Meet the 2013 - 2015 Board Members

Michele Hendrikse DuBois - President

Munich IWC

Starting her expat experience in 2005 in Amsterdam, Michele joined AWC Amsterdam serving
as Communications Chair and President. She comes to The Foundation with experience gained
from chairing the Philanthropic Strategy and Focus Committee in 2008 and attending FAWCO
Conferences. With a degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology and experience working
as team coordinator, she brings important organizational and communication skills to the
position. Relocating to Germany from the U.S with her husband, she is now a member of
Munich IWC. Working more closely with the FAWCO Board will be one of her major goals.

Cynthia Smith-Ayed - VP Communications

AIWC Casablanca

An experienced FAWCOite, Cynthia has been Regional Coordinator, served on the Presidents'
Task Force and the Health, Environment and U.S Voting Overseas Committees. Starting her
first experience abroad as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tunisia, she met her husband and has
lived abroad ever since. She is a member of AIWC Casablanca, has served in numerous
positions including President, and was Co-Chair of the 2011 FAWCO Conference in Marrakech.
A great supporter of The Foundation, she and FAWCO member, Gwen Dellar, ran the
"Marathon des Sables"on behalf of The Foundation to raise funds for the Members Skills
Enhancement Award.

Suzanne Wheeler - VP Fundraising

FAUSA

Suzanne has lived the expat life ever since she graduated from university and traveled the world
in her capacity as an Air Force Officer. She has many years of experience within FAWCO and The
Foundation having served as FAWCO Rep, FAWCO Foundation Secretary and The Foundation
Awards Administrator. She says that becoming involved in The Foundation has been her
raison d'être and has been focusing on it ever since.

Nan de Laubedère - VP Programs

AAWE Paris

An active attendee of the past 13 FAWCO Conferences, Nan has served as Regional Coordinator,
Presidents' Coordinator and Administrator for The Foundation's Education Awards. With a degree
in Art History, she has worked at museums in Italy, U.S and France. Married and with three
grown children, she is a member of AAWE Paris and has held many positions including President
and FAWCO Rep. She is interested in finding solutions to increase fundraising to contribute to
The Foundation's programs.

Margaret Hilditch - Secretary

Munich IWC

Born and educated in Northern Ireland, teaching and music have been her passion throughout her life.
Her life in Germany started when her husband was sent on a NATO tour. A member of Munich IWC,
she has served as President and after being invited to attend the conference in Vilnius, encouraged
her club to join FAWCO. She comments: "The Foundation helps to demonstrate the worthwhile
nature of charity work which can change lives dramatically".

Kathleen Coughlan - Treasurer

AW Surrey

With an MBA in Accounting and Finance from UCLA and years of working as a Controller for
various companies in the Los Angeles area, Kathy is also a Founding Member and Advisory
Board Member of a charitable foundation based in Bangkok, which is designed to help
disadvantaged women and to educate children.   She has more than 6 years experience
as Treasurer of AW Surrey, serving first in the late 1990’s with Melissa Mash.  In Kathy’s
own words – “I feel that we all are one people on this earth and we who have been
advantaged must support those that are not.”

Elsie Bose - Parliamentarian

AWC Dubai

Elsie Bose has had the privilege of belonging to three international volunteer organizations
and each one has been a life changing experience. As 1st VP of AWC Brussels she chaired
the Clubhouse Renovation Committee. She served as president of the American Women’s
Club of Toronto where her board established a scholarship endowment program at the
University of Toronto. Currently living in Paris, Elsie was president of the AWG Paris from
2003-2005 where the organization expanded its programs and its membership.

Elsie went to her first FAWCO conference in Stockholm. She was (and is) truly in awe of
the people that make FAWCO such a successful organization. She was elected to the
Foundation Board in 2004, served as Director of the Developments Grants Fund and
in 2008 was elected The Foundation’s president. She served on the Philanthropic Strategy
and Focus Committee, which developed the Target Program.

Elsie attended Mary Washington College and received a BA in Criminology from the
University of Maryland. She spent her professional career as a retail executive with
four major US department stores.

Kelly Al-Nashmi - Development Grants Program Administrator

Kelly, a native of southern Indiana, met her Saudi husband while attending the University of Southern Indiana in the mid 80's. She moved to Saudi Arabia over 23 years ago with her two young daughters to start her overseas adventure.  Kelly's husband of 27 years works as a computer security liaison for Saudi Aramco. Their four children are spread out between the U.S. & Saudi Arabia.

Shortly after arriving in Saudi Arabia, Kelly started teaching English to preschool aged children.  Finding her passion, she opened Mrs. Kelly's Morning Playgroup and operated it for 20 years in the Al Khobar area. Kelly attended her first FAWCO Conference in Berlin 2006 and was infected with FAWCO Fever! She has co-chaired the Education Support Committee, worked on the Recommendation & Resolution and the Target Selection Committee as well as a few others.  She is a past AWEP President and has held several board positions since joining AWEP, in 1993. Kelly is involved with the Boy Scouts of America Troop 1 in Dhahran and in her free time enjoys quilting & spending time with her children!

Carmen Clarke, Education Awards Program Administrator

Carmen Clarke, a native Texan, discovered the expat life in Paris, where she was an active member of AWG Paris. She helped to coordinate activities, volunteered in the office, served as Nominations Chairperson, and worked on a Long-Range Planning effort for the group. Carmen is currently living her second overseas assignment in Dubai, UAE, where she is a member of AWA. Carmen assisted with the FAWCO Awards process in 2012, and Chaired the effort in 2013. She will continue as Chair for 2014.

Rowena Hart, Corporate Sponsor Coordinator