Welcome to James and Chris

Chris (left) and James (right) kick back with Vaness Silpakhan,
Admin Assistant at AFAO's Bangkok office.

AFAO International Program is pleased to welcome two new members to our team in the Bangkok Office - James Malar and Chris Ward.

Both James and Chris started with the program in early April, and have been working closely with the AFAO programs and partners.

James Malar

Engagement & Communications Advisor

James has joined the Bangkok Office for twelve months as part of the Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) Program. James' work with AFAO will focus on engagement and communications with key stakeholders and on the International AIDS Conference in Melbourne.

As a lawyer with a background in human rights and public policy, particularly in the areas of Indigenous sexual / reproductive health rights, stakeholder consultation and community governance, James looks forward to contributing to the work of AFAO and partner organisations, and applying his experience in human rights to key effected populations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Chris Ward

International Program Officer

Chris first became involved in HIV as a home care volunteer at the Victorian AIDS Council in the 1980s. He has worked as the principal solicitor of the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre (HALC) in Sydney, as a policy analyst and program manager for AFAO, and as a senior policy analyst for the New South Wales Ministry of Health. He has 8 years experience as an HIV project worker and consultant in Asia. Chris will be working with AFAO as International Program Officer for 4 months until the end of July.