Dr John Bosco Ngendakurio is the Head of Operations at Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia where he provides strategic leadership and oversight of the organisation’s Accompaniment and Service Programs as well as its finance and administration functions. His role is informed by both lived experience and a distinguished career dedicated to advancing the rights, wellbeing, and inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrant communities.

A former beneficiary of JRS, Dr Ngendakurio sought refuge in Tanzania during the civil war in Burundi, his country of birth, in the early 1990s. His personal experience of displacement, life in refugee camps, and the challenges of rebuilding a life in a new country continue to shape his commitment to JRS’s mission of accompanying, serving, and advocating for people forced to flee their homes. Following his resettlement, he lived, studied, and worked in Norway until migrating to Australia in 2010.

While in Norway, Dr Ngendakurio authored his first book, a semi-autobiographical account of the journey of Burundian refugees from Burundi to Norway via refugee camps in Tanzania. The book received literary recognition and remains available in more than 300 libraries across Norway. His writing reflects a longstanding commitment to amplifying refugee voices and documenting the lived realities of displacement, themes that continue to underpin his work at JRS Australia.

An independent scholar of International Law, Dr Ngendakurio brings extensive leadership experience from the community, academic, and public policy sectors. Prior to joining JRS Australia, he served as General Manager at ECCQ (Peak Body Services), leading initiatives that strengthened community organisations and promoted social inclusion for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This experience complements his current responsibility for ensuring that JRS Australia delivers high-quality, person-centred services that empower refugees and people seeking asylum.

Dr Ngendakurio has worked directly with refugees and asylum seekers across Africa, Europe, and Australia, including as a caseworker for refugees and asylum seekers. This international experience has provided him with a deep understanding of the complex challenges faced by displaced populations throughout their settlement journey and informs his strategic approach to service delivery, advocacy, and organisational leadership at JRS.

His academic credentials include a Bachelor of International Relations, a Master of International Relations, a Master of Arts, a Master of Public Health, and a PhD in International Law from Griffith University. His research has focused extensively on migration, refugee protection, and the long-term health and wellbeing impacts of forced displacement, examining both pre- and post-arrival experiences of migrants and refugees in Australia and beyond. This expertise strengthens JRS Australia’s evidence-informed approach to supporting vulnerable communities and advocating for systemic change.

Between 2015 and 2024, Dr Ngendakurio served in a range of policy advisory roles within the Queensland Government, advising Ministers responsible for Health, Treasury, Trade and

Investment, Planning, Infrastructure, and related portfolios. His policy experience has equipped him with a sophisticated understanding of government systems, stakeholder engagement, and public policy development, enabling him to effectively champion refugee and asylum seeker issues within broader social and political contexts.

In addition to his policy and leadership work, Dr Ngendakurio has lectured and convened university courses in public health, community development, human rights, social welfare, equity and diversity, intercultural communication, and community empowerment. His academic and teaching experience reflects his enduring commitment to building more inclusive communities and fostering greater understanding of social justice and human rights issues.

Drawing on lived experience, academic scholarship, frontline service delivery, policy leadership, and executive management, Dr Ngendakurio brings a uniquely holistic perspective to his role at JRS Australia. His leadership is grounded in a deep understanding of the refugee journey and a commitment to ensuring that people seeking safety, dignity, and opportunity are supported to thrive and contribute fully to Australian society.