Wanda Wyporska, who has led charities including Black Equity Organisation and the Equality Trust, is to take temporary charge of refugee charity Safe Passage.

She takes over from Beth Gardiner-Smith who is leaving after seven years leading the charity.

“I am really looking forward to leading such a crucial and vibrant organisation, that campaigns for refugee rights and supports unaccompanied children to hug and hold their families again,” said Wyporska, who is the granddaughter of a Polish refugee and the daughter of the Windrush generation.

She led civil rights charity Black Equity Organisation for a year until November last year, has spent more than a year as CEO of the Society of Genealogists and had a five year stint as executive director of the Equality Trust.

In addition, Wyporska, who is a trustee of the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and the National Football Museum, has previous spent four years as lead equalities officer for the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

On #InternationalWomensDay, we stand with ALL women and girls, fighting for safety and justice.

Girls like Fawzia, a 15-year-old Somalian teenager and FGM survivor, who is stranded in the Mediterranean region - alone and vulnerable - and whose UK application was rejected twice. pic.twitter.com/t46a6QxrIz

— Safe Passage 🧡 (@safepassageuk) March 8, 2024

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