As part of Regent’s Distinguished Speaker Series, we welcomed Zrinka Bralo, CEO of Migrants Organise, for a thought-provoking talk on the power of storytelling, the politics of belonging, and how we can all work towards a more compassionate society.
Zrinka, our first Distinguished Speaker for International Relations, opened her talk by addressing one of her greatest frustrations with how immigration is portrayed - the ‘othering’ of people in public discourse. Too often, she explained, migrants and asylum seekers are constructed as outsiders; their humanity is overshadowed by political rhetoric and media framing.
Drawing from her own experience as an asylum seeker fleeing war in Bosnia, Zrinka shared her personal journey of resilience - from the challenges of seeking refuge in the UK to her eventual right to remain after three years of uncertainty. ‘Like everything in life, it’s all about timing’, she reflected, contrasting her early opportunities to work with the restrictive policies that many asylum seekers face today.
Much of her discussion focused on the increasingly hostile political environment surrounding immigration in the UK. She highlighted how policies, such as those introduced under the Hostile Environment framework, can subtly and unconsciously infiltrate everyday life, shaping collective attitudes toward migrants. ‘It’s easy to forget how things were before,’ she said, warning against an apparent shift towards a gradual ‘normalisation’ of discrimination in some areas of society.
Zrinka also spoke about the important work of Migrants Organise, describing it as ‘a small organisation punching above our weight’. The group builds community and solidarity among migrants and asylum seekers, offering support while campaigning for systemic and positive change. One recent initiative, People Not Passports, illustrates the power of community-led action and shared stories in challenging harmful narratives.
Throughout her talk, Zrinka used real-world examples to illustrate a shift in public conversation around migration from some media outlets. In one case, a cleaner was fired for working two jobs - a story that focused on legal breaches rather than the economic hardship that made such work necessary. For Zrinka, this reflected how migrants are too often blamed rather than understood.
Her message was clear: storytelling and organising are tools for empowerment. Through campaigns, community organising, and collaboration, Migrants Organise seeks to build belonging and collective strength. ‘Our response to negativity is to organise,’ she affirmed.
Responding to thoughtful questions about colonial legacies, social inequality, and policy reform, Zrinka encouraged everyone to see the connections between these issues. ‘Nothing exists in isolation,’ she said. ‘We must educate ourselves and each other to understand the world we live in - and to make it better’.
Her final message resonated strongly with the audience: every one of us has the power to stand together and push for change.