Krish O’Mara Vignarajah

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Global Refuge

Krish O’Mara Vignarajah is president and chief executive officer of Global Refuge, headquartered in Baltimore with a Welcome Center in Fell’s Point. Born in Sri Lanka, Vignarajah was nine months old when she and her family escaped a country on the brink of civil war and built a new life in Maryland. Her parents arrived with no jobs and $200 in their pockets, yet their journey would shape their daughter’s lifelong commitment to public service.

Vignarajah’s interest in grassroots politics began in elementary school, when she went door-to-door with her mother supporting Senator Barbara Mikulski’s historic first Senate race. This early exposure to civic engagement continued through college, where she spent a summer working for Senator Paul Sarbanes.

In leading Global Refuge, Vignarajah has learned essential lessons about leadership in Maryland. “One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that progress is personal and powered by proximity,” she said. “You can’t lead from a distance.” She noted that Maryland’s strength lies in its diversity and willingness to stand together across lines of difference, emphasizing that solutions are strong when shaped in coalition with various stakeholders.

Vignarajah has faced significant challenges confronting the scale of humanitarian need with limited resources, particularly during global crises affecting Maryland communities. “We overcame those challenges by building coalitions, lifting local leadership and leveraging partnerships across sectors,” she explained. She emphasized that leadership means asking the right questions and surrounding yourself with people who bring diverse strengths.

A compelling connection ties Vignarajah’s personal and professional journeys together. Her parents nearly moved the family to Nigeria before settling in Maryland.

Years later, she found herself in the Obama White House helping lead Let Girls Learn, an initiative launched in response to the kidnapping of schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Nigeria. “It was a full-circle moment that reminded me how personal this work can be,” she noted. “What began as a twist of fate in my family’s journey became a mission to ensure that every girl, no matter where she is born, has the chance to go to school and shape her own future.”

Honoree profiles were written using an artificial intelligence program and supported by information provided by the honorees and other resources. Each profile was reviewed, fact-checked and edited for accuracy by The Daily Record’s editorial staff.