Mahir Momand CEO

Mahir Momand, MBA, MCom, GAICD, National Chief Executive Officer of Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd (RAWCS)

Mahir Momand, MBA, MCom, GAICD, is the National Chief Executive Officer of Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd (RAWCS), where he leads an organisation that enables Australian Rotary clubs to deliver humanitarian projects in Australia and around the world.

RAWCS supports Rotary clubs with project services, fundraising and donations, financial administration, regulatory compliance, volunteer coordination, communications and marketing. Its humanitarian work addresses important causes including education, health care, clean water and sanitation, economic development, environmental protection, peacebuilding and disaster response.

• Australian Rotarians Against Malaria (ARAM)

ARAM is a major initiative of RAWCS that focuses on eliminating malaria in the world, particularly in the Pacific region.

• Repurposing Equipment (RARE)

RARE repurposes obsolete medical and educational equipment, turning potential landfill into lifesaving aid for disadvantaged communities in Australia and overseas, promoting sustainability and improving social and environmental outcomes.

• MediShare

Medishare is a major intitiative of RAWCS as a Medical Surplus Recovery Organisation Sharing Sustainable Healthcare Solutions with Disadvantaged Communities.

Mahir is an experienced executive, humanitarian leader and social entrepreneur whose career spans the not-for-profit, financial services, social enterprise and international development sectors. He has established and led several purpose-driven organisations committed to strengthening communities, expanding opportunity and creating meaningful social impact.

Before joining RAWCS, Mahir served as the founding CEO of IIFC Group, founding CEO of Thrive Microfinance, founder and CEO of Regional Opportunities Australia, and founder and executive director of the HADIA Foundation. He was also Chief Operating Officer of IBA, a digital bank established to provide greater choice and financial inclusion for Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

His international experience includes working with the World Bank and the United Nations, as well as serving as a financial adviser to government. He has also served as a director of The Benevolent Society, a founding director of the HADIA Foundation and a member of the Human Rights Watch Committee in Australia.

Born in Afghanistan, Mahir became a refugee three times during his life. After being shot by the Taliban in 2012, he was forced to seek refuge in Australia. Now an Australian citizen who calls Sydney home, Mahir draws upon these experiences as a source of resilience, determination and a deep commitment to humanitarian service.

Despite being denied access to a normal education as a refugee child, Mahir pursued every opportunity to learn. He holds an MBA specialising in Finance and a Master of Commerce specialising in Project Management from the University of Sydney. He is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

A past member of the Rotary Club of Sydney and an accomplished international keynote speaker, Mahir brings a powerful perspective on leadership, resilience and service.

At the 2027 Rotary District 9685 Conference in Mudgee, he will share insights shaped by his remarkable personal journey and lifelong commitment to creating positive change.