The International Support Committee is formed of people from all over the world who believe in our cause and are willing to support us in their own countries/states. Its members meet online twice per year. If interested, they are the most eligible to start a chapter in their region, or to partner with IFWE if they head a relevant organization.
Argentina, María Belén Morales Azar
María Belén Morales Azar is from Mendoza, Argentina. She is a Psychologist (2010) and a Psychology Professor (2012) who graduated from Universidad Del Aconcagua. She has also completed a Postgraduate in Focused Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at Universidad Del Aconcagua.
At the Universidad de Mendoza, Belén has taught a Psychology course. She was a teacher for six years at terciary levels in the following institutes: San Pedro Nolasco and San Vicente Ferrer. She has conducted cognitive stimulation workshops for the elderly.
Belén has been a member of the jury of Educational Management to evaluate final theses. She is also a Psychologist at the School Guidance Service of San Pedro Nolasco Institute. Belén sees patients through clinical psychology.
Australia, Bernadette Black
Bernadette Black is the CEO & Founding Director of Australia’s only national organization, BRAVE Foundation, which supports and represents 8,300 expecting and parenting teens in Australia each year.
Bernadette was the 2019 TAS Australian of the Year.
Bulgaria, Iva Todorova
Iva Todorova is IBM Government and Regulatory Affairs Executive, a globally integrated corporate function, providing public policy and government relations expertise. Her responsibilities include work with government on key economic, governmental, and societal issues; pursuing improved business environment and better legislative framework;
Prior to joining IBM, Iva was occupying executive positions in two NGOs as executive director and member of the board of directors – Democracy Foundation, the main partner of Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Bulgaria and European Democratic path.
During that time, Iva participated in different election processes and gained knowledge also in UK electoral procedures participating in 2007 UK local election, campaigning door to door with David Cameron and William Hague in the region of Manchester, UK.
In addition to the NGO sector experience, Iva has extensive experience in governmental area as occupying leading and management positions in the public sector – being Chief Legal Expert in the Legal Department, Director of Administrative, Legal and Information Services Department and Head of Legal Services Department in the Ministry of Trade and Tourism and the Ministry of Economy during biggest administrative reform in Bulgaria.
During her education in the Legal Faculty, and graduating as Master of Law, she was engaged in consultancy business within companies such as Ernst & Young Bulgaria and Price Waterhouse Bulgaria.
Her business interests include the challenges multinational companies face in working across countries and cultures, having different specializations in cultural diversity and strategy development.
Iva Todorova is co-founder of the organisation Women Empowerment in Bulgaria. WE is a non-profit organization in public service established to provide and support opportunities to network, discover and enable women in their professional journeys. WE provide platform for focused mentorship between female raising talents and established C-level executives to meet, mentor, sponsor and work together on innovative projects, where visibility, resilience and self-esteem are main focus areas addressed to the individuals’ leadership potential.
Canada, Grace Daccache
Grace Daccache holds a Master’s in Business Affairs from the University of Montreal, a Bachelor of Law from the Holy Spirit University, Lebanon, and a Diploma in Canadian Immigration Law.
Member of the Beirut Bar Association since 2001; member of the Immigration Consultants Council in Canada and in Quebec since 2007.
Immigration Lawyer at Daccache Immigration Inc., in Montreal, since 2012.
Managing Director at Maronite Foundation in Canada since 2015.
Senior Lawyer at Mr. Roy Abou Chedid Law Offices in Lebanon from 2009 till 2013. Lawyer at Mr. Samir Daccache Law Offices in Lebanon from 2006 till 2008. Immigration Consultant at Mr. Colin Singer Law Offices in Montreal from 2005 till 2006.
Ghana, Suzan-Hermina Adwoa Yemidi
Suzan-Hermina Adwoa Yemidi is a Ghanaian Development Practitioner with a passion for total human development. She believes that women and youth empowerment economically and socially are catalysts for sustainable growth and social impact. She has over 20 years’ experience in development management, social development and partnership building, having worked extensively with government agencies, civil society organizations, bilateral/multilateral development agencies in multicultural environments. Suzan is currently the Country Representative for Solidaridad West Africa with responsibility for the operations of Solidaridad in Ghana. She is also the International Programme Coordinator (IPC) for Cocoa for Solidaridad Network with responsibility for coordinating global cocoa programmes implemented in West Africa (Ghana, La Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone), Central America (Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala) and South America (Brazil). Her expertise includes Programme design and management, policy analysis, strategic planning, governance, social development, gender and social inclusion. She holds a Masters’ degree in International Development (Development Management) from the University of Manchester (England) and a Bachelor of Arts in Management Studies, from the University of Cape Coast (Ghana).
India, Suyogkumar Bhavare, M.D.
Kenya, Laureen Husband
Laureen Husband, Ed.D., is the Director of Strategic Expansion at Operation New Hope – a nationally acclaimed re-entry organization. She was the former Director of Health Equity and Community Engagement at the Florida Department of Health in Volusia. Prior to joining DOH-Volusia, Husband was at DOH-Duval where she oversaw Healthy Jacksonville and facilitated local dialogue and engagement around chronic conditions and illnesses such as childhood obesity, food insecurity, asthma, diabetes, and worksite wellness through public/private partnerships in Jacksonville.
Before joining Healthy Jacksonville, Dr. Husband was the Senior Program Manager for Polk County Health Department’s HIV/AIDS Program. Prior to that, Husband developed, implemented and managed programs addressing the wellbeing and welfare of children and women in the nonprofit sector. She has extensive experience working with community groups to address socio-economic security as well as health disparities. Husband’s areas of expertise include community development, food policy, grant writing, education, cultural competency, fiscal management, and resource development after natural disasters.
Laureen holds an Education Doctorate in Educational Leadership and has published a dissertation on the lived experiences of women in poverty. She is part of Kresge’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health Cohort 2. She was educated at the University of West Florida, University of Kentucky, and Berea College. She grew up in a small village in Kenya, East Africa.
Lebanon, Kholoud Wattar Kassem
Kholoud Wattar Kassem graduated from the American University of Beirut with a bachelor in sociology/anthropology and a teaching diploma in child psychology. Married in 1990, with three boys; taught at the American Community School from 1994 to 1997.Madagascar, Hasina Ranaivo
Hasina Ranaivo is an Entrepreneur from Madagascar. She is 40 years, married and has three little boys. She has created companies in Textile Development, in Wood Manufacture and in Coaching and Consulting services for more than 18 years now.
She believes in the power of being Human and being Authentic and real. She is working on the Human Empowerment and particularly with Children and Women.
She believes in the power of eternal learning. After more than 20 years of professional experience, she has completed a One Year Global Executive Coaching Program at HEC in Paris in 2017 and she has attended Intensive Leadership Program at HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL in Boston in 2018 and in 2019.
She accompanies young potential, women and men in Leadership and in Personal Development. She also does Coaching for C- executives, High level of decision makers, people from private and public sector. She gives space for people to breathe and to bridge the gap between where they are and where they would like to be. She is a Professional Coach for more than 15 years.
She does Consulting in Leadership, Adaptive Leadership.
She accompanies High executives and public high officers in dealing with real and adaptive challenges in organizations and in communities: changing mentality and mindset, long term solutions, making believers more than followers, working on recurrent challenges and not only technical problems.
As a Coach and a Consultant, She accompanies clients to hold steady, stay alive in this challenging world.
She is socially active by being Member of the Junior Chamber International since 2011 and she is co-founder of a charity for Children named «ELAN DU CŒUR» since 2011.
She is also member of the ALN (Adaptive Leadership Network from Harvard), the International Association of HEC Coaches Certified and the community of New Leaders.
Nigeria, Olajumoke Adenowo
Olajumoke Adenowo is an award-winning African architect, entrepreneur and philanthropist. She is also a public speaker, radio host and author. She is the founder of the boutique architecture and interior design firm AD Consulting, based in Lagos, Nigeria. CNN described her as “Africa’s Starchitect” and The Guardian (Nigeria) has described her as “the face of Architecture in Nigeria.” In 2018 she was recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) as one of the most inspirational women in architecture today.
Adenowo has been featured in the world’s foremost architectural journal Architectural Record and has spoken at summits and conferences including the Global Women’s Forum and Harvard Business School (African Business Club). She hosts a syndicated radio show on leadership “Voice of Change.”
As an architect Adenowo’s portfolio includes a host of multi-national and Nigerian clients including Coca-Cola, L’Oreal, The Nigerian Stock Exchange, Access Bank Plc and GT Bank.
As a public speaker, Adenowo has lectured on the arts, architecture, gender issues, women’s empowerment and entrepreneurialism in Africa. She is widely featured across the international media, including on CNN and Fortune.
She started her own award-winning architecture and interior design firm AD Consulting in 1994.
Sweden, Ola Nilsson
Ola is an experienced project manager with 18+ years of experience in social change-making in several countries – primarily focusing on anti-discrimination, gender equality and equal treatment for all. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Macalester Science, with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. He has been part of the board of several innovative anti-discrimination initiatives, such as Equalisters and The Global Village.
Ola loves to enable positive social change, community building, and facilitating people’s growth into heartful leadership.
Switzerland, Vira Shcherblyuk
Vira Shcherblyuk is an experienced Sales Business Development Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the food & beverage industry. Skilled in Negotiation, Food & Beverage, Sales, Sales Operations, and Sales Management. Strong sales professional with a Master in Economics focused in Management from the University of Lugano.
USA, MS, Missy Gowen Washam
Missy Washam was born with a passion for people and a giftedness to encourage, inspire, and motivate others to be their best self. Missy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from The University of Southern Mississippi and, for 15 years, she poured into children in her classroom. During her tenure as an educator, Missy received the prestigious Educator of Distinction award for the State of Louisiana.
This educator turned entrepreneur now owns a physical fitness franchise for children, “Teams of Tomorrow.” Missy served the national corporation of the franchise as National Director where she was charged with recruitment and training. Missy is certified and licensed as a Speaker, Trainer, and Coach with The John Maxwell Team. She also serves John C. Maxwell as a Senior Program Advisor for his team of global leaders.
Empowering women is very close to Missy’s heart; through retreats, keynotes, masterminds, coaching sessions, and training events, Missy aspires to help individuals connect the dots between their passion and purpose to reach their full potential. Missy is Co-founder and Executive Director for Soul Sisters Ministry which encourages women of faith from all over the world. Her work with this ministry inspired Missy to write a devotional book for women, “Because He Said So,” which will be released in the fall of 2020, along with her children’s book, “I Did That on Purpose.”
Missy resides in Clinton, Mississippi with her husband, Chris, and she is so proud of her two adult sons, Morgan and Michael. Missy is so excited to have another female join her family, her new daughter-in-law, Ashlynne, who is an empowered young woman. Missy believes that amazing things happen when women help other women and that, together, women can change the world!
USA, NY, Lina Beydoun
Director of Development, AUB. 13+ years of experience as an educator, researcher, and university administrator who is dedicated to global education and intercultural initiatives.
