Mitchell is a Vietnamese-Kiwi business and social entrepreneur who came to NZ as a refugee at age 13. He is a Co-founder, Director, Board member, head of Marketing and International Development of the Augen Software Group, as well as Chairman of its operation in Asia and head of its iHDSS (Integrated Health-Disability-social Services) business in New Zealand.

Kaaren Hiyama is a librarian, writer and researcher. She has been a trustee since 2012 and continues to be inspired by ARFT's ability to make a simple and immediate difference to the health and happiness of refugees in Auckland.

Viv joined the Trust as treasurer in 2016. She has previously worked in various accounting and administration roles and is finding the Trust work rewarding and stimulating. 

She would love to have more funds available to help reunite more families!

Samantha Blackley is a television producer who spent five years producing the TVNZ1 series, Neighbourhood, which celebrated diversity in communities throughout New Zealand. During the course of the series, Sam was privileged to share some extraordinary stories of former refugees now living in New Zealand which sparked her desire to help the wonderful work that the Trust does.

Maria was born in Germany and came to New Zealand four years ago after she fell in love with our beautiful country. She works as Social Media Manager International for Air New Zealand and looks after the social media presence of our Trust.

Amanda was born in Myanmar/Burma and moved to Aotearoa 23 years ago. She has worked with refugee-background communities in NZ as well as overseas for the past two decades. Most recently, she worked for NZ Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent (IFRC) in the field of Migration. Currently, she works at Ministry of Education in a refugee migrant support role in Auckland.