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  1. Who we are
  2. Our team
  3. Staff and volunteers

Staff and volunteers

Assisi Aid Projects is staffed by a small team of part-time staff in our Melbourne office.  We place the majority of human resources overseas with our partners, as this maximises impact, local ownership and value for money. The Melbourne team are supported by our wonderful volunteers, who bring a range of skills and experience to support our work.

Dr Jacqueline Parisi

Chief Executive Officer

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A woman with cropped brown hair stands infront of an exposed brick wall. She is standing diagonal to the camera and is wearing black framed glasses, a black blazer, a grey-blue shirt, and a silver necklace.

Dr Jacqueline Parisi has spent much of her career strengthening international non-government organisations in Asia and the Pacific. She has drawn upon her experience to develop strategy, design programmes, perform evaluations, and implement capacity development interventions.

Jacqueline has also developed a social enterprise methodology and applied this to assist survivors of sex trafficking in Laos and Cambodia, and people affected by leprosy in remote parts of China – generating sustainable income streams and social change.

She has worked in Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, New Zealand, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UK and Vietnam.

Jacqueline holds an MBA, and a doctorate focused on capacity optimisation in international development, and the transferability of practices between private, public and non-profit sectors. She holds several non-profit Board positions and serves as advisor to the Mekong Club in Hong Kong, fighting modern slavery. 

Published: 23rd August, 2021

Updated: 7th February, 2023

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Cate Coleman

Programs Manager

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A headshot of a woman with dark brown angled diagonally at the camera. She is smiling directly at the camera and wears a black long sleeved shirt with a gold necklace.

Cate has over a decade of experience in Australia’s not-for-profit sector, largely focused on supporting Melbourne’s refugee communities in various program management and executive roles. 

In addition to her role at Assisi Aid Projects, Cate works part-time at The Social Studio, a Melbourne-based social enterprise working with refugee youth, and is a Director at the Migrant Information Centre where she advises on philanthropy.

Cate has qualifications in Behavioural Science and International Development from LaTrobe University.

Published: 7th March, 2022

Updated: 7th February, 2023

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Isabel Parker

Project & Engagement Officer

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Following an internship at Assisi Aid Projects in 2022, Isabel rejoined the team in 2023 as Project & Engagement Officer. Isabel oversees Assisi Aid Projects' communications content and assists with project reporting and review processes. 

Isabel first became interested in the work of Assisi Aid Projects after learning about its intersectional focus on women's economic empowerment and partnership model of development, and continues to be inspired by stories of the projects' participants. 

Isabel holds a Bachelors of Arts in Geography from the University of Nottingham and a Masters in Development Studies from the University of Melbourne.

Published: 7th March, 2022

Updated: 7th February, 2023

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Madeleine Wenczel

Volunteer

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Madeleine volunteers with Assisi Aid Projects one day per week, alongside completing her Masters in Development Studies at the University of Melbourne, having finished her internship with Assisi Aid Projects last year.

Compelled by her passion for gender equality, sustainability and international development, Madeleine sought out further study and experience, leading her to intern at AAP. Madeleine's primary areas of interest have been the intersectionality between gender power-relations, climate change and concurrent economic and social empowerment for women in the south-pacific region.

Madeleine also has a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations from the University of Melbourne. 

Published: 27th September, 2022

Updated: 7th February, 2023

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Qiran Wang

Intern

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Qiran completed her Master in Arts and Culture Management at the University of Melbourne. With interests in community development and gender equality, she joined Assisi Aid Projects as an intern, primarily working  to assist with communication. 

Qiran also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Portuguese Studies from the University of Macau and has volunteered at several community-based organisations assisting with project research, communications and marketing strategy development. 

Published: 2nd February, 2023

Updated: 7th February, 2023

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Kirsty Leighton

Intern

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Having completed her Bachelor Degree with Honours in History and Politics in 2021 back home in Scotland, Kirsty is now in the final semester of her Masters in Public Policy and Management at the University of Melbourne.   

Kirsty is very excited to start her internship at Assisi Aid Projects and gain experience in working for an NGO and women’s empowerment. She believes it is a great opportunity to put the knowledge and skills she has built up through her time in education to work. Women’s empowerment is of great interest to Kirsty and she is looking forward to contributing to projects and expanding her knowledge on the subject.  

Published: 2nd February, 2023

Updated: 7th February, 2023

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  • Qiran Wang

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    Intern

  • Download our 2021-22 Annual Report

    Download our 2021-22 Annual Report

    Download our Annual Report to see the impact of your support throughout 2021-22.

  • Our new strategy for 2022 - 27

    Our new strategy for 2022 - 27

    The team at Assisi Aid Projects is pleased to share that the Strategic Plan for 2022-2027 has now been developed.

Most read

  • Our strategy and goals

    Our strategy and goals

    Our strategy focuses on economic empowerment for women, addressing their social and gender constraints.

  • Our Story

    Our Story

    Assisi Aid Projects is an Australian development organisation focusing on the empowerment of women.

  • Careers

    Careers

    Share your skills and expertise to support the work of Assisi Aid Projects in empowering women and girls.

  • Contact us

    Contact us

    Assisi Aid Projects welcomes feedback from our supporters. Complaints and feedback allow us the opportunity to improve the quality of our work, build the trust and confidence of our stakeholders, identify areas that require improvement and learn from feedback provided.

  • Empowering Every Girl

    Empowering Every Girl

    We are challenging attitudes to gender inequality by providing educational and social opportunities that promote equal rights to education for girls.

  • Empowering Every Woman

    Empowering Every Woman

    Supporting women to improve their income, education, self-confidence, and family health.

  • Integrated Development Trust, India

    Integrated Development Trust, India

    Integrated Development Trust work to improve outcomes for disadvantaged communities in Tamil Nadu, India.

  • Our values and approach

    Our values and approach

    Learn more about Assisi Aid Projects' values, partnership, and programming approach to development.

  • Dr Jacqueline Parisi

    Chief Executive Officer

  • Our policies and guidelines

    Our policies and guidelines

    Assisi Aid Projects has a range of policies, guidelines, and procedures to ensure the consistency and quality of our work.

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Assisi Aid Projects is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and adheres to the ACFID Code of Conduct which defines minimum standards of governance, management and accountability of development for non-government organisations. Complaints relating to a breach of the ACFID Code of Conduct can be made to the ACFID Code of Conduct Committee. For more information see www.acfid.asn.au.


Assisi Aid Projects is accredited by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), responsible for managing Australia’s development program. To maintain accreditation, Assisi Aid Projects' systems, policies and processes are rigorously reviewed by the Australian Government.


Assisi Aid Projects receives support through the
Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Assisi Aid Projects does not have any religious or political affiliations or proselytize.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of all the lands on which we work and live.
We pay our respects and express our gratitude to their Elders - past, present and emerging.



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