Paul Power has been CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia since 2006. As head of the national umbrella body on refugee policy, he helps to lead NGO advocacy with the Australian Government and United Nations agencies. Paul is a board member of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), having served in leadership roles with the network since 2012.
In 2023-24, Paul is co-chair of the global Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways, which draws together UNHCR, governments, NGO and refugee representatives from nations involved in refugee resettlement. He previously co-chaired this forum in 2011-12 when it was the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement. Paul has served on the Australian Government’s Advisory Panel on Australia’s Resettlement of Afghan Nationals (2021-2023) and its Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council (2008-2014).
Under Paul’s leadership, RCOA has supported the development of refugee-led advocacy networks at state, national, Asia-Pacific and global levels, assisting in the planning of the first Asia-Pacific Summit of Refugees and the Global Summit of Refugees in 2018.
Prior to joining RCOA, Paul worked in the NGO sector as a media officer, trainer, researcher and manager, after a 12-year career in the newspaper industry as a journalist and editor. Through his NGO work, Paul has been involved with projects in international development, community development, mental health support, volunteer training, social research and advocacy.
