Mustafa Alio

Mustafa Alio was born in Latakia, Syria. His own experiences of refuge, integration, and inclusion have been the foundation of his work and advocacy. He received his Bachelor degree in Business Administration in his home country then completed a post-graduate degree in Marketing Management and Financial Services in Canada.[3][1]

In Toronto, Alio studied marketing management and financial services, while also working at Naz’s Falafel House.[3]

Upon graduation, he worked as financial adviser at a major bank in Toronto.[3]

In 2012, after receiving threats from people in Syria, Alio applied for permanent residency, but was rejected by Canadian immigration authorities. He subsequently requested and received political asylum.[3][1]

Mustafa Alio is currently Managing Director of R-SEAT (Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table).[6] R-SEAT is an international project that aims to increase refugee inclusion at global policymaking tables within 20 countries across the world, ensuring their equal voice in decisions that affect them. He is the co-founder and the former managing director of Jumpstart Refugee Talent,[4][1] the organization that led initial conversations in 2017 with Canadian employers to contribute to creating the first of its kind economic mobility pathway program in Canada (EMPP) among many other achievements. He is also a Co-Founder and board member of the Syrian Canadian Foundation. He was a member of the Network for Refugee Voices, a coalition working to increase refugees’ engagement and rights with the international community to pursue meaningful participation, sustainable, and effective refugee policies. In addition, he was advisory council member for UNHCR Canada, an advisory committee member on social innovation for (IRCC) Immigration, refugees and citizenship Canada, and an advisory committee member on (LERRN) Local Engagement Refugee Research Network in (Lebanon, Jordon, Tanzania, and Kenya) about the role of civil society, local actors and refugee-led organizations in promoting protection and creating solutions.[7]

He worked closely with multiple government partners, international refugee networks, UNHCR, international civil society actors and other stakeholders to address gaps and improve programing that meet refugee needs internationally and more so within Canada.[7]

In 2018 he was part of a group that signed an open letter calling for calm after Syrian refugee Ibrahim Ali was arrested and charged for the murder of Marrisa Shen.[5]

Alio was part of the Canadian delegation at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva.[8][1] According to Professor James Milner of the Local Engagement Refugee Research Network, "It’s unprecedented to have a refugee sitting there as a national delegate.”

In 2021 he was the recipient of the Governor Generals Meritorious Service Decoration "For founding Jumpstart Refugee Talent to help newcomers enter the job market, become contributing citizens and start to rebuild their lives."[9]

Mustafa has contributed a number of articles on refugees’ issues for board and international public audiences. Some of his articles can be read in the Independent,[10] New York Times,[3] Stanford Social Innovation Review,[2] The Apolitical,[11] and Forced Migration Review.[12]

• Jumpstart Refugee Talent program official website