice, with a background in current affairs journalism and international development. She believes that communicating consistently with communities, media, government and partner organisations is critical for protecting and promoting human rights.

Amy holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in journalism, communications and international development. In her spare time, she can be found pursuing her passions for photography, writing, yoga and dance.

Jelena is an organisational development professional with experience in the management of non-profit organisations. She has more than ten years of experience working for non-profits across Council of Europe member states. At the APF, Jelena’s role is to help run operations and establish and maintain partnerships in the Asia Pacific region.

Jelena completed her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Serbia, specialising in adult education, and obtained a master's degree in social sciences with a thesis in Human Rights Education at the London Metropolitan University in the UK.

Before coming to Australia and joining the APF, Jelena was professionally engaged in an international non-governmental organisation located in Brussels, Belgium dealing with Human Rights Education and focussing on organisational development, fundraising, and partnerships.

Jelena is passionate about social justice and a strong believer in the power of communities. When not working, Jelena enjoys speciality coffee and experimenting with her camera.

Phillip oversees the APF’s program on international accreditation with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights institutions (GANHRI) and represents the APF as the regional network observer on GANHRI’s subcommittee on accreditation. Phillip also leads the APF’s advisory program on national legislation to establish NHRIs. In this capacity, he provides technical support and policy advice to NHRIs and governments across the Asia Pacific region.

Prior to joining the APF, Phillip worked in headquarters and field roles with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and held legal and other senior advisory positions at the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, and the State Department of Justice in New South Wales (Australia).

Phillip holds a Bachelor of Arts and Laws (with first-class honours) from Macquarie University, a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, and an Asia Pacific Master of Human Rights and Democratisation from the University of Sydney, where he was a European Union Scholar and an Australian Endeavour Research Fellow at the Centre of the Study for Human Rights at the University of Colombo.

Phillip is passionate about protecting the natural environment and inspired by the beauty of the Australian bush. When not working for the APF, he spends as much time as possible in his cabin on Wiradjuri country in the mountains west of Sydney, where he bushwalks, makes cheese, and volunteers with his local Landcare association.