Australian UNHCR fundraising body appoints Matt Levinson as head of communications and public affairs
The Australian fundraising arm of the UN High Commission for Refugees, Australia for UNHCR, has appointed Matt Levinson as its head of communications and public affairs.
Levinson, who has formerly headed communications for GetUp and for the Lord Mayor of Sydney, joins the body from reputation and change management agency SenateSHJ.
Levinson told Mumbrella: “With more people displaced from Syria, Iraq, DR Congo, South Sudan, Yemen and elsewhere than ever before in history, the UNHCR has a vital role in supporting and advocating for refugees and I’m excited to be joining a team supporting that essential work.
“It’s a big challenge that comes with the opportunity to be part of a team creating meaningful, large scale impact and that’s where I want to be.”
Levinson joined SenateSHJ after leading communications for Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore for three years, having returned to her office after heading comms at GetUp for 18 months.
“Some of the best people I’ve ever hired came from agencies, so I’ve always been curious what it would be like and jumped at the chance to work with the talented team at SenateSHJ,” Levinson told Mumbrella.
“Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to work with excellent people in global corporates, startups, not for profits and all levels of government. Practically that’s meant running focus groups and workshops, writing and media trainings, media and stakeholder outreach, strategies, narratives and messaging, pitching, proofing and a hundred other things.
“There have been loads of challenges and some great wins and I know the team at SSHJ will go from strength to strength.
“This experience has taught me a lot, and one of the most significant is the importance of purpose for me. I can’t wait to get started with the UNHCR and broader humanitarian movement.”
Levinson will start with Australia for UNHCR in coming weeks.
