Board Members

Women’s International Forum

Advancing the UN's Goals Through Leadership and Action

Our mission, more vital than ever, is to advance the UN’s goals and Sustainable Development Agenda through meaningful discourse and action.

Board members play a crucial role in shaping our organization’s future and furthering its objectives by:

Amplifying Diverse Voices

Showcasing perspectives from the global diplomatic community and New York City.

Building Meaningful Connections

Creating opportunities to connect with speakers, change-makers, and our audience.

Supporting UN Goals

Aligning programmes with UN initiatives, especially the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Empowering Women and Youth

Fostering leadership through networking and speaking opportunities for the next generation.

Executive Board

WIF is guided by an Executive Board composed of dedicated volunteers who provide leadership, strategic direction, and oversight to ensure we stay true to our mission.  Subcommittees in the board take responsibility for coordinating membership and dialogues, and the general administration WIF.  

Kuwait
Rasha Alnaibari
President
Australia
Antoinette Merrillees
Vice-President
Barbados/Guyana
Monique Jackman
Treasurer
Canada
Arlene Perly Rae
Secretary
USA/Cyprus
Pamela Jacovides
Greece
Maria Kazana-Sekeris
Chair Membership
Ecuador
Katia Tinajero
Republic of Korea
Shil Rhee
Lesotho
Thope Nena
South Africa
Margaretha van Schalkwyk

Honorary Board

Female ambassadors and key female representatives from the UN are invited to serve on the Honorary Board to offer insights, recommendations and  connections to help WIF achieve its objectives.

2020-current

H.E. Mrs. Lise Gregoire-Van Haaren
Permanent Representative of Netherlands to the U.N
7 October 2024
H.E. Ms. Nicola Jane Forbes Clase
Permanent Representative of Sweden to the U.N
7 October 2024
H.E. Ms. Anna Jóhannesdóttir
Permanent Representative of Iceland to the U.N
9 September 2024
H.E. Mrs. Lara Erab Daniel
Permanent Representative of Nauru to the U.N
9 September 2024
H.E. Mrs. Suela Janina
Permanent Representative of Albania to the U.N
5 April 2024
H.E. Mrs. Cecilia Adout Majok Adeng
Permanent Representative of South Sudan to the U.N
12 February 2024
H.E. Ms. Mutryce Williams 
Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the U.N
15 January 2024
H.E. Mrs. Maria Michail
Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the U.N
7 December 2023
H.E. Ms. Merete Fjeld Brattested
Permanent Representative of Norway to the U.N.
01 September 2023
H.E. Ms. Christina Markus Lassen
Permanent Representative of Denmark to the U.N
01 September 2023
H.E. Ms. Sanita Pavluta-Deslandes
Permanent Representative of Latvia to the U.N.
22 August 2023
H.E. Ms. Glady Mokhawa
Permanent Representative of Botswana to the U.N.
22 August 2023
H.E. Mrs. Tania Serafim Yvonne Romualdo
Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde to the U.N.
17 July 2023
H.E. Ms. Sarah Safyn Fyneah
Permanent Representative of Liberia to the U.N.
13 February 2023
H.E. Ms. Leonor Zalbata Torres
Permanent Representative of Colombia to the U.N.
06 October 2022
H.E. Ms. Outi Elina Kalkku
Permanent Representative of Finland to the U.N.
30 August 2022
H.E. Ms. Maritza Chan Valverde
Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the U.N.
26 August 2022
H.E. Ms. Jane Mugafalu Kabui Waetara
Permanent Representative of Solomon Islands to the U.N.
16 June 2022
H.E. Ms. Paula Narvaez Ojeda
Permanent Representative of Chile to the U.N.
08 June 2022
H.E. Ms. Menissa Rambally
Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the U.N.
10 March 2022
H.E. Ms. Aida Kasymalieva
Permanent Representative of Kyrgyzstan to the U.N.
15 February 2022
H.E. Ms. Agnes Mary Chimbiri-Molande
Permanent Representative of Malawi to the U.N.
13 January 2022
H.E. Ms. Carolyn Schwalger
Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the U.N.
4 January 2022
H.E. Ms. Ilana Victorya Seid
Permanent Representative of Palau to the U.N.
16 September 2021
H.E. Ms. Antje Leendertse
Permanent Representative of Germany to the U.N.
16 September 2021
H.E. Ms. Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Permanent Representative of United States of America to the U.N.
25 February 2021
H.E. Ms. Lachezara Stoeva
Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the U.N.
17 February 2021
H.E. Ms. Zsuzsanna Horváth
Permanent Representative of Hungary to the U.N.
16 February 2021
H.E. Ms. Mathu Theda Joyini
Permanent Representative of South Africa to the U.N.
22 January 2021
H.E. Dame Barbara Woodward
Permanent Representative of United Kingdom to the U.N.
2 December 2020
 H.E. Mrs. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett 
Permanent Representative of Guyana to the U.N.
2 October 2020
H.E. Ms.. Pascale Baeriswyl
Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the U.N.
26 June 2020
H.E. Ms. Vanessa Frazier
Permanent Representative of Malta to the U.N.
6 January 2020

2010-2019

H.E. Ms. Sophia Tesfamariam
Permanent Representative of Eritrea to the U.N.
5 September 2019
H.E. Mrs. Egriselda Aracely González López 
Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the U.N.
21 August 2019
H.E. Ms. Noor Qamar Sulaiman
Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam to the U.N.
18 February 2019
H.E. Sheikha Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani
Permanent Representative of Qatar to the U.N.
24 October 2013
H.E. Ms. Inga Rhonda King
Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the U.N.
13 September 2013
H.E. Ms. Mary Elizabeth Flores
Permanent Representative of Honduras to the U.N.
29 April 2010

2000-2009

H.E. Mrs. Isabelle F. Picco
Permanent Representative of Monaco to the U.N.
11 September 2009

1990’s

H.E. Mrs. Aksoltan. Ataeva
Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the U.N.
23 February 1995