We are proud to welcome Joanne Chua as the new Executive Director of Asylum Access
Malaysia, bringing with her over a decade of experience in human rights law, strategic
advocacy, and multilateral engagement across Southeast Asia.
Joanne joins us from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – the UN migration
agency – where she led the Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion unit. Based in Malaysia, she
oversaw regional programmes addressing systemic human rights risks in global supply chains,
including the electronics, palm oil, manufacturing, and food sectors. Her work included
conducting high-stakes impact assessments at sites with reported child and forced labour, and
developing legal and operational frameworks to support remediation and responsible business
practices.
Before joining IOM, Joanne was an accomplished lawyer who litigated landmark constitutional
and human rights cases. She was admitted as a Barrister-at-Law (Lincoln’s Inn) to the Bar of
England and Wales and as an Advocate & Solicitor in the High Court of Malaya. Her legal
advocacy secured redress for families of individuals who died in custody, and she provided
criminal defence in capital cases—including for children. A passionate defender of children’s
rights, Joanne has represented children facing indefinite life sentences and survivors of sexual
violence. She also defended freedom of expression and assembly, representing politicians, civil
activists and academics charged under the Sedition Act, Official Secrets Act and the Peaceful
Assembly Act.
Joanne is widely respected for her clarity of purpose, deep commitment to dignity and equity,
and her ability to drive impact across disciplines and sectors. She is also a recognised voice in
international and regional forums on human rights and migration governance.
Please join us in welcoming Joanne as she leads Asylum Access Malaysia into its next
chapter—working in solidarity with forcibly displaced communities to claim their rights and
thrive with dignity.