Fernanda Escobar Illoldi
President
Whilst born in Mexico, I have lived in Europe for almost 26 years now and I have both Mexican and Spanish citizenship. Professionally, I have a degree in International Relations although my career path led me to become a specialist in marketing for the legal sector.
I arrived to Prague in August 2014 and joined IWAP just one month later, so helping me discover and experience so much about the Czech Republic. Moreover, it has allowed me to meet so many courageous and strong women whose friendship has now become essential for me.
Dagmar Gorman
Vice President
Jenny Rassaby Ryan
Treasurer
Shirley Šorejsová Lanzieri
Membership Director
I am American born and raised. My father was Czech and my mother from Bolivia. These international roots have given me ample opportunities over the years to travel through both Europe and Latin America. After a career in International Banking, raising a family, and my father’s passing, I found myself returning to the Czech Republic, post-Velvet Revolution. I fell back in love with his homeland, and now I am a proud Czech citizen. I joined IWAP over 10 years ago. I have thoroughly enjoyed all that IWAP has to offer, especially meeting our members who come from so many diverse walks of life. It is an honor for me to serve the Board and to give back to an organization that has given me so much.
Kim Strebel
Communications Director
I am an American who hung up the corporate career for two years of expat life in 2005 and never looked back. Our family came to Prague in August 2012, for the second time, as it is home for our family. Prior to that we lived outside of Geneva, Switzerland and did a partial year in the states. I look forward to collaborating with all the wonderful and dynamic women of IWAP to glean more about their unique experiences that may motivate others in or outside of the Czech Republic.
Barbara Woodard
Charity Director
Advertising Director
I moved to Prague to be with my darling grandsons. IWAP has offered me a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and enjoy cultural events. Special joy is working with the generous IWAP ladies in the support of Czech Charities.
Bohumila Johnsonová
Social & Cultural Events Director
I am originally from the Czech Republic but I moved to the UK when I was 18 to escape the Communist regime and spent over 15 years in London. Then my international adventures really started. My husband, an international development specialist, brought me to Cameroon, Chad, Haiti, Kenya, Jordan, Tanzania, Mozambique, and finally to Indonesia over a 30 year period. In all these places I managed to keep myself busy with women’s organizations. But more than that, I was honoured to have worked with orphanages, refugees and even being a guide at the national heritage museum in Jakarta. My best memories are working in the slums of Nairobi with underprivileged children. Now I live back in my home country where a lot of things have changed, and let me add, positive changes indeed. I brought up 2 children.
I am ready to get started and look forward to organizing social events for the IWAP members.
Judy Talacko
Interest Groups Director
I am Australian born. My connection with Prague commenced in 1990 following the Velvet revolution.
My Czech husband who fled in 1948, returned to his homeland and from that time life was divided between Australia and the Czech Republic. I actually joined IWAP in 1991, but the intermittent interruptions for me to return to Australia made it impossible to continue my membership. However, my constant annual visits strengthened my love affair with Prague and the Czech Republic.
I finally settled to reside permanently in Prague in 2014 when I joined IWAP again.
From my first day at the General meeting as a member I have been an active member in many of the interest groups and have wallowed in all that IWAP has to offer. I love the diversity of the members and the friendships that have developed. Although I have family living in Prague, being a member of IWAP made my settling into Central European life so much easier.I am a professional artist and have had a long and interesting career since I graduated in Melbourne with a Fine arts degree in 1960. I have four adult children and 8 grandchildren.I have many passions, classical music, art, gardening, anything creative that gives visual pleasure, which Prague fulfils entirely, and am also a health and keep-fit fanatic.I am so grateful to be a part of this amazing women’s organization.
Denise Kanyuh
Website Director
I grew up in the midwest of the United States and moved to North Carolina after graduation to work for IBM in software development. I met my husband at IBM and we raised 2 children in Raleigh. As part of our downsizing we moved to Tampa Florida, my husband changed jobs, and when he got the opportunity to move to Prague, I quickly retired to deal with the logistics. I joined IWAP shortly after moving to Prague to help assimilate into life here. I have loved every minute of my time both in Prague and IWAP. Looking forward to all this chapter of our life has to offer.
Ex-Officio Members
Sandra Hill
Office Manager
Recording Secretary
Founding Members
BARBARA DALE (UK)
MALU FAGOAGA (MEXICO)
STELLA HOOKER-HAASE (USA)
PEGGY KRIKAVA (USA)
TRUDEMARIE LORDEREAU (German/France)
KOKO MATSUMURA (Japan)
TUDY McLAINE (Canada)
SUZANNE O’KEEFE (UK/France)
HELEN VINCENT (Australia)
