Women's International Forum

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Women's International Forum Women´s International Forum
www.womensinternationalforum.org
Follow us on twitter: Women’s International Forum (WIF)
Patron: Mrs.

Catarina Vaz Pinto, Spouse of the Secretary- General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres. Executive Board:
Zarina Varukatty (Singapore) President, Manipreet Tina Koonjul (Mauritius) and Lina Fernandez del Portillo (Colombia), Vice Presidents, Pascale Fabre (Belgium) Treasurer, Monique Jackman (Barbados) Secretary, Pamela Jacovides (USA), Adriana Arriola (Paraguay), Amy Gertze (Namibia), Andrea Mlynarova (Slovakia), Arlene Perly Rey (Canada), Tracy Tokuhama Espinosa (Ecuador).

Meet the board member of the Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Mai Pham, spouse of the Permanent Representative of Vietn...
07/23/2026

Meet the board member of the Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Mai Pham, spouse of the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN.

Mai is a career diplomat with a background emphasizing multilateralism and global cooperation. Representing her country at key international forums, particularly the United Nations, she focuses on crucial issues including climate change, sustainable development, disarmament and gender equality.
Her expertise was critically important during her time as a member of the Ministry’s ad-hoc team for Viet Nam’s UNSC non-permanent membership (2020-2021). As Head of the International Peace and Security Division of the Department of International Organizations (2023-2025), Mai was instrumental in drafting and establishing Viet Nam’s first-ever National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).
Mai holds a BA in International Relations from the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam and a master’s degree in international studies from the University of Melbourne.

Meet the board member of the Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Tara Compton Parsan, spouse of the Permanent Representati...
07/20/2026

Meet the board member of the Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Tara Compton Parsan, spouse of the Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the UN.

Tara is a cultural diplomacy leader, international arts ambassador, and global exchange specialist whose work harnesses arts and culture as a platform for diplomacy, dialogue, and social impact. With more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of cultural engagement, international development, and peacebuilding, she has designed and led initiatives that strengthen international relationships, foster cross-cultural understanding, and empower emerging leaders worldwide.
As Co-Founder of Company E, a multidisciplinary arts, tech and cultural diplomacy organization, Tara has led initiatives in more than 30 countries across five continents. Her work spans artistic collaborations, leadership development, digital innovation, social entrepreneurship support, CVE and conflict resolution programming. Her programs engage artists, youth leaders, educators, marginalized communities, professionals and institutions, operating as platforms for dialogue, trust-building, and cooperation. Through using the tools of education and training, storytelling, movement, and collaborative artistic practice, these programs foster empathy, empowerment, resilience, and mutual understanding across cultural divides.
Originally trained as a professional dancer, Tara has performed and choreographed at leading institutions around the world. She maintains an active artistic practice, remaining directly connected to global creative communities, ensuring that her initiatives are grounded in collaboration and contemporary cultural dialogue. Additionally, Tara has developed arts-integrated curricula for school systems in the United States and internationally, advancing STEAM and movement-based learning as a tool for cognitive development, creativity, and leadership.

Meet the Vice-Chair of the speakers committee of the Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Ashveena Gajeelee, spouse of the ...
07/17/2026

Meet the Vice-Chair of the speakers committee of the Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Ashveena Gajeelee, spouse of the Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the UN.

Ashveena is the founder and CEO of Veritas Quest LLC. She equips leaders and organizations with tailor-made, practical solutions to address leadership challenges, spark transformative change, and deliver impactful results. She advises both public and private institutions, helping leaders align strategy with ex*****on while navigating uncertainty and system-wide challenges. Having worked in more than 50 countries, Ashveena brings a global perspective to her work.
Her partners and clients include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, McGill University, the World Bank, the WHO, Wharton Business School, Harvard University, and Big Win Philanthropy. Ashveena holds an MPA from l’École Nationale d’Administration (ENA), France; a dual master’s degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the Graduate Institute of Geneva (International Affairs); and an MBA from the University of Mauritius. She also holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Microbiology from Rhodes University, South Africa.

Meet the Chair of the speakers committee of the Women’s International Forum, Dr. Noha Emara, spouse of the Permanent Rep...
07/16/2026

Meet the Chair of the speakers committee of the Women’s International Forum, Dr. Noha Emara, spouse of the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the UN.

Dr. Noha Emara is an Associate Professor of Economics at Rutgers University, where she also serves as Director of the Quantitative and Online Programs. She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from Rutgers University–New Brunswick and also holds master’s degrees from Ain Shams University in Egypt and Jawaharlal Nehru University in India. She is also affiliated with Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where she teaches graduate courses in Macroeconometrics and Microeconometrics in the Program in Economic Policy Management.
Dr. Emara is widely recognized for her work in applied econometrics and economic development and consistently ranks among the Top 25% of economists in New Jersey according to the IDEAS RePEc rankings. Her research profile can be found on Google Scholar and on LinkedIn.
Her research focuses primarily on emerging markets, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Her work examines financial inclusion and its impact on financial stability, economic growth, and poverty reduction; the role of governance in shaping economic performance and financial policy effectiveness; the effects of digitalization and fintech on inflation, remittances, and development outcomes; and sustainable finance, including the role of green bonds in climate resilience and economic growth.

Meet the Board Member of the Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Patricia Boyd De Alfaro, spouse of the Permanent Represen...
07/15/2026

Meet the Board Member of the Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Patricia Boyd De Alfaro, spouse of the Permanent Representative of Panama to the UN.

Raised in New York City while her father served for many years as the Ambassador of Panama to the United Nations, Patricia graduated from Marymount School and attended Barnard College and Universidad de Panama becoming and accredited public interpreter.
A lifelong advocate for women and vulnerable children, she has for decades led philanthropic initiatives such as the Guadalupanas Summer Camp, in the highlands of Panama, offering a comprehensive approach to supporting children from sensitive urban sectors, and she is a passionate promoter for the annual National Oratory Contest, organized by Asociación de Damas Guadalupanas, a philanthropic organization of which she has been president and is currently a board member.
She has served as an advisor in the Office of the First Lady. During the Clinton Administration, she supported the Embassy of Panama in Washington D.C. enriching her experience in public diplomacy. Today she continues to advise NGOs, tends a flourishing garden and cherishes time with her grandchildren.

Meet the treasurer of the Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Monique Jackman, spouse of the Permanent Representative of B...
07/13/2026

Meet the treasurer of the Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Monique Jackman, spouse of the Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN.

Monique has had a career in the Guyana Foreign Service and has served as First Secretary in Brussels (1999-2004). She was most recently Guyana’s Deputy Consul General in Barbados (2015-2019). Monique has also worked as a consultant on international trade policy matters in the Caribbean. She holds an MSc. in International Trade Policy from the University of the West Indies, a Masters in Philology from the Moscow State Linguistic University and a Certificate in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford.

Meet the Vice-President of Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Antoinette Merrillees, spouse of the Permanent Representati...
07/10/2026

Meet the Vice-President of Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Antoinette Merrillees, spouse of the Permanent Representative of Australia to the UN. Antoinette has recently retired as a career diplomat with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade having joined in 1991. She has had postings in Bangkok as Third Secretary, Brussels as Counsellor and Istanbul as Consul-General ad interim (2022). She has also had missions in Rome, and as Charge d’affaires in Nicosia and Berlin. One of her last roles was as the Director of Governance in the Department of Foreign Affairs &Trade and before that Curriculum Director at the Australian Diplomatic Academy. She holds an Honours Degree in Arts from Sydney University, a Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade, from the Australian National University and a Master of Teaching English as a Second Language, Charles Sturt University. She is also a published author and musician. Antoinette is a happy mother of three children.

Meet the President of Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Aigerim Umarova, spouse of Permanent Representative of Kazakhsta...
07/09/2026

Meet the President of Women’s International Forum, Mrs. Aigerim Umarova, spouse of Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN.

Aigerim is an accomplished diplomat who embarked on her career in 2008 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Over the years, she has represented her country in key international arenas, including her postings at the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the OSCE in Vienna, Austria, and the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the United Nations in New York, USA.
Aigerim holds a bachelor’s degree in International Law from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Aigerim is a happy mother of three children.

A very sincere thank you to 2024-2026 President of WIF, Mrs. Rasha Alnaibari, spouse of the Permanent Representative of ...
07/01/2026

A very sincere thank you to 2024-2026 President of WIF, Mrs. Rasha Alnaibari, spouse of the Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait.

Starting her career in asset management and receiving her MBA from INSEAD, she joined Shell Gas and Power where she helped lead Shell LNG Trading’s Middle East division. With such a great experience she handled the presidency of WiF with great success.

Congratulations on completing your two-year tenure as President of the Women’s International Forum, a distinguished organization with a proud 50-year history. Your outstanding leadership and dedicated service have been truly inspiring.

The impact of your work and the inspiration you have given to so many will continue to be felt for years to come. On behalf of the WiF board we wish you every success and joy in the next chapter of your journey.

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