about
HOST International is the parent charity for all HOST operations. The Australian board is therefore ultimately accountable for all HOST activities and defers to local boards for local strategic oversight and direction.
The following are the directors of the Australian Charity, followed by local leaders and board members who provides important local context and direction.
Australian Board
HOST International is the parent charity for all HOST operations. The Australian board is therefore ultimately accountable for all HOST activities and defers to local boards for local strategic oversight and direction. The following are directors of the Australian Charity.
David Keegan
Managing Director/CEO
David is the founder and CEO of HOST International with expertise in refugee settlement and community development in Australia and abroad.
Evan Jones
Director
Evan is an expert in refugee policy in Asia Pacific and is currently the Coordinator of the Asian Displacement Solutions Platform in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Tye Gerrard
Director
Tye is the Vice President of Investment Banking at Macquarie Group and is an active mentor of new Australians seeking to enter the workforce. He brings expertise in finance and business systems.
HOST International also participates in the Westpac Board observer program which enables staff in Westpac and Minter Ellison to get experience as directors. As part of the program we receive support through Westpac and Minter Ellison pro bono programs. This support has been valuable to the development of HOST and been a great support to the board.
Kaylene Dawson
Company Secretary
Kaylene has a diverse background in legal, governance, commercial and non-profit advisory roles, and provides advice and support to the HOST International board on governance matters.
David Wilden
Director
David Wilden is head of David Wilden Consulting, which he established after more than 20 years in a range of senior executive positions in the Australian Public Service.
New Zealand Board
In New Zealand HOST operates as a locally registered Charity called HOST International NZ. In addition to David Keegan as the Chair, the following are Directors of the NZ charity
Mitchell Pham ONZM
Director
Mitchell is a former refugee and accomplished business leader in the NZ tech industry. He is a philanthropist and a Founding Managing Director of Augen Software in Auckland, NZ.
Dr Mai Tamimi MNZM
Director
Mai is a community development expert having worked with refugee and Maori communities in NZ. She current works for Dunedin Council in NZ.
Malaysian Board
In Malaysia, HOST operates under a local foundation called HOST International Foundation Malaysia. In addition to David Keegan as the Chair, the following are Directors of the Malaysian charity.
Vivienne Chew
Director
Vivienne is an expert in refugee protection and an advocate for alternatives to detention in immigration policy. She is currently a policy director in the International Detention Coalition.
Datok Raj Abdul Karim
Director
Datok Raj is an accomplished Human Rights advocate and an expert in child protection and child rights. She is the current Director of MKKM a child rights service in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Thailand
In Thailand, HOST operates under the local foundation called HOST International Foundation Thailand with a locally appointed board.
Amanda Koo
Director
Amanda is the Head of Legal (Australia) at Binance. She is passionate about increasing technology education, adoption and accessibility in refugee communities.
K. Laddawan Tanivitayapitak
Foundation President
Laddawan Tantivitayapitak was the former Secretary General of the Law Reform Commission of Thailand and former Vice Chairperson of Political Development Council.
Presently she is the Chairperson of Thai Allied Committee with Desegregated Burma Foundation (TACDB)
K. Juraiporn Tatipranithap
Director and Secretary
After obtaining her degree in law, Miss Juraiphon Tatipranitep amassed a commendable 22 years of experience in the legal sphere. Presently, she serves as a legal consultant at AgriPure Holding Public Company Limited, where her expertise contributes significantly to the company's operations.
K. Somchai Homlaor
Foundation Vice President
Somchai Homlaor, a key figure in Thailand's human rights sector, has been active for over 40 years. He is the founder and Secretary-General of the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF), as well as founder of the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF)
K. Wipada Chaisu
Director & Treasurer
Wipada Chaisu currently serves as Finance Manager at the Human Rights and Dovelopment Foundation (HRDF) in Thailand. HRDF’s objectives are to promote, support, provide knowledge, assist, and protect migrants and labour to access human rights and democracy by policy advocacy and employing legal proceedings in the context of social change, diversity, and social development of the region.
K. Teppawan Pornawalal
Director
Teppawan was formerly the Deputy Director-General for Department of Children and Youth and Inspector General of Minister of Social Development and Human Security, the Royal Thai Government .
Indonesia
In Indonesia we operate through a partnership with SUAKA while we establish a local foundation
