OUR TEAM
APN-PAD's Team consists of dynamic changemakers, global leaders, human rights advocates, academics, and civil society leaders from the Asia Pacific Region.
We have an impressive track record on advocating for and safeguarding the human rights of minorities, and People of African Descent in the Asia Pacific Region. We are dedicated promoters of diversity, inclusion, and equality at national, regional, and international levels.
Our work is guided by robust regional and international networking and partnerships aligned with the United Nations First, and Second International Decades for People of African Descent, well as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and national, regional human rights institutions and mechanisms. Our team consider the protection of human rights and dignity as a core element in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Mr. Sylvarius Alando Chia
Mr. Sylvarius Alando Chia is a human rights intercultural specialist and development anthropologist based in Australia. He has extensive lived, research, and working experience in Cameroon, Thailand, Japan, and Australia. He is a Senior Community Engagement Officer with the Victorian Department of Education in Australia. He is a founding member and Director of Engagements and Partnerships of the Asia Pacific Network for People of African Descent. He has extensive experience in research, living and working in the Asia Pacific Region particularly in Australia, Japan, and Thailand.
He has a long and admirable track record in transnational human rights, education and multicultural and anti-racism advocacy: researching, advocating, and advancing the Human Rights of People of African Descent in the Asia Pacific region. He is a former United Nations Fellow and Senior Fellow for People of African Descent in Geneva under the Anti-Discrimination Unit. He was involved in the planning and organisation of the United Nations Asia Pacific Conference of People of African Descent and has been an active participant in the United Nations Permanent Forum of People of African.
He has contributed to significantly advance the recognition, policy engagements on the United Nations First and Second international Decade for People of African Descent amongst governments and civil societies organisations across Asia Pacific region and Australia. He has served as a speaker, moderator, panellist, and facilitator in local, regional and global forums on racial equality, minority rights and intercultural dialogue. He was invited by the President of the United Nations General Assembly at High-level UN General Assembly Meeting to Mark the Closure of the International Decade for People of African Descent where he engaged with states on the critical importance of the Decade in the Asia Pacific Region and campaigned for the extension of a Second Decade.
He holds a Master of Applied Anthropology and Development (Advanced) from Hiroshima University’s Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation Studies Japan, and Bachelor of Philosophy from Pontifical Urban University-Rome. His advocacy and transnational commitment against Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance which disproportionately affect People of African descent and minority communities is based on his absolute believe in the inviolability of human dignity and radical hope in the ability of humankind to treat each other with dignity, fairness and respect.