Asma Faizi Appointed President of the Canadian Council for Refugees

The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) has appointed Asma Faizi as its new President, marking a significant leadership transition at a time of growing global displacement and increasing pressure on refugee protection systems worldwide. The appointment was confirmed during the CCR’s Annual General Meeting held in Winnipeg on November 20, 2025.

Faizi brings decades of national and international advocacy experience to the role. A former Afghan refugee herself, she has been deeply involved in refugee protection, gender equality, and newcomer integration throughout her career. Since 2008, she has served as President and Chair of the Board at the Afghan Women’s Organization Refugee and Immigrant Services, one of Canada’s leading settlement organizations.

Her election signals continuity and renewed focus for CCR as it navigates complex humanitarian, legal, and political challenges affecting refugees and asylum seekers in Canada.

A Leader with Deep Advocacy and Lived Experience

Asma Faizi is no stranger to the Canadian Council for Refugees. Prior to her election, she served as Co-Chair of the Overseas Protection and Resettlement Working Group and currently sits on the OPR Steering Committee and the Ancillary Legal Support Group under CCR’s Legal Affairs Committee.

Her work has consistently focused on protecting refugee rights, promoting equity, and strengthening Canada’s commitment to international humanitarian obligations. Faizi’s lived experience as a refugee from Afghanistan has shaped her leadership approach, grounding policy advocacy in real-world realities faced by displaced communities.

In her acceptance statement, Faizi emphasized the urgency of the moment, noting that global displacement is rising while refugee protections face increasing politicization and restriction. She highlighted CCR’s responsibility to ensure Canada continues to uphold its humanitarian values and legal commitments.

New Vice President Strengthens CCR Leadership Team

Alongside Faizi’s appointment, Basel Abou Hamrah was elected as Vice President of the Canadian Council for Refugees. A settlement practitioner with the Newcomer Centre in Edmonton, Abou Hamrah specializes in supporting LGBTQIA+ newcomers with complex immigration and settlement needs.

Originally from Syria, he arrived in Canada as a refugee in 2015 and later co-founded Rainbow Refuge, Edmonton’s first dedicated program for LGBTQIA+ newcomers. Over the past three years, he served as Co-Chair of CCR’s Inland Protection Working Group, contributing directly to national policy advocacy and community engagement.

His election reflects CCR’s continued emphasis on inclusive leadership and representation of individuals with lived refugee experience.

Why This Leadership Change Matters for Canada’s Refugee System

Faizi’s appointment comes at a critical time for Canada’s refugee framework. Rising global conflicts, record displacement levels, and increasing strain on asylum systems worldwide demand strong, principled leadership from civil society organizations.

Under Faizi’s presidency, CCR is expected to intensify its advocacy on issues such as refugee resettlement capacity, overseas protection programs, access to asylum, and safeguards against policy backsliding. Her background as both a refugee and an immigration and refugee lawyer positions her uniquely to bridge policy, law, and community realities.

The leadership transition also reinforces CCR’s role as a key national voice influencing immigration and refugee policy discussions, particularly as Canada continues to balance humanitarian commitments with broader immigration system reforms.

Asma Faizi’s election as President of the Canadian Council for Refugees represents more than a leadership change, it reflects a reaffirmation of Canada’s commitment to refugee protection, inclusion, and human rights advocacy. Supported by a strong executive team, including Vice President Basel Abou Hamrah, CCR enters this new chapter with experienced leadership grounded in lived experience, legal expertise, and decades of frontline advocacy.

As global displacement continues to rise, CCR’s work under Faizi’s leadership will play a critical role in shaping public understanding, influencing policy, and ensuring refugees in Canada are treated with dignity, fairness, and compassion. Stay informed on leadership changes, refugee policy updates, and Canada’s evolving immigration landscape, follow Canada Immigration News for timely insights and expert analysis.