Please see the candidates below for the Executive Board members of the FWA-UK 2022 – 2023. Voting will take place during our next Annual General Meeting on Sunday, 18 September 2022. All candidates are listed in alphabetical order sorted by their last name.
Linda Challis
FWA member since: September 2017
Objectives: To continue being a part and supporter of FWA-UK’s goals and objectives.
Experience & Achievements:
Chair, Membership and Personal Development Committee – 2021-2022
- Organized:
- Day Trip to Portsmouth
- Getting to Know You Event (Membership Campaign)
- Christmas Party 2021
- Secured Venue for Christmas Party 2022 and Annual General Meeting 2022
- Submitted articles to the Halo Halo virtual Mag:
- Day Trip to Portsmouth
- Getting to Know You
- Present Membership of the FWA-UK
Chair, Fundraising Committee – 2020-2021
- Secured Funding for Domestic Abuse Video and Christmas Party Video 2020
- Spearheaded FWA-UK Typhoon Appeal 2020
Vice Chair, Executive Board – 2019 – 2020
- Devised Terms of Reference for Implementation on 2 Vice Chairs with Mrs Nenita Garrad
- Developed The Protocol for Project Development for use of EB Members with Dr Remy Reyes
Assistant Secretary – 2018-2019
Skills:
- Fundraising
- Event organisation
- Membership management (membermojo tool)
Elsie de Jesus
FWA member since: September 2012
Objectives: I would like to have an active role in the decision making of FWA-UK with regards to its future projects and events.
Experience & Achievements: As a member for 10 years, I have supported and participated in most of FWA-UKs fundraising and events like PND. This year I was an active member of the Membership and Personal Development Committee.
Skills:
- Fundraising
- Event planning
Crystal Dias
FWA member since: October 2017
Objectives: Crystal joined FWA-UK because she believes in the importance of Education which is the focus of the Association. She believes that learning is the key to giving children a head start in life. A strong advocate of women’s rights, she also promotes the FWA-UK vision of women, especially Filipino women, enjoy equality, respect and opportunities for development in all aspects of life in the home and in the wider community. Crystal has been in the Executive Board for 4 years between 2018-2022. She wishes to continue to make a positive contribution to the administration and management of the Association.
Experience & Achievements:
2018-2019 – Membership and Personal Development Committee
- Crystal was the administrator of MemberMojo maintaining and updating the membership register.
- She actively promoted FWA-UK activities and events on social media and wrote articles for the Filipino magazines in the UK such as One Philippines and Yes Magazine.
- She was the choreographer for the 2018 Christmas Party dance number
- She was on the PND working group committee and assisted in securing sponsors.
- She was the Keynote Speaker at the 2019 General Meeting
- She organised the Race for Life Cancer Research 5k In Hyde Park London which raised £4,000.
2019-2020 – Publicity Committee
- Crystal is the current Chair of the Publicity Committee. She is the Editor of the Halo-Halo Spring Issue 2020.
- She was the moderator for the “the Modern Slavery: Domestic Worker from the Middle East” Forum held at the Royal Garden Hotel London. She prepared and organised the visual presentation.
- She was the moderator for the “International Women’s Day: Rising to Challenges – Poverty, Life and Health” celebration at the Royal Garden Hotel London. She prepared and organised the visual presentation.
2020-2022 – Vice-Chair, Internal Affairs
- Oversaw the activities and projects of the Publicity Committee
- Organised the International Women’s Day virtual celebration by inviting distinguished guest speakers May Parsons, Rowena Romulo and Cllr Myla Arceno
- Drafted and checked legal documents on behalf of the Association
- Contributed articles for the Halo-halo magazine
- Introduced sponsors to the Association
Skills:
Crystal Dias is a UK solicitor, bound by ethical and professional standards. She is a team player and has supported the activities of the FWA-UK Board since 2018-2022. Crystal has been awarded in 2018 as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipino Women in the World by the Filipina Women Network. She was a mentor in the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and her law firm Dias Solicitors has been shortlisted for the 2020 Law Society Excellence Awards.
Celerina Grosser
FWA member since: September 2021
Objectives: To be able to impart my accounting experience and knowledge with FWA
Experience & Achievements: 30 years financial accounting and management experience
Skills:
- Well versed in office administration and personnel management.
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office / 365, Sage Accounting and Payroll.
Celia Herrera
FWA member since: June 2021
Objectives: I would like a more active role in supporting the objectives of FWA-UK.
Experience & Achievements: Active member of the Membership & Personal Development Committee and participated in other events of the FWA-UK like the PND 2022
Skills:
- Fundraising
- Event organisation
Ira Lehmann
FWA member since: November 2012
Objectives: To help further the cause of FWA through contemporary methods and raise increased awareness of our organisation to the wider Filipino communities within the UK
Experience & Achievements
2020 – 2022 (Secretary / Publicity Committee)
- Provided full secretarial support in all meetings of the Executive Board and Trustees, General Membership and Annual General Meeting, accurately recording the attendance, minutes, discussions, actions, votes and decisions; ensuring all documents are promptly circulated and archived in secured folders
- Introduced an online tool to manage online donations and gift aid
- Proposed the investment in a card reader to facilitate cash payments for events and in person donations
- Contributed to the Publicity Committee’s efforts in digitalising the association’s newsletters (Halo-Halo)
2016 June PND Coordinator
The event has generated over £13,000.00 in donations.
2015 – 2016 (Secretary / Membership Committee)
- Introduced an online tool to manage memberships and streamline new membership applications and renewals
- Saw a 22% increase in members since the last AGM on 20th September 2015 (from 50 members to 62 active members).
- Organised an exclusive invite-only event for FWA’s previous, current, and potential sponsors as well as partners to help raise awareness of the FWA profile and objectives and secure sponsorships for 2016 events. The initiative has managed to secure a £500.00 donation during the event.
- Organised an evening event to watch “Miss Saigon” with discounted tickets. Profits (£126.00) were wired to the FWA bank account
- Organised the first Member’s Merienda with a Keynote speech from Councillor Cynthia Barker “From Barrio to Borough”. Welcomed 5 new members as a result of the event
Skills
- Web development (WordPress)
- Online productivity tools
- Project management
Dulia Prado
FWA member since: 1993
Objectives: I hope to develop further my contribution to society – contribution which seeks no financial reward nor recognition but which delivers outcomes to the enhancement of the public good.
Experience & Achievements
- Chairman of the FWA-UK 2020 – 2022
- For many years with the FWA – UK, I was a member of the publicity team responsible for the publication of our newsletter, The Halo-Halo.
Skills
The Association has achieved a number of our goals in spite of the pandemic. I am proud to be a part of the team who drives the FWA forward.