Dr Mai Tamimi

Board Chair

Mai is a community development expert having worked with refugee, migrants, and ethnic, Pacifica and Māori communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Mai arrived in Dunedin from Palestine in 2008, obtained her PhD from the University of Otago, and has been a facilitator in Middle Eastern culture and interfaith dialogues.

She is Team Leader Community Development with City Council in Ōtepoti Dunedin and was Middle Eastern Integration Coordinator from 2017 to 2018 with Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora. She has focused on the cultural wellbeing of women and youth and provided cultural and intercultural competence services. She has worked to break down stereotypes of Muslim women through her work with interfaith groups and has delivered crisis services for ethnic communities.

Mai has supported the Muslim community following the 15 March 2019 Christchurch terror attack and was a member of the Royal Commission Ministerial Advisory Group.

She has helped refugee families integrate into society, providing assistance as an interpreter and maintaining social contact with families to ensure they feel supported.

Mai was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit MZNM for services to ethnic communities in the Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours 2022.

Atarau Hamilton

Board Member

Ngati Kahungunu, Ngaa Rauru, Ngati Raukawa - He uri whakaheke o Merewaipaopao, Ngai Tamaterangi. 

Advocacy is a passion area for Atarau, he is well connected across Aotearoa working with Tangata Whenua, Iwi taketake (tribes from afar) and rangatahi (young people).

His vision is for an Aotearoa that is thriving with its rich diversity and where people know their Tūrangawaewae. He has experience in planning for both youth and community, leadership development, service design & delivery and capability-capacity building.

After starting a youth Social Enterprise which focused on providing employment pathways for the most excluded and disadvantaged rangatahi. He heavily focuses on making better tipuna (ancestor) decisions, which stands him in the posture of his forebears. This encourages him to think strategically about the future and gain insights from the past. it is through his experiences in public and private sector utilizing skills leading to a number of roles in governance. 

He now works with communities on belonging and inclusion with Tāhono, and this gives Atarau a greater oversight in purpose for his work. His ability to do this is simply by being involved in the communities he serves with his work in Ōtautahi Christchurch and across the motu (islands). He Hopes to make a greater impact with HOST International that continues to embed Te Tiriti and learn from his peers to expand his matauranga (understanding).

Hussain Shah Rezaie

Board Member

Hussain is a writer and former refugee who recently came to New Zealand through the Community Refugee Sponsorship programme. He is currently a full-time student at the University of Auckland, majoring in psychology.

David Keegan

Board Member

David is the founder of HOST International with expertise in refugee integration and community development in the Asia Pacific Region.

In 2024, David joined Excelsia College as senior lecturer and academic in Social Work and academic lead for Field Education.

As an executive leader and coach, David has been committed to creating and implementing programs and tools that enable communities and individuals to flourish.

David is now focused on educating the next generation of social workers while he pursues a PHD on the impact and opportunities of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in human services.

He is also the Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN).

Cindy Teh

Board Secretary

Cindy is a multi-skilled Marketer with experience in startups, corporates, and financial services. Currently in the final stages of an MBA, she's focused on empowering people and businesses in New Zealand.

Nimo Ahmed

Board Member

Nimo, a Somali woman, is a passionate advocate for women's rights, leadership, and inclusion, with a particular focus on refugee issues in the displacement of women and girls.

After being stranded as a refugee in Indonesia for nearly seven years, Nimo co-founded The Sisterhood, the first refugee-women-led organisation in Indonesia, providing a safe space for displaced women and girls. Her leadership has paved the way for greater visibility of refugee women, and she has represented this cause in international forums, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), APWLD (Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development) Forum.

In 2023, Nimo was resettled to Aotearoa New Zealand through the community sponsorship program, where she continues to support her organization remotely and works on advocacy strategies for displaced women. A dedicated community leader, Nimo remains committed to creating positive change and empowering marginalised voices globally.