Praxis is recruiting a new Chief Executive
After 10 years of dedicated leadership, Sally Daghlian OBE is stepping down as Chief Executive of Praxis at the beginning of May. Sally has spearheaded the team as we expanded our advice services, played a key role in uncovering the Windrush Scandal, and built an award-winning housing project. Drawing on Praxis’ 40 years history of working for human, migrant and racial justice, we’ve developed our policy and campaigns work to mobilise support for migrant rights in partnership with experts by experience. Sally oversaw our first ever campaign fought in alliance with partners which succeeded in ensuring all children can access free school meals no matter their parents’ immigration status. Throughout her leadership at Praxis, Sally has had a huge impact in the fight for migrant rights. Thank you, Sally, for your years of service to Praxis.
We’re now recruiting for a new Chief Executive. If you share our values and are committed our vision where no one is marginalised because of their immigration status, please see the candidate pack here.
“After ten years of successfully leading Praxis, our chief executive, Sally Daghlian OBE, is retiring and we’re looking for a visionary and inspiring leader who shares a commitment to social, racial and immigration justice to lead us through the next stage of our journey.
Our aspiration is to be a leading organisation driving the national agenda on immigration policy and contribute to long-term, sustainable systemic change and we’re looking for an experienced, visionary leader who embraces an open, non-hierarchical and inclusive approach and knows how to get the best out of a small but highly committed senior management team and how to engage effectively with a charity board.
We have centred the voices of people with lived experience in our advocacy and campaigning work and we’re looking for a leader who brings experience of operating in a similar context with strong communication skills and a proven ability to influence key stakeholders across national and local government, funders and partners.
As we enter 2024, the extreme hostility that migrants and refugees face both within the immigration system as well as in the face of highly negative coverage in the national media, means that whoever joins as our next chief executive must be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of the ongoing political, financial and practical challenges in our sector and will be resilient and flexible in their approach to ensure that as an organisation we continue to respond effectively to changing circumstances and needs.
As we seek to become an anti-racist organisation you must also be able to meaningfully demonstrate where you’ve led or supported work of this kind within your field. We welcome applications regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. We particularly encourage applications from under-represented communities or those with lived experience.”
Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Chair
After nearly a decade, I will be stepping down from my role as Chief Executive of Praxis at the beginning of May 2024. Leading Praxis, building the impact and sustainability of the charity, has been an absolute privilege. We are now a team of 50, punching above our weight and playing a key role in the fight for migrants’ rights.
Looking back, I am proud that over the last ten years we have delivered life changing support for tens of thousands of people who have been marginalised and pushed into crisis situations, facing homelessness and destitution because of their immigration status. We have built strategic partnerships, innovative services and award-winning projects. After playing a lead role in unveiling the Windrush Scandal and securing important policy changes we have developed our capacity and determination to campaign and fight for immigration justice alongside those most affected.
Praxis’ work has never been more important or needed and the planned nature of my retiral will allow trustees time to recruit a new Chief Executive to steer Praxis through the many challenges ahead, bringing new vision, passion and vigour to our important work and ensuring strong leadership throughout. We have an incredibly strong team of staff, trustees and volunteers and many flourishing partnerships and I’m confident that I’m leaving Praxis in a strong position.
Sally Daghlian, OBE