Ryan Figueiredo
Founder and Executive Director for Equal Asia Foundation
Ryan Figueiredo (he/they) is a leading advocate for LGBTIQ+ forcibly displaced persons and those navigating mixed migration pathways across Asia and beyond. As the Founder and Executive Director of Equal Asia Foundation, Ryan works at the intersection of migration, economic justice, and climate resilience, ensuring that LGBTIQ+ migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are recognized and protected within humanitarian and development responses.
Ryan has been instrumental in shaping policies and advocacy strategies that address the unique vulnerabilities of LGBTIQ+ individuals in displacement—whether driven by conflict, climate change, persecution, or economic hardship. Through deep engagement with UN agencies, regional bodies, and civil society organizations, they advocate for inclusive migration frameworks, pushing for improved access to protection, resettlement, and sustainable livelihoods for LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum seekers.