Speakers:

Jaz O’Hara’s work supporting refugees and asylum seekers began in the notorious Calais Jungle in 2015 and Jaz has worked tirelessly in refugee camps across Europe and the Middle East ever since, telling the stories that too often go unheard. As a writer for The Huffington Post, winner of Marie Claire’s ‘Future Shaper’ award and member of Amnesty International’s ‘Collective’, Jaz has become a leading voice on the topic of migration, speaking everywhere from TedX, to the United Nations in NYC. Jaz and her team are dedicated to challenging the fear-based narrative of today’s media and society and do so through film, talks and an extremely popular podcast.

Giel Malual is a South Sudanese speaker and advocate for refugee rights. Giel’s work is powered by his own story of crossing land and sea to make it to safety aged just 16. Despite facing imprisonment, modern day slavery and more, Giel’s courage and bravery saw him overcome all odds to arrive to the UK, where he is now working as a model and student.

Michelle Yonetani is the Senior Policy Officer in the Office of the Special Advisor for Climate Action at the UN Refugee Agency. She joined UNHCR in 2020, with over fifteen years of experience as a specialist on the topic of climate change and displacement, and from humanitarian action grounded in local networks, primarily in Asia and the Pacific. Prior to this, she worked closely with UNHCR as a partner in the UN climate change processes, using evidence to advocate for people displaced or at risk of becoming so. Today, climate action is a strategic priority for UNHCR and Michelle’s role combines policy engagement with strategic support to strengthen the resilience of refugees and displaced people on the frontlines of the global climate crisis.

Milly Thomas is the Pro Bono Associate at DLA Piper, and leads on Climate and Biodiversity.

Moderator:

Paul Van Zyl is the co-Founder of The Conduit and Chief Creative Officer. Paul is a winner of the prestigious Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He served as the Executive Secretary of South Africa’s post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission and co-founded the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), an international human rights organisation based in New York City.