Our people | The Centre

Associate Professor Mary Ana McGlasson

Director

Mary Ana is a global education and humanitarian leader with over two decades of experience designing and scaling equitable programs across more than 30 countries.

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Associate Professor Max Kelly

Associate Director of Research and Learning

Max Kelly is an Associate Professor of Humanitarianism and Development at Deakin University, Australia.

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Sara Sinada

Manager, Operations and Programs

Sara is a humanitarian specialist with more than 15 years of experience working across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific with organisations including the United Nations, the World Bank, and international NGOs.

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Catherine Johnston

Manager, Business Development

Catherine has more than 25 years of international experience leading large-scale education, governance, and humanitarian programs across Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.

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Simran Chahal

Operations Coordinator

Simran joined the Centre in 2025 where she she coordinates the operations of the Centre, including human resources, finance, logistics and compliance.

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Perla Escalon

Crisis Leadership Program Coordinator

Perla Escalon is professional with a comprehensive background in crisis leadership, mental health support, and program coordination.

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Jessica Plummer

Senior Communications Advisor

Jessica is an global communications specialist with more than a decade of experience working in the international development and humanitarian sector.

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