Vienna, Austria, 12 November 2024 – In a unanimous vote at today’s UNWG General Meeting, held at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna International Centre, members of the United Nations Women’s Guild (UNWG) elected their new Board for the upcoming year. The 2025 UNWG Board brings together a diverse group of talented and dedicated women from around the globe, committed to advancing the Guild’s mission of promoting cultural exchange, social service, and support for charitable initiatives worldwide.
The newly elected UNWG Board members for 2025 are as follows:
- President: Nora Aubert, USA
- 1st Vice President: Maria Zelda Rojas, Philippines
- 2nd Vice President: Dorika Esther Achachi, Kenya
- Treasurer: Naeem Akhter, Pakistan/Austria
- Secretary: Makaltouma Diakite, Niger
- Membership Chairwoman: Burghild Mank, Germany
- Bazaar Chairwoman: Rana Hawash Al-Masri, Palestine/Austria
- Newsletter Editor: Marina Balasanyan, Armenia
- Publicity Chairwoman: Zahra Shahabi-Sirjani, Iran/Austria
- Activity Chairwoman: Maya Subki, Indonesia
- Welcoming Chairwoman: Dalila Leon-Kostal, Mexico/Austria
The UNWG, founded in 1967, has established a strong legacy of philanthropy through its support of educational and humanitarian projects worldwide. With representatives from over 100 countries, the Guild’s events, notably the annual International Festival and Charity Bazaar, are highlights of the Viennese social calendar, raising funds that impact communities in need globally. This year this will be on 30 November 2024, 10:00-17:00
The 2025 Board was nominated by the dedicated efforts of the Nominating Committee: Tamara Babayan-Bohdjalian (Chair, Iran/Austria), Yvonne Hammal (Palestine/Austria), Diana Christova-Boal (Australia), Mary Bromley (Canada), Ana Claudia Gordillo Rangel (Mexico), Anna Fenopetova (Russia/Austria), and Munira Chudoba (Tajikistan/Austria).
Newly elected President Nora Aubert, who represents the United States, will serve alongside this incredible team of women from diverse backgrounds and cultures, united by our shared commitment to making a positive impact. Together, they will build on the UNWG’s legacy of compassion, unity, and service, “joining hands to help children.”
First Vice President Maria Zelda Rojas, from the Philippines, brings her extensive background in international community service, enriched by her longstanding career at the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). In her free time, she actively supports Filipino and international organizations across Europe, a testament to her passion for community building.
The Board will officially assume their responsibilities in January 2025, marking a year filled with ambitious plans to deepen the Guild’s reach and expand support for global projects, particularly those benefiting vulnerable women and children. Their leadership will be instrumental in organizing the Guild’s signature events, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and upholding the core values of the UNWG.
For more information on the UN Women’s Guild, its initiatives, and upcoming events, please contact:
United Nations Women’s Guild Vienna,
Vienna International Centre, P.O. Box 400, A1400 Vienna, Austria
+43 1 2600 24276 or +43 1 26026 4284
Or visit their social media platforms:
- Facebook (members only): UNWG Vienna
htps://www.facebook.com/groups/421 465954606097/
Request access from the Publicity Chair.
- Facebook: UNWG International Festival Charity Bazaar (public)
htps://www.facebook.com/unwgvienn a/
- Instagram: unwg_vienna: htps://www.instagram.com/unwg.vien na/
- Website: UN Women’s Guild Vienna: htps://unwg.unvienna.org/unwg
About the Author
Sarah Jozelle Rojas is pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the University of Vienna and finishing a course in fashion communications at the University of Arts London. Her interests include fashion, travelling, and pole dancing. She also enjoys sampling different cuisines. An avid and indiscriminate reader, she expresses her biculturalism through poetry. She is a member of the following Philippine and international organizations:
- Bikol Society Austria (BSA)
- European Network of Filipino Diaspora Austria (ENFiD – Austria)
- Philippine Austrian Cultural and Educational Society (PACES)
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