Director

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a red top and a blue academic gown, smiling at the camera.

  • Andrea has over 25 years’ experience in the charity sector in the Philippines and the UK, working with NGOs on human rights, and the welfare of women, children, and other vulnerable groups. She started in Kanlungan as project coordinator in 2018 before becoming programme manager and eventually as its first Director in 2020-2022. She also worked with other UK charities in mental health service and impact evaluation. Andrea holds a PhD in Psychology from King’s College London, and her work centres on migrant mental health. Returning as Kanlungan’s Executive Director in 2025, Andrea aims to strengthen operations, ensure migrants’ voice shapes its programmes, diversify funding, and expand culturally appropriate services for migrant communities.

Staff

A smiling man with dark hair wearing a light-colored zip-up jacket in an indoor setting with a computer and monitor in the background.

Campaigns & Advocacy Officer

  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, Christ played a leading role at Kanlungan in coordinating the COVID-19 Information Project and Vaccine Event, which helped ensure that vulnerable migrants had access to reliable health information and vaccinations. His leadership was instrumental in mobilising community networks and building partnerships to support migrant welfare during a critical time.

    Following the pandemic response, Christ joined Kanlungan full-time, taking on various roles across outreach, advocacy, and project development. His work continues to centre on advancing the rights and wellbeing of Filipino migrant workers in the UK, reflecting Kanlungan’s mission to empower and protect migrant communities through advocacy, education, and community support.

  • Sherald is a public health researcher working closely with migrant communities to understand their experiences and priorities. She applies participatory and co-production approaches to turn lived realities into evidence that can shape better services, stronger advocacy, and fairer policies that support migrants' wellbeing and rights.

Strategic Development Officer

A young man with black hair, glasses, and a goatee smiling, wearing a pink and white striped shirt, standing in front of a bulletin board filled with various colored flyers and notices.

Community Engagement &
Volunteer Management Officer

  • Norwyn is a Master’s graduate in International and Asian History from the London School of Economics, where he focused on the U.S. colonial period in the Philippines. His experience in the charity sector began at Get Further, where he served as a Lead Tutor supporting GCSE resit students in further education to achieve their English Language qualifications.

    At Kanlungan, Norwyn supports Filipino migrants in accessing  assistance they need, with a particular focus on immigration rights and welfare support. He is also an advocate for racial justice, working with the On Your Side project to help East and Southeast Asian communities in the UK access support as victims of hate crimes.

    Norwyn also plays a key role in keeping Kanlungan’s volunteers and community members engaged and connected. His wider advocacy extends to international solidarity work, leading the formation of the UK chapter of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle. 

Close-up of a smiling woman with long, wavy, light brown hair, sitting in front of a black wire grid with green plants, warm lighting, and a blurred background in an indoor setting.

  • Chi (she/her) is a Filipino-British Mental Health Support Officer for Kanlungan. Chi has worked with vulnerable communities for 6+ years, providing culturally appropriate care for single migrant mothers, neuro-divergent young people, care leavers and LGBTQI+ refugee communities. Working from a bottom-up approach, Chi believes the lived-experienced voices should be central to decision and project making, ensuring communities have the opportunity to take ownership and exercise agency within their lives. Chi’s currently studying L2 Counselling Skills to further her people-centred skills, which compliments her theatre and arts background.

Senior Mental Health &
Wellbeing Officer

Close-up of young person with dark hair, light skin, and earring, looking at the camera with a neutral expression, outdoors with blurred background.

  • Sofia (they/them) graduated with a BA in Film Practice at the Univerisity of The Arts London. Their film about an OFW and Filipino food named  ‘There is Not A Going Back’ premiered at the London Short Film Festival. 

    After spending two years back in Manila working within arts and culture as a producer and social media lead, they are excited to be working with Kanlungan to bring engaging community stories, important campaigns and elevate the organization’s values to Kanlungan’s audience and beyond.

Social Media &
Communications Officer

A woman speaking into a microphone at a table with an open notebook, wearing a black and cream jacket with red and green accents, seated in front of a brick wall with colored lighting.

  • Francesca manages Kanlungan's participation in the Covid-19 Inquiry across the four modules for which it is a core participant. From 2020 to 2022, she was Advocacy and Campaigns Officer at Kanlungan, leading the organisation's casework and campaigning for undocumented migrants' rights. She is the Migrant Power Project Lead at the Civic Power Fund. Francesca is also writing her first book, an oral history of Filipino migration to the UK, focused on Filipino migrant nurses, carers, domestic workers, and partners. More info here: https://www.filipinooralhistoryproject.uk/

COVID-19 Inquiry Project Advisor

A man with glasses wearing a dark suit and light blue dress shirt smiling in an office setting with a blurred background of wooden walls and a potted plant.

  • Edgar is an IAA L1 Immigration Adviser for the Kanlungan Migrant Centre, (Kanlungan) and the Senior Employment Advocacy Officer for the Southeast and East Asian Centre

    (SEEAC). He works on projects aimed at supporting East and Southeast Asian migrants and refugees with their immigration, employability, and employment-related issues. Edgar helps develop a network to educate these individuals about their labour rights and issues related to labour exploitation, while also advocating for political change to improve their situations.

    He is a qualified lawyer from the Philippines and holds a Juris Doctor and a PhD in Development Education. Currently, he is pursuing a postgraduate degree in the Master of Laws program at the University of London. Edgar has experience providing pro bono services through the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Legal Aid Service for indigent clients and has worked alongside NGOs that support marginalized women and children.

Immigration Advisor

Woman holding a sign that reads 'End the violence against women!' at a protest or rally. Several other people are visible in the background, some holding flags.

  • During the pandemic, I found myself in one of the most difficult periods of my life. I was pregnant, experiencing abuse, and completely alone in the UK, without any Filipino friends or family to turn to. It was an incredibly isolating and overwhelming time, where each day felt uncertain and heavy.

    Everything began to change when I was introduced to Kanlungan.

    Through their support, I was not only guided through practical challenges but also supported emotionally and mentally. They helped me rebuild a sense of stability and, most importantly, connected me with a community. I was introduced to a group of women and mothers who understood, supported, and uplifted one another. For the first time in a long while, I no longer felt alone.

    That sense of belonging made a huge difference in my life. It helped me find my footing again and reminded me that even without family in the UK, I had a community I could rely on — people who genuinely cared.

    Now, it’s my time to give back. Through my role as a Welfare Support Worker with Kanlungan, I’m able to support my community, especially women and mothers facing challenges similar to what I once experienced. Being given the opportunity to give back to the same community that supported me has been incredibly meaningful.

    My journey has shown me the power of community, compassion, and shared strength — and I’m proud to now be part of that support for others. I hope to continue being part of that support system for others — just as Kanlungan was for me.

Freelance Welfare Support Worker

  • A survivor of human trafficking and modern slavery, Analisa brings invaluable lived experience to her work at Kanlungan, where she provides practical and emotional support to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants navigating complex challenges, including immigration, housing, welfare, and integration. She is also a passionate advocate for migrant domestic workers through her involvement with Kalayaan and Migrante UK, campaigning for migrant rights, justice, and fair working conditions. In addition, Analisa serves as a Community Leader at All Saints Church, Battersea, where she supports migrant communities through pastoral care and community engagement. She is currently studying Health and Social Care, reflecting her commitment to continuously developing her skills and strengthening her ability to support vulnerable communities with dignity, empathy, and hope.

Freelance Refugee Support Worker