Ashiana Humanitarian Network has a growing membership base from among the Western Australian community, with a strong focus on building membership among members of migrant communities who have close ties to or are previous refugees, asylum seekers and humanitarian entrants. Ashiana also welcomes members from the general public who are committed to Ashiana’s vision, mission and objectives, and share Ashiana’s values.
Ashiana is governed by a Board of Directors, and its composition under its constitution ensures minimum levels of gender representation and representation from those born, or with family members born, in developing countries.
The current Board comprises:
Dr Mary Nangrahary, Director and Chairperson
- Dr Nangrahary MD, M.Sc., FRACP, AMCcert, ASCeXAM NBE is a Consultant Cardiologist and General Physician practising in Perth, Western Australia, is a founding member of Ashiana and was appointed as its inaugural Chairperson in 2022. Dr Nangrahary was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. Over many years, Dr Nangrahary supported refugees and humanitarian entrants and other members of culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Western Australia with their social, language, medical and mental health needs.
Mr Robert Lindsay, Director
- Mr Lindsay is a lawyer and independent barrister practising in Perth, Western Australia, is a founding member of Ashiana and was appointed as a Director in 2022. Mr Lindsay was born in the United Kingdom. After performing various legal roles in the UK, Belize and Fiji, Mr Lindsay spent many years as a lawyer for the Corporate Affairs Commission (now ASIC) and subsequently with the Legal Aid Commission, including as Director, acting in numerous civil, criminal and migration matters. Since being called to the independent Bar, Mr Lindsay has contributed extensively to the practice of administrative, migration, industrial law and criminal law among others, acting in numerous migration reviews and appeals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Federal Circuit Court, Federal Court and High Court, frequently pro bono, and writes extensively for legal publications in the areas of administrative, criminal and migration law. Mr Lindsay’s contributions to the community were recognised in 2022 when he received the WA Attorney General’s Community Service Award.
Mr Farid Popal, Director
- Mr Popal BA (Psychology), Master Globalisation & Governance, Juris Doctor – Law, Grad Dip Legal Prac, Dip – Building, is a lawyer and migration agent practising in Perth, Western Australia, is a founding member of Ashiana and was appointed as a Director in 2022. Mr Popal was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Mr Popal has worked with the migrant and refugee community in Western Australia for many years both as a member of that community with their social, language, housing and health needs, as a freelance journalist and researcher, and more recently as a lawyer and migration agent. He has been a representative of the Afghan Community National Association of Western Australia and has both worked in and assisted international NGOs, journalists and communities in Afghanistan.
Ms Marian Lamattina, Director and Company Secretary.
- Ms Lamattina BA LLB M Pub Int Law GAICD Grad Leg Prac Management, is a barrister and solicitor working in private practice in Perth, Western Australia, is a founding member of Ashiana and was appointed as a Director in 2022. Ms Lamattina was born in Perth, Western Australia. For many years, Ms Lamattina has undertaken pro bono and volunteer work with community legal centres and independently in private practice to assist refugees and asylum seekers with appeals and reviews in Federal tribunals and courts, including the High Court. Ms Lamattina has previously been company secretary of not-for-profit, publicly listed and private companies, and continues to provide legal assistance to various charities in areas of corporate governance and compliance, social ventures and agreement making. Ms Lamattina’s contributions to the community were recognised in 2023 when she received the WA Attorney General’s Community Service Award.