DEEPA NAMBIAR joined the IDC as the Asia Pacific Regional Coordinator in 2018. Prior to that, she worked in refugee protection, human rights law, and policy development since 2010.
Deepa’s past experience includes developing and managing refugee legal empowerment programs, providing pro bono legal services to refugees, and advocating for policy reform through stakeholder engagement and research. Deepa founded Asylum Access in Malaysia, and led its programs and operations for 4 years as Country Director. She also currently serves as the Chair of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network’s (APRRN) Southeast Asia Working Group, where she coordinates and supports the activities of the members in the region.
She has also worked with Human Rights Watch, the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations in New York, and the Independent Expert to the Committee Against Torture. She has conducted research on domestic and international legal frameworks applicable to refugees in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, and has worked in the UNHCR as a Protection Associate conducting refugee status determination assessments.
Deepa has a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of London. As a Fulbright scholar, she received a Master of Laws (LL.M) in international human rights law from Columbia Law School in New York. She has been admitted to the Bar of England and Wales, and the Malaysian Bar. Deepa is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.