Meet The Team

Charles Gimoh is the Founder of Refuge Network International. He is a Consultant in international human rights law, an author, and an expert on strategic migration. In addition to the day-to-day running of the organisation, Charles is responsible for developing and managing Refuge Network's collaborative partnerships with corporate entities.

 

He started his volunteering journey in the early 80s as a Boy Scout, was active in various voluntary organisations in secondary school, and led a group of over 300 university students during his undergraduate days at the university.

 

Charles is proud of his Black African background and Britain, his beloved adopted country. Having lived on three continents and travelled to over 30 countries, many of them poor, he has witnessed the ravages of poverty and seen the devastating effects of social inequality in communities across the world.

 

His passion for social justice, borne out of a vision to see the equitable distribution of humanity’s collective socio-economic and cultural patrimony to benefit the world’s poor and marginalised people, led to the founding of RNI and catalysed his PhD-level research efforts in law focused on finding answers to some of the many challenges facing the global poor.

 

He has various certifications in international trade and holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of London.​

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Born in Birmingham, England, to Nigerian parents, Josephine Gimoh spent her early years in the West Midlands before relocating to Africa, where she completed her basic education.

 

Besides some qualifications in business, she is a trained teacher with years of experience teaching children and young people.

 

Josephine has a Degree in Human Resource Management and Marketing from London Metropolitan University, a Postgraduate Certificate in Integrated Practice in Childhood and Youth, Postgraduate Diploma in understanding Children's Development and Learning, and a Masters Degree in Childhood and Youth.

 

Josephine is involved in RNI's humanitarian missions to Africa and European countries, including Greece and Italy. She is very active in our homeless outreach programmes and is one of the Directors of Refuge Network UK.

Emily graduated from the University of Bristol with a Law degree in 2018 and moved to London in 2020 to pursue a career at the Serious Fraud Office, where she currently works as an Investigator. 

 

Emily enjoys her work, fighting for justice for victims of financial crime. She empathises with those who are put in difficult financial situations, often through no fault of their own, and seeks to help in any way she can. 

 

Emily has always been involved in volunteering, from helping out at her local Girl Guides to weekly telephone friend calls with Age UK. The cost of living crisis has really highlighted the struggle many individuals and families face to access things as basic as food, which was a huge motivator for Emily joining Refuge Network International. She has embraced and enjoyed getting involved with the charity so far and is keen to continue helping. 

 

Emily is the coordinator of our data bank.

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​Giada is an Italian architect and 3D artist who moved to London to start her dream job. After graduating in Architecture in 2018, Giada was inspired by a human rights-oriented non-profit organization and moved to her native Vietnam, motivated to make a difference in the local community.

 

She had many international experiences during her studies, moving to China and the United States during her Master's program and working on an environmental project in Abu Dhabi, but Vietnam was what changed her the most.

 

Volunteering for seven months in a world so different from the one she grew up in had a profound impact on Giada. Following her decision to settle in the UK, she decided to do things differently. Initially, she volunteered for a food organization and then she met Charles and joined his fight to support the homeless community.

 

Giada knows no language or cultural barriers when volunteering, and this is something her experiences and career have taught her: inclusivity and participation are the foundation of a strong society, and only a strong society can change positively as the future progresses​.

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Sam has been volunteering with the charity for over two years, supporting people experiencing homelessness. He works in the finance sector and has a degree in Chemistry and Trade Finance, but enjoys helping out the Refuge Network team wherever possible.

 

He finds the experience incredibly rewarding and enjoys being part of something that makes a genuine difference in people’s lives. For Sam, volunteering is about community, connection, and doing something practical to help others.

 

Outside of work and volunteering, he spends his time snowboarding and skydiving—always up for a new challenge and a bit of adrenaline.

Dr. Derrick C. Samuels is the ‘Voice against Stagnation’, addressing more than 150,000 people worldwide each year. As a highly passionate speaker, highly regarded business consultant, author, professor, and transformational leader, he embodies the skill, integrity, vision, and drive to become one of the most prominent inspiring thought leaders. 

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Dr. Derrick is a Certified Project Management Professional, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA in Management and; PhD in Applied Management and Decision Sciences and; has taught for DeVry University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, American Military University, Argosy University, and a host of other colleges and universities in the United States. 

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He is the founder and President of ‘Derrick Samuels Leadership Institute (DSLI)’, p4 Consulting Group, Inc., and the host of ‘Evening with Dr Derrick’. 

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Derrick is on the advisory board of Refuge Network International.

Geeta Mahapatra is a Law with Sociology graduate and has been volunteering with Refuge Network International since early 2022.

 

Geeta is passionate about poverty alleviation and the protection of marginalised communities. She has experience in crisis intervention, refugee resettlement and support services.

 

She believes that through research, root causes of human suffering can be identified and effectively addressed.

 

Geeta is our Research Coordination Officer. She was recently appointed to this role to help organise the research activities of volunteers

My name is Mary, and I’ve been volunteering with Refuge Network International for about a year. I first discovered the organisation while searching online for a volunteering opportunity, and it immediately felt like a good fit for what I wanted to do.

 

Although I’m retired and enjoy hobbies such as gardening and Scottish country dancing, I still work part-time for a London County Council as a registration officer, registering births, deaths, and marriages. I’m also a marriage celebrant. In many ways, my work is about meeting people at important moments in their lives, and I’ve always valued working with people from all walks of life. Volunteering allows me continue doing that in a meaningful way.

 

The weekday corporate volunteer groups we host are incredibly varied. I find it fascinating to see how a session raises awareness for them. The food preparation is always a lively and sociable—if sometimes frenetic—part of the day, and then volunteers have the opportunity to meet people directly as we distribute meals during our outreach walk.

 

Having realised how fortunate my own life has been, I felt a strong desire to give something back, and Refuge Network International aligns closely with my values.

 

I have three adult children, and both they and my employer are very supportive and proud of the work I’m doing. I feel very fortunate to be part of a team doing something that is, sadly, so necessary, but absolutely vital for the people we serve

At Refuge Network International (RNI), our volunteers are the heartbeat of our mission. We operate as a high-impact collective where every project is powered by dedicated individuals; without their commitment, our work toward global restoration would not be possible.

 

A Truly Global Network Our team is a vibrant tapestry of local and international perspectives, representing over 100 nationalities. From Great Britain to Morocco, Azerbaijan to Nigeria, and Thailand to Romania, our volunteers bridge cultural divides to co-create sustainable solutions. This diversity is not just a statistic—it is our greatest strength.

 

Inclusion as a Standard We pride ourselves on being an inclusive collective of committed professionals and community members. We are united by a singular purpose: protecting the dignity of the marginalized. We work collaboratively to promote equality and facilitate mutual prosperity through shared action.

 

 We invite you to join this fight. Whether you are an individual or a corporate team, there is a place for you in our mission to advance the collective good.