Mitchell Pham Honoured as Young Global Leader

When Refugee Services Board member Mitchell Pham (pictured at right with Refugee Services Chief Executive Heather Hayden) fled Vietnam as a young refugee, he certainly didn’t expect to one day be honoured by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. On Wednesday, 9 March, Mitchell was named as a recipient of the prestigious annual award, one that is given out only to the most exceptional people from around the globe.

He is certainly an overachiever – International Development Director of AugenASIA, Director of international technology group AUGEN, a member of the Action Asia Advisory Group of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, an Asia 21 Fellow and Associate Fellow of the Asia Society and a valued Board member of Refugee Services Aotearoa.

“Mitchell has demonstrated that nothing can hold you back when you put your mind to it," says Refugee Services Chief Executive Heather Hayden. "He is an inspiration and a role model to other former refugees in New Zealand. We are very lucky to have someone of his calibre on our Board at Refugee Services."

Both overwhelmed and honoured to receive the award, Mitchell says, “Being named as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum is incredibly humbling. The network is made up of some extraordinary people from around the globe. It’s a unique opportunity and one that I am going to gratefully seize with both hands."

Mitchell Pham began his exceptional career trajectory early, working for the United Nations at a refugee camp at the age of 12. Before his post, however, he gained the kind of experience most of us would only read about.

“I had a pretty rough childhood, being held in prison camps twice before I successfully fled Vietnam in a tiny fishing boat with 66 other refugees. We were lucky to survive. We escaped down the Mekong River, ran out of food, water and fuel on the open sea, and then got picked up by an oil tanker right before a huge storm. We were then delivered into the hands of the United Nations, and I stayed in four refugee camps in Indonesia. There we were taught English to give us the best chance in life. Before long they employed me to teach the others. It was a real honour for me. I finally made it to New Zealand at 13, where I have since built my life. Receiving the award as a Young Global Leader makes my journey feel even more surreal.”

To be awarded the title of Global Young Leader of the World Economic Forum (WEF), recipients must be under the age of 40, have a record of extraordinary achievement in leadership roles, and have demonstrated their commitment to society.

The Selection Committee, chaired by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, selected Mitchell Pham and 190 others from around the world after careful screening close to 5000 candidates from a myriad of disciplines and sectors. Alongside acknowledging previous work, the award also recognises the recipients’ potential to shape the future of the world through inspiring leadership. “Within the World Economic Forum community, the Young Global Leaders represent the voice for the future and the hopes of the next generation. I am particularly proud of this year's honourees,” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.

Mitchell hopes that his story can be an inspiration not only to future generations of young refugees with dreams of success, but also to members of communities that take in former refugees, providing opportunities former refugees might not have otherwise had. “Without the chance I was given in New Zealand to have a new life, I would not have been able to contribute at any level, domestic or international," says Mitchell, "and giving back to New Zealand is really important to me and many of the refugees that I know. When people overseas ask me where I am from, I often say that I’m ‘born in Vietnam, made in New Zealand.'"