About Us
Our mission, story and people
Our Mission
For those affected by trauma and those who support them, HAGAR is an expert in care and recovery.
When healing happens, the cycle of trauma stops.
Our Vision
Our Values
Integrity: We commit to act ethically and honestly, striving to do the right thing in all times and in all circumstances.
Compassion: We want compassion and kindness to be evident in our attitude, communication and in active, practical ways.
Excellence: We hold ourselves to high standards, listening and learning from those we support, our partners and each other, to continuously improve all that we do.
Our History
Hagar was founded in 1994 in response to the prevalence of extreme domestic and community violence affecting women and children in post-civil war Cambodia. In 2008, Hagar began operations in Afghanistan to support women and children facing the worst forms of gender-based violence and human trafficking. The following year, HAGAR established an office in Vietnam to care for women who were affected by the growing magnitude of exploitation and abuse. More recently, Hagar began delivering programmes for women through our support office in Singapore, and we are partnering with organisations in Myanmar to increase their capacity to provide trauma-informed care.
With 25 years of experience, HAGAR has transformed into an internationally renowned leader in recovery services for survivors of human trafficking, slavery and abuse.
The HAGAR Story
The Hebrew name Hagar means “one who flees” or “one who seeks refuge.” The story of Hagar and her son, Ishmael, is the story of millions of exploited, abused, and trafficked women and children.
In around 2000 BC, Hagar worked in a foreign land as a domestic servant for a rich man called Abraham and his wife, Sarah. Sarah was unable to bear children and, following a common practice of the time, Sarah offered her servant to Abraham. When Hagar became pregnant, Sarah grew jealous and threw her out of their home. An angel found Hagar alone in the desert. He promised a blessing on her child, naming him Ishmael, which means “God hears.” In response Hagar declared: “You are the One who sees me.” The story of Hagar is known to many faiths including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
HAGAR is committed to providing sanctuary and hope to women and children like Hagar and Ishmael, walking the whole journey with each one.
OUR STAFF
Lisa Withey
Executive Director
Lisa has more than a decade of experience in the NGO space, both in programme design and delivery, and development, and also fundraising with organisations across the globe.
Having spent years living in both London and Hong Kong, Lisa has held senior leadership positions with a focus on building exceptional teams, delivering high quality partner stewardship, large-scale fundraising events, and optimising team and organisation operations.
In her most recent role at The Women’s Foundation Hong Kong, against the backdrop of several challenging years in the city, Lisa and her team launched a series of fully virtual fundraising events, each reaching almost 1,000 attendees online, alongside launching an NFT collection to raise funds and awareness for the organisation.
Lisa brings with her a deep drive to support societies most marginalised communities with a particular heart for women and girls and is delighted to be bringing these skills and experience to Hagar.
Lisa Withey
Executive Director
Lisa has more than a decade of experience in the NGO space, both in programme design and delivery, and development, and also fundraising with organisations across the globe.
Having spent years living in both London and Hong Kong, Lisa has held senior leadership positions with a focus on building exceptional teams, delivering high quality partner stewardship, large-scale fundraising events, and optimising team and organisation operations.
In her most recent role at The Women’s Foundation Hong Kong, against the backdrop of several challenging years in the city, Lisa and her team launched a series of fully virtual fundraising events, each reaching almost 1,000 attendees online, alongside launching an NFT collection to raise funds and awareness for the organisation.
Lisa brings with her a deep drive to support societies most marginalised communities with a particular heart for women and girls and is delighted to be bringing these skills and experience to Hagar.
OUR BOARD
Dr. Andrew Catford
Board Chair
Andrew has extensive experience in the international development sector having lived and worked for over 20 years in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, the Middle East and South America. He has a proven track record of leading organizations to grow and tangibly impact the lives of vulnerable children, youth, men and women. Andrew has worked for non-governmental organizations including World Vision and Build On and for the consulting company Hassall GHD, successfully securing and implementing large scale international development projects for a wide variety of donors. Andrew has 10 years’ experience as a Country Director in Senegal and the Solomon Islands, and he has been a Board Member of the Solomon Islands Development Services Exchange and Board Chair of the microfinance institution Vision Fund. Andrew holds a PhD focused on effective community development approaches in Vietnam and he has also been a master’s degree lecturer at RMIT University, Melbourne, in the courses of project design, monitoring, evaluation and gender, subjects he has a strong passion for.
Dr. Andrew Catford
Board Chair
Andrew has extensive experience in the international development sector having lived and worked for over 20 years in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, the Middle East and South America. He has a proven track record of leading organizations to grow and tangibly impact the lives of vulnerable children, youth, men and women. Andrew has worked for non-governmental organizations including World Vision and Build On and for the consulting company Hassall GHD, successfully securing and implementing large scale international development projects for a wide variety of donors. Andrew has 10 years’ experience as a Country Director in Senegal and the Solomon Islands, and he has been a Board Member of the Solomon Islands Development Services Exchange and Board Chair of the microfinance institution Vision Fund. Andrew holds a PhD focused on effective community development approaches in Vietnam and he has also been a master’s degree lecturer at RMIT University, Melbourne, in the courses of project design, monitoring, evaluation and gender, subjects he has a strong passion for.
Deborah Papworth
Board Director
Deborah is a lawyer, originally from New Zealand, with extensive experience in both private practice and the non-profit sector, having worked in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Switzerland, and New York.
Deborah’s focus throughout her career as a human rights lawyer has been progressing justice for the oppressed, persecuted and vulnerable. She has extensive experience in the area of refugee law and forced migration, including a period working with the UNHCR in Hong Kong, as well as in the areas of gender-based violence, human trafficking and modern slavery. Deborah joined Hagar in 2016 to lead a legal capacity building project in Cambodia, and has since been leading Hagar’s rule of law and capacity-building projects.
Deborah has also worked as a senior employment lawyer in private practice, including working for global law firm, Linklaters, where she also managed the Pro Bono Practice for the Hong Kong office.
Deborah holds qualifications to practice in New Zealand, Australia (NSW), Hong Kong and the United States (New York). Deborah also hold a Masters of Law from the Geneva Academy of International Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law.
Deborah Papworth
Board Director
Deborah is a lawyer, originally from New Zealand, with extensive experience in both private practice and the non-profit sector, having worked in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Switzerland, and New York.
Deborah’s focus throughout her career as a human rights lawyer has been progressing justice for the oppressed, persecuted and vulnerable. She has extensive experience in the area of refugee law and forced migration, including a period working with the UNHCR in Hong Kong, as well as in the areas of gender-based violence, human trafficking and modern slavery. Deborah joined Hagar in 2016 to lead a legal capacity building project in Cambodia, and has since been leading Hagar’s rule of law and capacity-building projects.
Deborah has also worked as a senior employment lawyer in private practice, including working for global law firm, Linklaters, where she also managed the Pro Bono Practice for the Hong Kong office.
Deborah holds qualifications to practice in New Zealand, Australia (NSW), Hong Kong and the United States (New York). Deborah also hold a Masters of Law from the Geneva Academy of International Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law.
Daniel Ang
Board Director
Daniel Ang has more than 38 years of banking experience and held various finance roles in banking groups such as OCBC, Westpac and Credit Agricole (previously Banque Indosuez). His banking experience took him to various countries including Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Hong Kong. He is currently based in Hong Kong and is the Head of Branch Credit of OCBC Wing Hang Bank Ltd
Daniel was an active member of the Lions Clubs International in Singapore, which is engaged in many community services including AWWA (Asian Women’s Welfare Association), a social service agency serving the disadvantaged across life stages.
Daniel holds a Bachelor of Science degree from National University of Singapore and was accredited as a Qualified Internal Assessor by the Institute of Internal Auditors in 2009.
Daniel Ang
Board Director
Daniel Ang has more than 38 years of banking experience and held various finance roles in banking groups such as OCBC, Westpac and Credit Agricole (previously Banque Indosuez). His banking experience took him to various countries including Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Hong Kong. He is currently based in Hong Kong and is the Head of Branch Credit of OCBC Wing Hang Bank Ltd
Daniel was an active member of the Lions Clubs International in Singapore, which is engaged in many community services including AWWA (Asian Women’s Welfare Association), a social service agency serving the disadvantaged across life stages.
Daniel holds a Bachelor of Science degree from National University of Singapore and was accredited as a Qualified Internal Assessor by the Institute of Internal Auditors in 2009.
Jacqueline Cheng
Board Director
Jacqueline Cheng is currently Senior Manager of the Chairman’s Office at Shangri-La Group, a hospitality corporation with over 100 hotels and properties around the world. She previously worked at Goldman Sachs in Private Wealth Management and in the Firmwide Strategy team. Jacqueline obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) from the University of Oxford.
Jacqueline Cheng
Board Director
Jacqueline Cheng is currently Senior Manager of the Chairman’s Office at Shangri-La Group, a hospitality corporation with over 100 hotels and properties around the world. She previously worked at Goldman Sachs in Private Wealth Management and in the Firmwide Strategy team. Jacqueline obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) from the University of Oxford.
Karling Hamill
Board Director
With degrees in engineering and psychology, Karling is a purpose led individual who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her board appointment.
Karling is passionate about improving the outcomes and quality of life for vulnerable and marginalised communities and has served with the UN for well over a decade, starting with LibyaNet (UNHCR), then building the women’s network in Uganda (WOUGNET), and programme management of both the movement of displaced people in Cameroon and establishing anti-human trafficking programmes. Her skills include needs assessments, programme management, and strategic planning.
As a digital product specialist and technologist, she has also worked professionally across different industries over the past 20 years, implementing change and launching products across tier 1 organisations in the pursuit of building strong teams that make real and relevant changes to people’s lives. Most recently a Director with HSBC, she is now Director of IT at Amplify Health.
She also has a photography business where she loves capturing unique moments in time and allowing her creative freedom of expression.
Her diverse range of experience has given her a unique perspective that sets her apart from her peers, giving her a reputation for being a people-centric problem solver who delivers outcomes that exceed expectations and, most importantly, positively impact people’s lives.
Karling Hamill
Board Director
With degrees in engineering and psychology, Karling is a purpose led individual who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her board appointment.
Karling is passionate about improving the outcomes and quality of life for vulnerable and marginalised communities and has served with the UN for well over a decade, starting with LibyaNet (UNHCR), then building the women’s network in Uganda (WOUGNET), and programme management of both the movement of displaced people in Cameroon and establishing anti-human trafficking programmes. Her skills include needs assessments, programme management, and strategic planning.
As a digital product specialist and technologist, she has also worked professionally across different industries over the past 20 years, implementing change and launching products across tier 1 organisations in the pursuit of building strong teams that make real and relevant changes to people’s lives. Most recently a Director with HSBC, she is now Director of IT at Amplify Health.
She also has a photography business where she loves capturing unique moments in time and allowing her creative freedom of expression.
Her diverse range of experience has given her a unique perspective that sets her apart from her peers, giving her a reputation for being a people-centric problem solver who delivers outcomes that exceed expectations and, most importantly, positively impact people’s lives.
For more information about our global team members please refer to our other country sites.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
Help us transform lives
Donate now
By partnering with Hagar, you’re supporting survivors to heal from the trauma of severe abuse. Our work is dependent on charitable giving by people like you.
