Resource

Asylum Aid is pleased to announce the appointment of Piya Muqit as Executive Director. 

Piya has served as Interim Executive Director over the past 7 months, during which she has provided strong leadership and helped shape the organisation’s strategic direction. She joined Asylum Aid following the appointment of Alison Pickup, the former Executive Director, as CEO of the Helen Bamber Foundation (HBF) Group in August 2025. Asylum Aid is part of the HBF Group. 

With over 20 years of experience, Piya has built an extensive career across human rights, child rights, anti-trafficking, and refugee protection. She has worked as a legal aid lawyer, programme manager, and policy expert with organisations including Freedom from Torture, UNICEF UK, and the Refugee Legal Centre in the UK; The Finnish Refugee Council in Myanmar; Justice Centre Hong Kong in Hong Kong SAR and Ain o Salish Kendra in Bangladesh. 

Piya Muqit said: “I am honoured to take on this role and remain committed to ensuring that people seeking protection in the UK receive high-quality legal support. At a time of significant challenges, such as global conflicts, pressures on legal aid and increasingly hostile rhetoric against refugees in the UK, our work is more important than ever. I look forward to leading Asylum Aid in advancing fairness, dignity, and justice.” 

Alison Pickup, CEO of the HBF Group, said: “I am delighted to confirm Piya’s appointment as Executive Director. She has shown exceptional leadership in the interim role and has earned the trust and respect of colleagues across the organisation. Asylum Aid continues to play a vital role in supporting people seeking protection in the UK and driving positive systemic change, and I am confident Piya will build on this strong foundation.”