Empowering Refugees Through AI: Anna Jones on Rebuilding Lives with Dignity

In this episode of AI for Equity, we sit down with Anna Jones, CEO and co-founder of RefuAid and MeritAI, to explore how technology, especially AI, is reshaping refugee integration and empowerment.From her beginnings in law to leading two transformative organisations, Anna shares how language, re-accreditation, and access are key to restoring dignity and independence for refugees. She also discusses how AI-driven tools like Path and Merit are creating personalised pathways for refugees to rebuild their lives and careers.This conversation dives deep into community mobilisation, the power of context in AI, and the ways technology can challenge bias and create equitable opportunities for all.Watch the full conversation on YouTube to see the ideas come to life.Anna's Bio:Anna is the CEO and co-founder of RefuAid, a UK non-profit dedicated to providing access to finance for people who have been forcibly displaced. Since launching, RefuAid has supported over 2,200 individuals to overcome systemic barriers to employment, education, and financial independence. Through its Equal Access Loan programme, the organisation has distributed more than £2.8 million in interest-free loans, achieving an exceptional 98% repayment rate and delivering a return of £5.66 to the UK economy for every £1 lent.Building on this success, Anna co-founded Merit AI, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to tackle systemic inequalities in financial services. She also led the creation of Path, an AI-driven tool that guides refugees through professional reaccreditation pathways in the UK.With nearly a decade of experience building mission-driven organisations, Anna is passionate about developing sustainable, tech-enabled solutions to social challenges. Her work has been recognised by Forbes 30 Under 30 and Startups Magazine’s Most Influential Women of 2024.On stage and in conversation, Anna speaks about fintech innovation, financial inclusion, AI for social impact, and transformative approaches to refugee integration.Keywords: RefuAid, AI, social impact, refugees, community, technology, re-accreditation, language skills, equity, innovation.

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