UK for UNHCR announces CEO & new trustee appointments

UK for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s recently launched national charity partner for the UK, has appointed Emma Cherniavsky as its founding CEO and Katy Steward as a new trustee.  

Emma was previously Deputy CEO and Director of Fundraising for the UK political party the Liberal Democrats and has also held significant roles at the International Crisis Group and Human Rights Watch. She joined UK for UNHCR as its founding CEO in September 2020 and now leads all of the charity’s efforts to build solidarity and raise funds for refugees worldwide.  

With UNHCR’s global operations increasingly relying on voluntary donations at a time of record global displacement, private sector partnerships and support from the general public have never been more vital.  

As the new charity continues to grow, UK for UNHCR has also expanded its Board of Trustees with the appointment of Katy Steward. Katy has extensive experience in health leadership, governance and organisation development, including her work as Head of Culture Transformation at NHSIE. She has served as trustee for Oxfam (UK) and joins four other trustees on the board.   

Rebecca Perlman, founding Chair of Trustees, UK for UNHCR, says: “On behalf of the board, I am delighted to welcome Emma and Katy to UK for UNHCR at a time when, sadly, the UN Refugee Agency’s work has never been more urgent or more needed. We look forward to working with them to raise vital support within the UK for those around the world who have been forced to flee their homes.” 

Emma Cherniavsky says: “The last year has been unprecedented in so many ways, not least that a record 79.5 million people – one per cent of the world’s population – are now forcibly displaced.  

“It has been heartening to see the incredible support for refugees from people in the UK over this extremely challenging time. Every individual, partnership or private sector donation has enabled us to do more to help displaced people globally, and I’m honoured to lead UK for UNHCR as we continue to build solidarity for refugees and raise funds for this essential relief work.” 

UK for UNHCR was established as the UN Refugee Agency’s national charity partner to raise awareness and support in the UK from individuals, communities, foundations and businesses for forcibly displaced and stateless people. Since then, the Charity has raised vital funds for UNHCR’s work, including support for displaced people affected by the coronavirus pandemic, the Beirut explosion and to help refugees in the Middle East survive the winter.  

For more information visit www.unrefugees.org.uk