Adama Kamara was appointed Co-CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia in February 2026, sharing the leadership of the national umbrella body with Paul Power. In this role, she oversees the organisation’s community and public engagement and organisational governance, ensuring RCOA’s operations and advocacy remain deeply connected to the communities it serves. Adama previously served as Deputy CEO since January 2021, bringing over 15 years of experience in capacity building, grants administration and leadership roles across the non-profit, health, and local government sectors in Western Sydney.
Her experience in designing grants programs, has informed her advocacy for refugee-led solutions, notably co-chairing the Refugee Leadership Alliance—the first pooled funding mechanism in the Asia Pacific region dedicated to refugee-led organisations.
During her five years as Deputy CEO, Adama worked closely with the CEO, to oversee internal policies and risk management. Her work included leading major initiatives such as national Refugee Week celebrations and engaging in high-level advocacy on policy issues with governments, national networks, and international organisations.
Born in Sierra Leone, Adama’s commitment to refugee rights is informed by her personal history. Her family was in Australia for her father’s university studies when civil war broke out in their home country. Unable to return, they sought asylum and became deeply involved in sponsoring and supporting other refugees displaced by the conflict, a lived experience that continues to drive her dedication to a compassionate and evidence-based humanitarian system.
