Hello I’m Hawar.

I came to the UK with my family from Kurdistan (Iraq) when I was just 10 years old. Overnight, I found myself adjusting to a new country, a new culture, and a new school, it was a steep learning curve, but one that shaped who I am today.

My first real break came in 2006 when I started working with the Welsh Refugee Council. That experience opened my eyes even further to the realities faced by sanctuary seekers and refugees, the immense challenges of rebuilding a life in a new country. I’ve seen up close just how vital the work of the WRC is. Without their support, many of those struggles would be far greater.

Since then, I’ve dedicated my career to the NGO sector, focusing on human rights policy and research, particularly around race, equality, and gender. I hold a master’s in political economy from Cardiff University and earned my PhD in Middle Eastern politics from Exeter University.

Today, I work as a Senior Research Officer at the Welsh Government, continuing to push for meaningful change rooted in justice and equity.