Who we are
Our mission, vision and history
Our mission
Our vision
For those affected by trauma and those who support them, Hagar is an expert in care and recovery.
When healing happens, the cycle of trauma stops.
Our Values
Integrity: We commit to act ethically and honestly, striving to do the right thing at all times and in all circumstances.
Compassion: We want compassion and kindness to be evident in our attitude, communication and in active, practical ways.
Excellence: We hold ourselves to high standards, listening and learning from those we support, our partners and each other, to continuously improve all that we do.
Our history
Hagar was founded in 1994 in response to the prevalence of extreme domestic and community violence affecting women and children in post-civil war Cambodia. In 2008, Hagar began operations in Afghanistan to support women and children facing the worst forms of gender-based violence and human trafficking. The following year, Hagar established an office in Vietnam to care for women who were affected by the growing magnitude of exploitation and abuse. More recently, Hagar began delivering programmes for women through our support office in Singapore, and we are partnering with organisations in Myanmar to increase their capacity to provide Trauma-Informed Care .
With 25 years of experience, Hagar has transformed into an internationally renowned leader in recovery services for survivors of human trafficking, slavery and abuse.
The Hagar story
The Hebrew name Hagar means “one who flees” or “one who seeks refuge.” The story of Hagar and her son, Ishmael, is the story of millions of exploited, abused, and trafficked women and children.
In around 2000 BC, Hagar worked in a foreign land as a domestic servant for a rich man called Abraham and his wife, Sarah. Sarah was unable to bear children and, following a common practice of the time, Sarah offered her servant to Abraham. When Hagar became pregnant, Sarah grew jealous and threw her out of their home. An angel found Hagar alone in the desert. He promised a blessing on her child, naming him Ishmael, which means “God hears.” In response Hagar declared: “You are the One who sees me.” The story of Hagar is known to many faiths including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Hagar is committed to providing sanctuary and hope to women and children like Hagar and Ishmael, walking the whole journey with each one.
Our people
Phil Badger
Board Chairman, Hagar International
Phil has a strong grounding in the financial sector, which has formed the basis of a broad commercial business career. He is currently a professional director, chairman and investor, with interests in a range of industries such as construction, wholesale and distribution, horticulture and import/export. Phil’s passion for business development, combined with extensive senior management experience, allows him to successfully tailor governance, organisational capability, and strategic management solutions for Hagar’s operations. Phil’s passion for supporting charities is demonstrated in his numerous Chairman and Board commitments to Charitable Trusts.
Phil Badger
Board Chairman, Hagar International
Phil has a strong grounding in the financial sector, which has formed the basis of a broad commercial business career. He is currently a professional director, chairman and investor, with interests in a range of industries such as construction, wholesale and distribution, horticulture and import/export. Phil’s passion for business development, combined with extensive senior management experience, allows him to successfully tailor governance, organisational capability, and strategic management solutions for Hagar’s operations. Phil’s passion for supporting charities is demonstrated in his numerous Chairman and Board commitments to Charitable Trusts.
Dr. Andrew Catford
CEO, Hagar International
Andrew has extensive experience in the international development sector having lived and worked for over 20 years in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, the Middle East and South America. He has a proven track record of leading organizations to grow and tangibly impact the lives of vulnerable children, youth, men and women. Andrew has worked for non-governmental organizations including World Vision and Build On and for the consulting company Hassall GHD, successfully securing and implementing large scale international development projects for a wide variety of donors. Andrew has 10 years’ experience as a Country Director in Senegal and the Solomon Islands, and he has been a Board Member of the Solomon Islands Development Services Exchange and Board Chair of the microfinance institution Vision Fund. Andrew holds a PhD focused on effective community development approaches in Vietnam and he has also been a master’s degree lecturer at RMIT University, Melbourne, in the courses of project design, monitoring, evaluation and gender, subjects he has a strong passion for.
Dr. Andrew Catford
CEO, Hagar International
Andrew has extensive experience in the international development sector having lived and worked for over 20 years in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, the Middle East and South America. He has a proven track record of leading organizations to grow and tangibly impact the lives of vulnerable children, youth, men and women. Andrew has worked for non-governmental organizations including World Vision and Build On and for the consulting company Hassall GHD, successfully securing and implementing large scale international development projects for a wide variety of donors. Andrew has 10 years’ experience as a Country Director in Senegal and the Solomon Islands, and he has been a Board Member of the Solomon Islands Development Services Exchange and Board Chair of the microfinance institution Vision Fund. Andrew holds a PhD focused on effective community development approaches in Vietnam and he has also been a master’s degree lecturer at RMIT University, Melbourne, in the courses of project design, monitoring, evaluation and gender, subjects he has a strong passion for.
Geetha Yoga
COO, Hagar International
Geetha has an extensive management experience with a background spanning finance, HR, operations, governance, and IT management. Following a successful career in the Australian Banking and Finance sector, which spanned over 16 years, Geetha transitioned to senior corporate services roles in the not-for-profit sector. She has also served in several board positions and is currently a board member of the Mandala Foundation. Geetha comes to Hagar with an impressive track record of driving sound operational and strategic business outcomes for the organisations she has worked for, including the ANZ Bank International Division, and NGOs working in aged care, children, youth, and family.
Geetha Yoga
COO, Hagar International
Geetha has an extensive management experience with a background spanning finance, HR, operations, governance, and IT management. Following a successful career in the Australian Banking and Finance sector, which spanned over 16 years, Geetha transitioned to senior corporate services roles in the not-for-profit sector. She has also served in several board positions and is currently a board member of the Mandala Foundation. Geetha comes to Hagar with an impressive track record of driving sound operational and strategic business outcomes for the organisations she has worked for, including the ANZ Bank International Division, and NGOs working in aged care, children, youth, and family.
Makara Vong
Executive Director, Hagar Cambodia
Makara has more than 17 years’ experience in NGOs working with organisations including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Education International, and World Vision International. In his current role with Hagar, Makara works with staff globally to develop and implement best-practice programme management cycle and roll out the cloud-based Client Management System (CMS) to other Programme Offices after successfully piloted in Cambodia. Makara has experience in stakeholder relations including government and NGO partnerships (USAID, UN Trust Funds, SIDA, DFAT, and DFID) as well as donors in local, national, and international contexts.
Makara Vong
Quality Assurance Manager, Hagar International
Makara has more than 17 years’ experience in NGOs working with organisations including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Education International, and World Vision International. In his current role with Hagar, Makara works with staff globally to develop and implement best-practice programme management cycle and roll out the cloud-based Client Management System (CMS) to other Programme Offices after successfully piloted in Cambodia. Makara has experience in stakeholder relations including government and NGO partnerships (USAID, UN Trust Funds, SIDA, DFAT, and DFID) as well as donors in local, national, and international contexts.
Carol Mortensen
Executive Director, Hagar Vietnam
With 18 years living and working in Asia, Carol has fulfilled the roles of country director of international NGOs and independent regional consultant. Previously, Carol was Country Director of Save the Children Australia in Cambodia for almost 6 years before she established ChildFund Cambodia in 2007 on behalf of ChildFund Australia. Under her direction, ChildFund and Save the Children were awarded 6 medals by the Government of Cambodia in recognition of contributions in the development sector. After finishing her role with ChildFund, Carol provided consulting services for a diverse range of clients such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia), UNICEF, OXFAM, The Asia Foundation, Save the Children International, and Child Helpline Cambodia. Carol relocated from Phnom Penh to Hanoi in 2017 to take up the role of Executive Director of Hagar in Vietnam.
Carol Mortensen
Executive Director, Hagar Vietnam
With 18 years living and working in Asia, Carol has fulfilled the roles of country director of international NGOs and independent regional consultant. Previously, Carol was Country Director of Save the Children Australia in Cambodia for almost 6 years before she established ChildFund Cambodia in 2007 on behalf of ChildFund Australia. Under her direction, ChildFund and Save the Children were awarded 6 medals by the Government of Cambodia in recognition of contributions in the development sector. After finishing her role with ChildFund, Carol provided consulting services for a diverse range of clients such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia), UNICEF, OXFAM, The Asia Foundation, Save the Children International, and Child Helpline Cambodia. Carol relocated from Phnom Penh to Hanoi in 2017 to take up the role of Executive Director of Hagar in Vietnam.
Christiana Chundusu
Acting Executive Director, Hagar Afghanistan
Christiana is a development practitioner with more than 20 years cumulative work experience across multiple practice areas (youth empowerment and economic education, health systems strengthening/governance, capacity building, conflict/gendered sensitive approaches to peace and reconciliation).
She previously served as the Programme Development Manager for Hagar Afghanistan; prior to joining Hagar; Christiana had served as Northern Regional Coordinator for Junior Achievement Nigeria, Technical Specialist with Abt Associates Inc. for a DFID funded health systems strengthening and governance project where she provided support to government in hard to reach and resources scarce settings to improve maternal health services. She managed efforts to ensure effective planning, and budgeting for malaria control and coordination across various sectors of government in 10 states of Nigeria as a Capacity Building Manager with Malaria Consortium on the Support to National Malaria Programme in Nigeria (SuNMaP)
Christiana has extensive experience in project management consulting and working with institutional donors and private foundations. She is trained in Trauma Healing, Group Therapy and Story Based approaches to healing victims of abuse and trauma.
She holds a Masters in International Management from the University of Liverpool with a focus on Organisational Learning and Knowledge Management and is enrolled in doctoral research in Peace Building.
Christiana Chundusu
Acting Executive Director, Hagar Afghanistan
Christiana is a development practitioner with more than 20 years cumulative work experience across multiple practice areas (youth empowerment and economic education, health systems strengthening/governance, capacity building, conflict/gendered sensitive approaches to peace and reconciliation).
She previously served as the Programme Development Manager for Hagar Afghanistan; prior to joining Hagar; Christiana had served as Northern Regional Coordinator for Junior Achievement Nigeria, Technical Specialist with Abt Associates Inc. for a DFID funded health systems strengthening and governance project where she provided support to government in hard to reach and resources scarce settings to improve maternal health services. She managed efforts to ensure effective planning, and budgeting for malaria control and coordination across various sectors of government in 10 states of Nigeria as a Capacity Building Manager with Malaria Consortium on the Support to National Malaria Programme in Nigeria (SuNMaP)
Christiana has extensive experience in project management consulting and working with institutional donors and private foundations. She is trained in Trauma Healing, Group Therapy and Story Based approaches to healing victims of abuse and trauma.
She holds a Masters in International Management from the University of Liverpool with a focus on Organizational Learning and Knowledge Management and is enrolled in doctoral research in Peace Building.
Michael Chiam
Executive Director, Hagar Singapore
Michael joined Hagar Singapore as Executive Director in 2013, after spending more than 14 years serving in the international humanitarian sector. No stranger to global poverty issues and social injustice in the developing world, Michael brings extensive programme and executive experience having provided direct oversight to numerous global development projects in about 25 countries worldwide.
Michael Chiam
Executive Director, Hagar Singapore
Michael joined Hagar Singapore as Executive Director in 2013, after spending more than 14 years serving in the international humanitarian sector. No stranger to global poverty issues and social injustice in the developing world, Michael brings extensive programme and executive experience having provided direct oversight to numerous global development projects in about 25 countries worldwide.
Don Lord
Executive Director, Hagar New Zealand
Don has invested 23 years in humanitarian work and is deeply driven by the fact that he can help change the future for exploited and marginalised survivors of severe abuse. After a teaching career, Don became Territory Manager for the South Island for nearly 12 years with World Vision New Zealand. After this, Don took up a three-year appointment as Director of Children in Crisis with World Vision International Mongolia. Don established Hagar New Zealand in 2008 and has been Executive Director since then.
Don Lord
Executive Director, Hagar New Zealand
Don has invested 23 years in humanitarian work and is deeply driven by the fact that he can help change the future for exploited and marginalised survivors of severe abuse. After a teaching career, Don became Territory Manager for the South Island for nearly 12 years with World Vision New Zealand. After this, Don took up a three-year appointment as Director of Children in Crisis with World Vision International Mongolia. Don established Hagar New Zealand in 2008 and has been Executive Director since then.
Mike Nowlin
Executive Director, Hagar USA
Mike brings 20 years’ social work experience in child and family protection, and mental health service provision to his role as Hagar USA’s Executive Director. He previously work for three years in the Hagar Cambodia program office, where he most recently served as the Executive Director. He and his family repatriated to the USA in mid-2017 to lead the Hagar USA office. Prior to moving to Cambodia in 2013, Mike served as an Associate Director of Performance Improvement in Ohio’s largest public child protection system from 2008-2013. He is very passionate about Hagar’s core work of ensuring human rights abuse survivors have access to high quality trauma recovery services.
Mike Nowlin
Executive Director, Hagar USA
Mike brings 20 years’ social work experience in child and family protection, and mental health service provision to his role as Hagar USA’s Executive Director. He previously worked for three years in the Hagar Cambodia program office, where he most recently served as the Executive Director. He and his family repatriated to the USA in mid-2017 to lead the Hagar USA office. Prior to moving to Cambodia in 2013, Mike served as an Associate Director of Performance Improvement in Ohio’s largest public child protection system from 2008-2013. He is very passionate about Hagar’s core work of ensuring human rights abuse survivors have access to high quality trauma recovery services.
Melissa Petros
Executive Director, Hagar Hong Kong
Melissa has worked in public service and international development over the past 15 years, including more than ten years in Asia. Melissa established Hagar Hong Kong in 2013 and has been the Executive Director since then. Previously, Melissa was the Industry and Corporate Relations Manager for the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, and also spent three years working in Bangkok at the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree in International Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy from New York University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.
Melissa Petros
Executive Director, Hagar Hong Kong
Melissa has worked in public service and international development over the past 15 years, including more than ten years in Asia. Melissa established Hagar Hong Kong in 2013 and has been the Executive Director since then. Previously, Melissa was the Industry and Corporate Relations Manager for the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, and also spent three years working in Bangkok at the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree in International Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy from New York University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.
Jo Pride
Executive Director, Hagar Australia
Jo is a member of the Australian Government’s Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery, and also sits on the Board of AMES Australia, an organisation which helps newly arrived migrants and refugees settle in Australia. These leadership roles build on more than a decade working in international development and human rights, including as Head of Policy and Advocacy at Oxfam Australia. Past roles have given Jo opportunities to work with some inspirational public figures, including as an adviser to former Senator Natasha Stott Despoja in the Australian Parliament, and as an Associate to the Honourable Justice Margaret Nyland in the Supreme Court of South Australia. A former lawyer, Jo has received academic awards for constitutional law and her Honours thesis.
Jo Pride
Executive Director, Hagar Australia
Jo is a member of the Australian Government’s Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery, and also sits on the Board of AMES Australia, an organisation which helps newly arrived migrants and refugees settle in Australia. These leadership roles build on more than a decade working in international development and human rights, including as Head of Policy and Advocacy at Oxfam Australia. Past roles have given Jo opportunities to work with some inspirational public figures, including as an adviser to former Senator Natasha Stott Despoja in the Australian Parliament, and as an Associate to the Honourable Justice Margaret Nyland in the Supreme Court of South Australia. A former lawyer, Jo has received academic awards for constitutional law and her Honours thesis.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
