10 minute read
INTERVIEW
Mitchell & Karen Pham
REFUGEE merits lauded lauded
Mitchell Pham struck HELEN PERRY as a man who constantly perceives opportunities and makes constantly perceives opportunities and makes use of the possibilities they afford. As such, he use of the possibilities they afford. As such, he impressed with his business acumen and impressed with his business acumen and his commitment to ensuring New Zealand his commitment to ensuring New Zealand recognises and welcomes the considerable recognises and welcomes the considerable benefits refugees can bring to this country. benefits refugees can bring to this country.
Refugees in New Zealand have an avid supporter in Mitchell Pham, a leading businessman, technology entrepreneur and a erce advocate for capitalising on the talents and strengths of displaced people whom he calls, ‘new Kiwis’. A former refuge with a huge story to tell (see page 8), he is keen to see New Zealand extend its refugee quota for many reasons. “Apart from the humanitarian rationale, refugees a ord desirable skills, exceptional drive and (because of the trauma many have endured which has shaped them) great resilience from which we as a country can bene t.” Whilst understanding the need to balance the cost of resettling refugees with the country’s capacity to accommodate greater numbers of migrants, including refugees, Mitchell believes the value and attributes refugees bring outweigh any di culties. “Our population of ve million is not a critical mass if we aim to grow the economy and li the standard of living. Therefore, if we aspire to grow through
immigration we could, and should, accept more refugees and employ their input, qualities and desire to succeed.” Because he believes such assets are grossly undervalued and under-utilised at a time when our current workforce is calling out more talent but failing to attract it, Mitchell works tirelessly to promote better understanding of ‘new Kiwis’ and use of their whom he calls, attributes. What’s more, he is ‘new Kiwis’. hopeful the country can, and will, do better. A former refuge with a huge story Among the many hats he wears, to tell (see page 8), across a broad spectrum of he is keen to see business and the community, New Zealand extend Mitchell is currently serving on an its refugee quota for advisory panel to provide input to many reasons. a group of government agencies which are working to revise and “Apart from the refresh New Zealand’s migrant humanitarian rationale, and refugee strategies. refugees a ord desirable skills, exceptional drive “I strongly support the approach and (because of the trauma our government is taking this time many have endured which around and I’m excited to see has shaped them) great what comes through as a strategy resilience from which we as a for next decade. country can bene t.” “While our refugee quota has Whilst understanding the need increased, we can always do to balance the cost of resettling better. For example, the process refugees with the country’s for refugees to bring out families capacity to accommodate greater le behind remains arduous. It is numbers of migrants, including possible to apply for a visa which refugees, Mitchell believes the allows a refugee to bring four value and attributes refugees family members to New Zealand bring outweigh any di culties. but it must be done within two years otherwise the visa expires and there is no other opportunity to reapply.”
Story continued from page 7.
In his case, Mitchell, like most others, applied immediately, keen to ensure his family quickly escaped the di cult situation he le behind.
“But this proved totally impractical at the time. I was at school, then rst year university, studying all the time while working to save money to bring my family here. I just couldn’t do it in the two-year time frame.
“It took a total of 30 years before my siblings and their families were all in New Zealand a er individually applying to settle here. It has not been possible for my parents to make the same move.”
Now, in the world’s current, uncertain times, Mitchell would like to see changes to this visa o er.
“We need to recognise that all countries are interconnected and that we could and should do more. If we only focus on trade opportunities, we miss other opportunities.”
For those with reservations about integration di culties between di erent cultures and ethnic backgrounds, Mitchell – who o en has up to 27 nationalities working together at his Auckland o ce – is con dent such hurdles can be overcome.
“We are already a di erent and diverse nation with many new Kiwis feeling that they really belong here. Whilst we should never abandon our roots we can also connect and bind with each other, to forge new strengths and pathways.
“When I rst arrived in New Zealand, I used to feel di erent TO everyone else. Now, I feel di erent LIKE everyone else.”
Based on his own experiences, Mitchell says he is entirely optimistic that if New Zealand fosters new international relationships through a variety of means, the people and the country will grow and prosper.
“Who would have believed that arriving here as a teenager with nothing to start with, I would be in the position to contribute and make the positive impact I can today.
“I am absolutely not special or unique. I am just one of many examples of what refugees who have overcome hardship and trauma can achieve and make an impact on this country.”
miraculous journey
Former refugee and business phenomenon, Mitchell Pham’s dangerous flight as a 12-yearold from worn-torn and poor Vietnam to the two years spent in Indonesian refugee camps before being rehomed in New Zealand, is a story which continues to amaze.
Mitchell Pham’s escape from a country ravaged by civil war reads like something from an espionage novel. It involved subterfuge, courage, and cunning.
The eldest of three children, his early years were spent growing up in a mainly rural area of what is Ho Chi Minh city today.
“I was just four when Saigon was captured by the North Vietnamese ending what had e ectively been a two-decade long conflict.”
As the struggling economy saw food and water shortages, families strived to survive. Like thousands of others, Mitchell’s family tried to flee Vietnam. Two failed attempts saw them all arrested and imprisoned.
“Eventually, when I was 12 it was decided to make one last desperate bid to escape but we had run out of resources. They family a ord to send only one person. That was me!”
Despite the dangers, Mitchell says he felt relatively prepared because of the earlier escape attempts – “But, I had no idea what was in store… a truly frightening passage of several days with 67 people jammed onto a 12-metre shing boat.
“We made it down the Mekong but then came a terrifying chase by the coast guard who red on us with machine guns. I was terri ed and feared we wouldn’t escape alive.”
On nally making it out to sea, the group still had to cross open waters (and face poor weather) before seeking asylum in Indonesia.
“Our situation deteriorated when we ran out of food, water, and fuel. Then, you can imagine our excitement when a cruise ship came upon us and stopped. However, we were absolutely deflated when the passengers started taking photos before the ship moved o again. There was no rescue. In fact, as it departed its wake nearly sank us.”
Eventually, the small boat dri ed towards an oil rig. Workers spotted and rescued the physically drained and mentally exhausted escapees who were then sent to their rst refugee stay in Indonesia.
And, so began the next stage of Mitchell’s miraculous journey
“Over the next two years I stayed in four refugee camps with the last, and largest, housing more than 20,000 people. They were overcrowded and lacking food, clean water, sanitation, healthcare facilities, school, infrastructure – you name it.
Determined to stay on top of his situation, Mitchell undertook various projects including teaching other refugees basic English at a United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) language school.
Nevertheless, he was still just a child, alone in a foreign country, and completely disconnected from his family.
Advanced English Class Graduation Class Graduation in camp (le ); With buddhist volunteers in camp (le ); With buddhist volunteers in camp; First day in camp; First day in New Zealand in New Zealand (below). (below).
know if I’d survived. I later learned that a er my escape they went into hiding to avoid being arrested.”
A er ve years the family were reconnected through letters but it was decades before they were reunited in Auckland. Today, Mitchell says he is very grateful to have his brother’s family living in Half Moon Bay and his sister’s family in Epsom.”
Mitchell also counts himself fortunate that at 13 and a half, his dream of resettlement in Aotearoa New Zealand became a reality. He arrived here in August 1985 and over the next few years stayed with several families in Auckland before later setting out on his career path.
“This was the beginning of countless new challenges ranging from adapting to a di erent culture and climate to a new schooling system,” he recalls. “Settling wasn’t easy; it took me 10 years to feel at home.”
Mitchell’s story might have ended there but it seems he was destined for greater things. In 1993 he and his tight-knit group of four university friends ventured into business together, founding the well-known Augen So ware Group.
“We were passionate but not very experienced so we didn’t see any of the looming challenges which was a blessing. If we had, we might not have gone ahead.”
The enterprise took o and grew into a technology group of interconnected companies, now operating in New Zealand and South East Asia.
Proud of his business achievements, which include many awards and accolades, whilst also creating opportunities for others, Mitchell hopes New Zealand’s policymakers will recognise that refugees have much to o er this country.
“I hope we will adopt refugees in the same way we adopt international talent. Fundamentally, we are no di erent to those who have more means to come to this country to ll jobs, and provide much needed skills.
“Refugees provide a pool of talent as well as economic and social opportunities for countries which embrace them. New Zealand can use these abilities more than ever.”
MANY HATS MITCHELL WEARS
A three-decade career in business entrepreneurship and technology innovation now sees Mitchell Pham as a director of CodeHQ (formerly Augen So ware Group) in New Zealand and of the Kiwi Connection Tech Hub – a platform for NZ technology businesses to accelerate presence in Southeast Asia.
Outside of his own business interests, Mitchell serves as Chair of the Digital Council for Aotearoa NZ, NZTech, FinTechNZ, NZ ASEAN Business Alliance and NZ Asia Institute. He has been involved with the board of the Asia New Zealand Foundation since 2005, and currently serves as an honorary advisor. He is also a NZTE Beachheads Advisor in technology business for South East Asia.
Internationally, Mitchell has been recognised as a World Class New Zealander by KEA, a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and an Asia 21 Fellow and Global Council Member of the Asia Society. He is also a member of the Strategic Alliance Vietnamese Ventures International network and an executive member of the global Vietnamese diaspora business network BAOOV. patron of the Auckland Refugee Family Trust and director of HOST International Aotearoa.
These organisations assist refugee individuals, families and communities in New Zealand.
