Once again this year, AWoN’s Summit was the occasion of the renewal of the Board, with the election of four new members for a two-year term running until September 2027.
We warmly welcome Maura James, Mousumi Saikia, Rouddy Kimpioka and Tuija Samila, who are joining Zoé Balkrishnan, Alaaddin Uslu and Nejra Kadić Meškić, elected last year and entering the second part of their term. This new, diverse and enthusiastic Board will be chaired by Maria Kjellsdotter Rydinger and soon gather to set the priorities of the Network for the months to come, based on the General Assembly’s discussions in Poland.
Meet Mousumi!
Mousumi Saikia is a committed humanitarian with over 15 years of experience working at the frontline of crises across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Her career spans a wide range of thematic areas, including amongst others, emergency response, social cohesion and peacebuilding, education, health, and climate adaptation. Mousumi currently leads the Programme Funding and Partnerships Department at Islamic Relief Worldwide, where she drives strategic collaboration and resource mobilisation to support vulnerable communities globally.
A few words as new Board member
‘I joined AWoN in 2024 and believe in its vital role in today’s world — where displacement, division, and inequality are on the rise. I believe the initiative offers a powerful vision of a society grounded in compassion, dignity, and shared humanity. By fostering trust and collaboration among diverse actors, AWoN is a movement toward a more just and humane world.
As a new board member, I am committed to strengthening AWoN’s capacity, visibility, and impact, ensuring the organisation continues to effectively deliver on its mission and vision with integrity and purpose.’
Welcome and thank you, Mousumi!