Margaret Piper AM has worked in the refugee sector as a consultant for more than 30 years.

In 2019, Margaret worked with Professor Peter Shergold AC on the taskforce commissioned by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to review settlement outcomes for refugees.

Since October 2015, Margaret has been an active member of the joint committee that has supported Professor Shergold and the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet to identify and implement reforms in refugee settlement in this State.

She is an Adjunct Fellow at Western Sydney University and a Board Member of the NSW Medical Council and MYAN NSW (Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network NSW). Margaret is also a member of the Australian Red Cross’ Migration Policy Advisory Committee.

Prior to her current role, Margaret worked as a teacher and in an overseas aid agency before assuming the role of Executive Director of the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) in 1991, a position she held until December 2005. This role took her regularly to UN meetings, as well as countries of first asylum in many parts of the world.

Margaret has written extensively and is the author of numerous reports, studies and training packages. In January 2011 Margaret was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her work with refugees and in 2018 was awarded the Red Cross’ Distinguished Service Medal.

To balance this work, Margaret is a volunteer crew member on the James Craig, a tall ship with 21 sails built in 1874, which is part of the Sydney Heritage Fleet.