Wanda Wyporska left her role as chief executive of Safe Passage International earlier this year alongside the charity’s chair, it has emerged.
Wyporska posted on LinkedIn last week saying that she and the charity’s outgoing chair, Magid Magid, the former Lord Mayor of Sheffield and a former MEP, had left the refugee charity in April.
Magid had been in the chair role for two years, while Wyporska had only been chief executive for a year.
It comes after Leyla Kayacik, former representative for migration and refugees at the Council of Europe, also left her trustee post earlier this year after less than two months at the charity.
Safe Passage International has appointed Donna Covey, former Refugee Council chief and former interim chief of Anti-Slavery International, as interim chief for six months while it recruits a permanent successor.
Wyporska declined to comment on her reasons for leaving the charity, but said in her LinkedIn post: “There is a great deal of work to do on anti-racism in the refugee sector, and I shall continue to fight implicit, explicit, direct and indirect discrimination and racism at all levels of organisations, as I always have done.”
She added: “I’m proud of my work there, which saw SPI undertake a governance review, begin work on a new international strategy, take up a seat on the Family Reunification UN steering committee and a similar role at Together With Refugees.”
Wyporska said that after a summer of rest she planned to offer strategic consultancy for strategy development, EDI, communications and policy and chief executive support for newcomers to the role. She also plans to support chief executives and trustees on anti-racist work.
A spokesperson for Safe Passage confirmed Wyporska left her role on 24 April and that Magid left his chair role earlier that month.
“We thank Wanda for her service and wish her the very best for the future,” the spokesperson said. They also thanked Magid, adding: “We are sure he will continue to champion our cause, and we thank him for his contributions.
“The trustees are in the process of recruiting a new chair.”
Magid has not responded to Third Sector’s request for comment.
In a statement, Safe Passage’s trustees welcomed Covey to the interim chief executive role, saying: “We are confident that she brings the expertise and skills needed to lead the organisation at this time, and support the incredible work of our dedicated team here. ”
Covey said: “It’s a pleasure to join Safe Passage International for the next few months, and oversee the important and expert work being delivered with people seeking safety in Greece, France and the UK.
“I’m already enjoying working with all the teams, our experts by experience consultants, board of trustees and senior leadership to support the organisation into its next exciting and ambitious phase.”