Who we are
Our mission, vision and history
Our Vision
Our Mission
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 board

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. Peter Hess
Senior Board Member, Hagar International
Dr. iur., LL.M.
Dr. Peter Hess is a practising lawyer and partner at Reichlin Hess Ltd. in Zug, Switzerland. Dr Hess completed his postgraduate studies in law at Columbia University, New York. Dr Hess also made a significant contribution to the community through his political involvement, having served in local government, from 1983 to 2003, in the Federal Parliament, becoming Speaker of Parliament from 2000 to 2001.
Professional activities
Attorney-at-law / Notary Public for the Canton of Zug / Switzerland
Partner in the law offices Reichlin Hess AG, Zug / Switzerland (www.reichlinhess.ch)
Public activities
– Member of the legislative of the City of Zug 1979 – 1982
– Member of the Federal Parliament (House of Representatives / Nationalrat): 1983 – 2003
– President of the Christian-Democratic-Group of the Federal Assembly 1991-1998
– Member of the finance committee of the Nationalrat 1991 – 2003 (President 1996/1997)
– Speaker of the Nationalrat (2000/2001)

Dr. Peter Hess
Senior Board Member, Hagar International
Dr. iur., LL.M.
Dr. Peter Hess is a practising lawyer and partner at Reichlin Hess Ltd. in Zug, Switzerland. Dr Hess completed his postgraduate studies in law at Columbia University, New York. Dr Hess also made a significant contribution to the community through his political involvement, having served in local government, from 1983 to 2003, in the Federal Parliament, becoming Speaker of Parliament from 2000 to 2001.
Professional activities
Attorney-at-law / Notary Public for the Canton of Zug / Switzerland
Partner in the law offices Reichlin Hess AG, Zug / Switzerland (www.reichlinhess.ch)
Public activities
– Member of the legislative of the City of Zug 1979 – 1982
– Member of the Federal Parliament (House of Representatives / Nationalrat): 1983 – 2003
– President of the Christian-Democratic-Group of the Federal Assembly 1991-1998
– Member of the finance committee of the Nationalrat 1991 – 2003 (President 1996/1997)
– Speaker of the Nationalrat (2000/2001)

Sarah Barrer
Board Member, Hagar International
Sarah’s driving passion is to focus on the individual needs of an organisation and work alongside them to provide solutions within their context.
Since the inception of Barrer & Co, she has helped more than 120 not-for-profits in the areas of capital campaigns, operational efficiency, long-term funding sustainability and increases in revenue generation.

Sarah Barrer
Board Member, Hagar International
Sarah’s driving passion is to focus on the individual needs of an organisation and work alongside them to provide solutions within their context.
Since the inception of Barrer & Co, she has helped more than 120 not-for-profits in the areas of capital campaigns, operational efficiency, long-term funding sustainability and increases in revenue generation.

Sarah Bearup
Board Member, Hagar International
Sarah Bearup is a global humanitarian and development leader with deep expertise in protecting the most vulnerable, especially survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and egregious human rights violations. Having lived in Oceania, South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, Sarah has worked at the intersection of humanitarian and development programming and led emergency responses to natural disasters and crises including the Western Balkans Refugee Response.
Sarah’s executive roles have included: Assistant Director (Humanitarian Policy) for the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade. National Director of World Vision Bosnia-Herzegovina; Country Director of Hagar International/Cambodia; Executive Director of Positive Women; and Landmines & Disability Program Manager. Sarah’s current role as a Diplomat with the Australian Embassy in Amman Jordan includes oversight of Australia’s Syria Humanitarian Program, which responds to the complex displacement issues resulting from a decade-long protracted crisis.
Sarah has deep domain expertise in protection and inclusion, specifically SGBV, child protection and disability inclusion. Sarah studied at Monash, Deakin and Stanford Universities, the latter awarding a Certificate in Not-for-profit Executive Leadership. She has held various board roles including as a Non-Executive Director of Vision Fund International (EKI, Bosnia-Herzegovina), Hagar Australia and Hagar Catering Social Enterprise.

Sarah Bearup
Board Member, Hagar International
Sarah Bearup is a global humanitarian and development leader with deep expertise in protecting the most vulnerable, especially survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and egregious human rights violations. Having lived in Oceania, South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, Sarah has worked at the intersection of humanitarian and development programming and led emergency responses to natural disasters and crises including the Western Balkans Refugee Response.
Sarah’s executive roles have included: Assistant Director (Humanitarian Policy) for the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade. National Director of World Vision Bosnia-Herzegovina; Country Director of Hagar International/Cambodia; Executive Director of Positive Women; and Landmines & Disability Program Manager. Sarah’s current role as a Diplomat with the Australian Embassy in Amman Jordan includes oversight of Australia’s Syria Humanitarian Program, which responds to the complex displacement issues resulting from a decade-long protracted crisis.
Sarah has deep domain expertise in protection and inclusion, specifically SGBV, child protection and disability inclusion. Sarah studied at Monash, Deakin and Stanford Universities, the latter awarding a Certificate in Not-for-profit Executive Leadership. She has held various board roles including as a Non-Executive Director of Vision Fund International (EKI, Bosnia-Herzegovina), Hagar Australia and Hagar Catering Social Enterprise.

Paul Chan
Board Member, Hagar International

Paul Chan
Board Member, Hagar International

Marianne Roux
Board Member, Hagar International
Marianne has experience across several industries including Retail, FMCG, Mining, Oil and Gas, Utilities, Infrastructure, Media, Financial services, Telecommunications, Sport, NFP, Health and Pharmaceutical and Tech start ups. She has worked for PWC, Accenture, Deloitte and Mercer and has held two HR Director roles in two countries.
She has a keen interest in the new world of work and how organisations, leaders, teams and individuals can prepare themselves for it. Her PhD research focuses on a model of leadership and leadership development in the new world of work. Her work is grounded in Systems Thinking, Complexity theory and Adult Development.
She has recently published the Personal Agility reflection journal: Knowing Your Superpowers is the Key to Your Success in a changing World and she is featured in Maturing Leadership: How Adult Development Impact Leadership.
Marianne works pro-bono on developing women and alleviating poverty and trauma. She serves on the Boards of Hagar Australia and Hagar International and is the founder of the Coalition of Female Social Entrepreneurs. She was chosen as one of 52 Inspirational women at work in South Africa in 2004, one of 20 Female Entrepreneurs by Management today in 2011 in Australia and in 2015 she won the excellence in NFP consulting award from the Worldwide Who’s Who.

Marianne Roux
Board Member, Hagar International
Marianne has experience across several industries including Retail, FMCG, Mining, Oil and Gas, Utilities, Infrastructure, Media, Financial services, Telecommunications, Sport, NFP, Health and Pharmaceutical and Tech start ups. She has worked for PWC, Accenture, Deloitte and Mercer and has held two HR Director roles in two countries.
She has a keen interest in the new world of work and how organisations, leaders, teams and individuals can prepare themselves for it. Her PhD research focuses on a model of leadership and leadership development in the new world of work. Her work is grounded in Systems Thinking, Complexity theory and Adult Development.
She has recently published the Personal Agility reflection journal: Knowing Your Superpowers is the Key to Your Success in a changing World and she is featured in Maturing Leadership: How Adult Development Impact Leadership.
Marianne works pro-bono on developing women and alleviating poverty and trauma. She serves on the Boards of Hagar Australia and Hagar International and is the founder of the Coalition of Female Social Entrepreneurs. She was chosen as one of 52 Inspirational women at work in South Africa in 2004, one of 20 Female Entrepreneurs by Management today in 2011 in Australia and in 2015 she won the excellence in NFP consulting award from the Worldwide Who’s Who.

Jeff Buterbaugh, Ph.D.
Board Member, Hagar International

Jeff Buterbaugh, Ph.D.
Board Member, Hagar International
Our staff

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.

Keang Keo
Executive Director, Hagar Cambodia
Ms. KEO KEANG has over 35 years of experience working with Government and International organizations, and served as a private consultant. During her 35 years career – which she began as a school teacher for 10 years and 25 years with international development organizations (NCBA CLUSA, Heifer Cambodia, Pact, Oxfam Hong Kong, Human Right Task Force, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Option/ADB, UNDP NSG), she is a skillful manager (23 years at senior management levels) with experience managing multiple programs and donors funding.
Ms. Keo has managed research and program development initiatives in the areas of gender and women’s empowerment, human trafficking as well as labor migration, domestic violence, child labor, HIV/AIDS and human rights, human right and advocacy, community development, food security, agri-business development, agricultural value chains, micro-finance, social enterprise development, child nutrition and development, WASH and health related, good governance and decentralization, anti-corruption, environment/climate change adaptation and energy, civil society strengthening, and researches and assessments. She also has strong experience on grant/financial management, program management including PME, report writing, and resource mobilization.
In addition, she is an expert on capacity building as a development philosophy and approach who has demonstrated the ability to articulate ideas, motivate people and inspire teamwork toward achievement of organizational common goals.

Keang Keo
Executive Director, Hagar Cambodia
Ms. KEO KEANG has over 35 years of experience working with Government and International organizations, and served as a private consultant. During her 35 years career – which she began as a school teacher for 10 years and 25 years with international development organizations (NCBA CLUSA, Heifer Cambodia, Pact, Oxfam Hong Kong, Human Right Task Force, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Option/ADB, UNDP NSG), she is a skillful manager (23 years at senior management levels) with experience managing multiple programs and donors funding.
Ms. Keo has managed research and program development initiatives in the areas of gender and women’s empowerment, human trafficking as well as labor migration, domestic violence, child labor, HIV/AIDS and human rights, human right and advocacy, community development, food security, agri-business development, agricultural value chains, micro-finance, social enterprise development, child nutrition and development, WASH and health related, good governance and decentralization, anti-corruption, environment/climate change adaptation and energy, civil society strengthening, and researches and assessments. She also has strong experience on grant/financial management, program management including PME, report writing, and resource mobilization.
In addition, she is an expert on capacity building as a development philosophy and approach who has demonstrated the ability to articulate ideas, motivate people and inspire teamwork toward achievement of organizational common goals.

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.

Jan de Waal
Executive Director, Hagar Afghanistan

Jan de Waal
Executive Director, Hagar Afghanistan

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.

Catherine Kirkendall
Executive Director, Hagar USA

Catherine Kirkendall
Executive Director, Hagar USA

Merewyn Foran
Executive Director, Hagar Australia

Merewyn Foran
Executive Director, Hagar Australia
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.