Our Members
Our partners are drawn from a variety of backgrounds and are committed to advancing women’s leadership in their countries.
Ten years ago WDN started with a goal of increasing women’s political and civic leadership.
Now, a full and robust network, WDN connects women with each other. Each member comes from different background and has a different story, but they embody many of same qualities; determination, passion, purpose, and a strong voice. Read some of our members’ achievements and their commitment to a better world.
Meet Silvia
Silvia Rita Souza is the Executive Director of WDN Brazil, where she has trained over 2,000 women in leadership skills across social, political, and economic spheres. Specializing in gender-responsive policymaking, candidate training and combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Silvia’s work has earned her numerous accolades. Her dedication to gender equality and ending GBV in Brazil is highlighted below.
Meet Indu
Indu Tuladhar, a WDN member from Nepal, is an inspiration whose passion and perseverance is creating positive change. Tuladhar grew up in the picturesque village of Bungamati, Lalitpur, Nepal, amidst a tapestry of cultural heritage. As the eldest daughter in a family valuing education and empowerment, she was instilled with a deep sense of responsibility to advocate for those whose voices often go unheard. Witnessing the disparities girls face in accessing education and rights ignited a fire within her that would fuel her lifelong commitment to empowering women.
Meet Ngeh Kelly
Ngeh Kelly Kushinyu, a member of WDN from Cameroon, embodies the essence of the network. Beyond her vibrant personality and unwavering optimism lies a dedicated trainer and local development practitioner, whose zest for life fuels her mission to champion women’s empowerment in Cameroon. From an early age, Kushinyu has been passionate about women in leadership and entrepreneurial spaces.
Meet Lucila
Meet Lucila Garcia, a dedicated WDN member from Argentina who was first introduced to the Network in 2015, when she attended WDN’s Women’s Leadership School. This program aimed to equip women with the necessary skills and confidence to actively engage in public life and maximize opportunities for effective leadership. Leveraging her extensive expertise in international affairs and a longstanding career in government, Garcia currently provides counsel to a senator in the province of Buenos Aires and a local deputy in Santa Fe. WDN Argentina has played an instrumental role in Garcia’s professional growth.
Meet Blerta
Women’s unequal political representation remains a problem all over the world, including in Albania. Women constitute approximately 50 percent of the 2.88 million people in Albania, but only 28 percent of Albanian parliamentary seats are held by women.
“Barriers to women’s participation in politics are numerous. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multi-party elections and destroying the communist regime in 1991, but women in leadership still face a lot of barriers,” said Blerta Balilaj, the Executive Director of the WDN Albania chapter.
Meet Hanna
Hana Hamood Abbas from Iraq is currently the director of the Public Aid Office in Baghdad. Hana and her team are implementing initiatives in Iraq which is not only recovering from war but also combating The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
“Iraqi women have suffered greatly after several wars and from harsh, constrictive societal traditions. My work focuses on increasing Iraqi women’s knowledge of their rights, raising their awareness of opportunities to work and get involved, and working to change the discrimination stereotype against women.”
Meet Valentina
