Mahir Momand is an internationally recognised development expert whose career spans more than two decades across Afghanistan, Canada, and Australia. His professional journey reflects an unwavering commitment to economic empowerment, community development, and humanitarian impact.
Mahir’s leadership experience includes senior roles at the United Nations and the World Bank, where he contributed to major economic development programs, including Afghanistan’s first microfinance initiatives. He also served as a Senior Financial Advisor to the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs in Afghanistan, bringing technical expertise to national workforce and social‑sector reforms.
Born three years after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Mahir’s early life was marked by displacement and hardship. He became a refugee at just one year old after his father—a senior Afghan military officer—was imprisoned. He spent nearly two decades of his childhood in Pakistan, working from a very young age while studying at night. These experiences shaped his lifelong dedication to improving the lives of vulnerable people.
As an adult, Mahir endured repeated persecution for his development and human-rights work. His microfinance programs in Afghanistan disrupted opium production and expanded economic opportunities—particularly for women—placing him on the Taliban’s hit list and forcing him to flee repeatedly for his safety. Despite this, he returned multiple times to expand community banking networks, establish over 165,000 small and medium enterprises, and create livelihoods for nearly one million people across Afghanistan.
Since resettling in Australia as a refugee, Mahir has become a respected leader in the not‑for‑profit sector. He has served as CEO of several national organisations—including Thrive Refugee Enterprise, Regional Opportunities Australia, and currently Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS)—where he continues to champion economic participation and meaningful settlement pathways for migrants and refugees.
Mahir is also the Founder and Executive Director of the HADIA Foundation, a grassroots organisation delivering humanitarian aid, education, and livelihood programs across Afghanistan. Through his extensive networks of professionals and volunteers on the ground, he has enabled HADIA to grow rapidly, ensuring that assistance reaches vulnerable communities efficiently and with integrity.
His academic credentials include an MBA and a Master’s in Commerce, specialising in project management and finance.
Today, Mahir sits on the HADIA Foundation Board, working alongside fellow directors to guide the organisation’s long‑term strategy and deepen its impact. His lived experience, global development expertise, and lifelong dedication to community upliftment make him a driving force behind HADIA’s mission to serve Afghan families with dignity, compassion, and practical support.
