AFFMA Volunteer Profiles
Libby Wright
- Start Date: 2015 – Present.
- Qualifications: Master in Human Rights.
Libby holds a Bachelor of Communication from Griffith University and a Master of Human Rights from Curtin University. She is an avid linguist and speaks five languages: English, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and Russian.
Libby is actively engaged in the community as a volunteer for several organisations that promote human rights in the Inner West.
Her belief that refugees are a severely misunderstood and underserved population in Australia and around the world led her to begin volunteering with AFFMA in 2015.
Daniel Fang: Practice Manager
- Start Date: November 2015- Present.
- Qualifications: Bachelor of Business and Commerce student.
Daniel is currently a third-year student studying a Bachelor of Business & Commerce Degree at Western Sydney University.
His hobbies include playing piano, reading and learning. Daniel also finds fulfilment in helping people in need, as such he also volunteers at Inner West Meal on Wheels.
After completing his studies, Daniel plans to pursue a career where he can utilise the skills he learnt from his degree course.
He currently volunteers at AFFMA two days a week on Monday and Wednesday.
Daniel enjoys working at AFFMA because it is giving him the opportunity to gain experience and learn new skills while also being part of a great team comprised of kind and generous people.
Erin Logie
- Start Date: October 18, 2016
- Qualifications: Bachelor Arts in Psychology and Sociology student.
Erin recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney studying psychology and sociology.
In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, swimming and spending time with her friends and family. She is passionate about mental health awareness, social justice and helping others. Erin hopes to pursue a career in which she can continue to help people in need.
She is currently volunteering at AFFMA on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Tim Su
- Start Date: September 1, 2006
- Qualifications: Bachelor of Business and Commerce student.
Tim is currently doing his third year in his studies for Bachelor of Business & Commerce. He is majoring in Accounting at Western Sydney University.
His hobbies include listening to music, reading and learning about the plight of refugees, particularly those who are in the Sydney region.
Tim volunteers at AFFMA on Monday, Thursday and Friday.
Gene Waters, Lawyer, Acting CEO, Pro bono migration agent MARN: 1685583, JP.
- Start Date: August 2016- Present.
- Qualifications: Master of Laws, LLB.
Gene currently holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a Graduate Certificate in Migration Law and Practice, and holds a registration as a community Justice of the Peace and is a registered migration agent.
He is currently undertaking a Masters of Law majoring in Crime and Justice.
Gene has a keen interest in Aboriginal justice as he is the third generation of indigenous descent. His interests also include family law, international law and employment law – all issues that tend to blend into migration law matters.
Gene is interested in immigration and social justice issues as unfortunately, we live in a society where the most vulnerable people are still not given adequate support and information in legal matters. He hopes that by raising awareness of these shortcomings, other legal professionals will offer Pro Bono assistance.
Gene currently volunteers two days a week at AFFMA.
Megan Sturges
- Start Date: Year 2013 – Present.
- Qualifications: Degree in Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Politics.
Megan Sturges is a graduate of Macquarie University where she studied economics and politics. She has a keen interest in research and plans on undertaking a Master of Research in Political Economy next year.
Megan has volunteered within the refugee sector since 2013, beginning as a LEAP refugee mentor at Macquarie University. Wanting to continue her efforts to help refugee children through education, she volunteered as a SPARK mentor, where she assisted children from refugee backgrounds with their homework.
Megan started volunteering as a newsletter contributor for AFFMA in July 2016. She joined AFFMA because of her interest in writing and her disagreements with the current policies relating to refugees and asylum seekers.
Megan hopes to see a future where Australia is no longer a part of the indefinite detention of vulnerable innocent women and children, but instead, helps those who are persecuted and in need of protection.
Vijhai Utheyan
- Start Date: September 27, 2016 – Present
- Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice – UNSW
Vijhai Utheyan was born to Sri Lankan Tamil migrants who migrated to Australia, fleeing persecution in their home country. Coming from a refugee background, he has been involved in the refugee sector for some years.
From a young age, Vijhai has been involved in local Tamil youth groups which have conducted activities with refugee children. He has also been a youth ambassador for Chilout, a group advocating the release of children from detention centres, a member of the sub-committee for the Blue Mountains Refugee Group. Vijhai currently works for an NGO called All Together Now which promotes racial equality through education and aims to erase racism from Australian society.
Now a law student at the University of Technology Sydney, Vijhai hopes to focus on human rights issue with a specific interest in refugees and asylum seekers.
Cassandra Campbell
- Start Date: May 2017
- Qualifications: Lawyer, J.D., L.L.M, and a Degree in International Studies from the University of Sydney.
Cassandra is a lawyer and migration agent. She graduated with a Juris Doctor, Masters Degree, from the University of New South Wales in 2015 and has a Bachelor of International Studies from the University of Sydney. Cassandra was admitted as a lawyer in May 2016, and became a migration agent in May 2017. She has experience in immigration law, property law and wills and estates.
Previous Volunteers
- Holly Zhu
- Jessica Bi
- Jessica Smith
- Reem Alan
- Daniel Jaszczyk
- Christopher Dart
- Renee Lim
- Yasmin Ayer
- Diana Lamber
- Corey Cheow
- Bibiana Chan
- Cinia Lazatin
- Christina Jeong
- Eva Punruckvong
