Nyssa Mirza

Co-lead research, policy monitoring, and strategic communications on incidents of racism and discrimination across the UK.

• Coordinated legal case files, produced bilingual materials, and managed outreach and multi-platform engagement.
• Produced accessible, rights-based advocacy materials, including newsletters, digital campaigns, and translated content.

Achievements:

• Co-created an app, digital platform and database to document and support victims of racism in the UK and EU.
• Established a monthly knowledge-sharing system with stakeholders, improving visibility and influence.
• Featured international journalists and legal experts through innovative digital campaigns.

Led coordination as the key focal point for the global PfV Network across regional, national and country offices, supporting technical focal points in Child Protection, GBV, Safeguarding, Disability Inclusion, and Climate Change.

• Collaborated across humanitarian and development teams to amplify field evidence and support policy positions to align advocacy priorities and influence systemic and transformative change.
• Supported influencing strategies and tools for country offices engaging ministries and local authorities.
• Spearheaded knowledge-sharing initiatives, internal and external communication, and learning and development to strengthen programmatic and influencing capacities across global offices.

Achievements:

• Significantly improved network engagement through tailored, inclusive communication strategies.
• Led and chaired the departmental EDI Group, embedding inclusive practices in team operations.
• Represented Plan in UK-based coalitions, including the BOND Inter-Agency Advocacy Group on Gaza.
• Co-authored Plan’s Decolonisation and Anti-Racism Position Paper and Theory of Change, socialised globally.

Supported communications and digital strategy, and coordinated with partners and stakeholders for the Regional Bureau.

• Produced media content (newsletters, media briefs, press releases), proofread speeches, and publications.
• Monitored media coverage and assisted in public events and campaigns.
• Recognised for adapting sensitive human-rights narratives into compelling communications.
• Created the Bureau’s internal Communications Toolkit to strengthen strategic storytelling and guide inclusive and accessible messaging.
• Advocated for youth and minority voices in communications, incorporating diversity.

• Conducted research, policy mapping and stakeholder analysis of UK and EU asylum policies and international partnerships.
• Contributed to writing proposals and advocacy reports with human rights framing and donor-aligned messaging.
• Co-authored a successful proposal for the ‘Get Me on Board’ initiative to empower Syrian women and girls in higher education.

• Engaged with stakeholders across civil society, local authorities, and creative sectors to design and deliver grassroot interactive projects focused on creative resistance to amplify voices of marginalised women and youth through arts, education, and policy dialogue.
• Initiated and delivered a participatory arts project addressing climate justice, racial and gender equity.
• Partnered with Surrey County Council to commission artists and host youth engagement forums.
• Mobilised funding and local government backing for targeted community empowerment initiatives.

• Coordinated academic events across multiple universities, enhancing knowledge exchange in the arts and humanities.
• Successfully organised 4 large-scale and high profile conferences
• Provided cross-institutional coordination and admin support for research activities across doctoral training partnership.

• Provided case management including safeguarding, risk assessment, crisis intervention, legal referrals, psychosocial rehabilitation and social support for survivors of domestic violence, especially migrant and refugee women.
• Facilitated group workshops, counselling services and rehabilitation planning.
• Independently handled a high caseload with trauma-informed support that led to long-term referrals and rehabilitation.
• Successfully overturned a critical legal case by reframing language and policy context, resulting in visa approval and restraining order.
• Advocated for inclusive, survivor-led programming with a rights-based approach, challenging institutional biases.