Our people | The Centre

Professor Mary Ana McGlasson

Executive Director, Centre for Humanitarian Leadership

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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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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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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Manny Maung

Manager, Influencing and Engagement

Manny Maung is Manager, Influencing and Engagement at the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership. She brings more than 15 years of experience in human rights and humanitarian policy, research and advocacy, with a focus on localisation, civil society, and women-led responses to conflict and humanitarian emergencies.

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Brooke Giacomin

Manager, Narrative and Engagement

Brooke has more than a decade of experience working in international development, and Australia's cultural sector, and specialises in designing communications frameworks that align governance, strategy and ethical storytelling.

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Ashfaq Ali Yacoob Ali

Manager, Operations and Programs

Ashfaq leads research programs and operations across the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership and the Deakin Initiative for Humanitarian Action. He builds the systems, governance frameworks and partnerships that let researchers and practitioners do their best work.

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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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Dr Julia Hartelius

Research Fellow

Julia brings over a decade of experience in the humanitarian sector, with recognised expertise in accountability, governance, and the political dimensions of evidence and decision-making.

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Pariya Danaei

Crisis Leadership Program Officer

Pariya brings to the centre her background from across humanitarian education, community development, and capacity building; with experience across UNHCR, Relief International, and Basic Rights Queensland.

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