Dr Natasha Ramachandran introduces new Sanctuary initiative at Refugee Week panel discussion

The event served as the public launch for Westminster's new Sanctuary Working Group initiative and the official introduction of the student-led STAR group. Together, these initiatives create a practical framework of support for refugee and asylum-seeking students, pairing institutional action with grassroots student leadership.

Held at Capital City College in partnership with the advocacy group Lion Voices, the event brought together students, colleagues and human rights advocates to explore the lived experiences of displaced people and the systemic barriers they face in higher education. The panel featured three prominent figures working on the frontlines of refugee advocacy, looking at these challenges from different sectors. The conversation examined the psychological toll of displacement, how people navigate the informal norms and expectations that shape professional environments and the practical shift required to rewrite one's career history.  

To explore these dynamics, the panel first heard from Hamed Amiri, author, speaker and technology leader, whose family fled Afghanistan when he was a child after his mother spoke out for women’s rights. His journey became the book and National Theatre stage adaptation, The Boy With Two Hearts. Amiri spoke about the practical courage required to rebuild a life, balancing creative storytelling with a corporate career at firms like PwC and bringing personal resilience into corporate leadership.

The perspective then shifted to the creative sector with Naif Mohamed, a London-based stand-up comedian representing Lion Voices, who has performed at venues including the Top Secret Comedy Club and the Royal Albert Hall. Mohamed explained how he turns everyday experiences and cultural observations into comedy, while highlighting how his work builds skills in entrepreneurship and public speaking that are required to navigate an industry without formal employment pathways.

Bringing a legal perspective to the discussion was Giulia Tranchina, a solicitor specialising in immigration, asylum and human rights law, with experience at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Human Rights Watch and Freedom from Torture. Tranchina outlined the restrictive administrative systems that global professionals must navigate, highlighting specific legal barriers including visa work rights and credential recognition which prevent qualified individuals from securing stable careers.  

The collaboration between the University of Westminster, Capital City College and Lion Voices demonstrates how educational networks can drive meaningful social change. As Refugee Week highlights the courage of displaced people worldwide, Westminster’s dual-approach aims to turn discussion into long-term, structural support.

About the panel event, Dr Ramachandran said: “During Refugee Week, I had the privilege of representing the University of Westminster’s Sanctuary Working Group, hosting a panel of truly inspirational individuals. The conversation flowed beautifully, holding space for narratives that were emotional, personal and profoundly moving. Capital City College and Lion Voices gave us a space to be vulnerable, to be heard and most of all, to celebrate courage.”

The initiative directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.

Learn more about upcoming Equality, Diversity and Inclusion events at the University of Westminster.