Dr Arif Saeid and Dr Fahima Saeid are Afghan-born medical doctors who resettled in New Zealand more than two decades ago. Both retrained as counsellors and have since become respected community leaders, drawing on their lived experience to support refugees and new settlers across Aotearoa.
Dr Arif Saeid currently serves as a Senior Refugee and Migrant Advisor at the Ministry of Social Development and is the President of the Refugee Council of New Zealand. His work spans community wellbeing, employment, social engagement, violence prevention, and youth development.
Dr Fahima Saeid is the CEO of the New Settlers Family and Community Trust (NFACT), a charitable organisation supporting newly arrived refugees and migrants nationwide. She holds an MBBS from Afghanistan and a Master of Counselling (First Class Honours) from the University of Auckland and is a registered counsellor with NZAC. She is a committed advocate for social justice, equal rights, and inclusive communities.
Both have played significant roles in the COVID-19 responses and in supporting the resettlement of more than 1,500 Afghan evacuees since September 2021 and both have recently been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list for services to refugees.