The IWF has the following objectives:
- Promote professional networking, resources, and opportunities;
- Support community projects and other philanthropic endeavours;
- Organize meetings with speakers with significant personal experiences;
- Promote guided cultural visits;
- Organize excursions around the city and in the region; and
- Organize meetings for cultural and linguistic exchanges.
The Board members of the IWF are elected by IWF members during the May Monthly meeting in a ‘Assemblea Ordinaria’ and are appointed for a period of 3 years.
The Board meets on a monthly basis (excluding the summer months) to monitor progress on its objectives, make decisions and plan for the future. If you have an issue that you would like discussed at a Board meeting, please email our secretary (details below).
In addition to the elected Board positions there are several Volunteer Leadership roles that are not actual elected board positions but are key in supporting the Board.
For specific enquiries, please email one of our Board members or Volunteer Leadership members whose profiles and details are listed below. We would love to hear from you!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Nina Vellucci
Nina grew up in Queens, New York, where she completed a degree in business and marketing before moving to Bologna. She has been in Bologna for 22 years and has had a series of jobs, typically in office settings currently working as administrative staff at The International School of Bologna. Nina has been President of IWF Bologna for the past two years and has been on the board several times in her 20 years being an IWF member. As President, she is responsible for the strategic direction and management of the association and all its engagement activities. Her main goal is to make IWF Bologna a place to feel like home to newcomers and old members. In her free time, she loves travelling, going to the gym and spending time with her two children.
On the board since 2021
Email: president@iwfbologna.com
VICE PRESIDENT
Antonella Berni
Antonella joined IWF Bologna in 2018 and assumed the role of VP in 2022, working with the Programming Team and focusing on institutional relations. She has lived in Bologna for 20 years and has recently co-founded a publishing house, being her main interests writing and editing. She enjoys nature but also social life, philanthropic activities and wellness.
On the board since 2021
Email: vicepresident@iwfbologna.com
SECRETARY
Stephanie Sinclair
Stephanie is a consultant working mainly in Artist Legacy and Private Collection Management. She’s worked long-term in both the United States and United Kingdom before moving to Italy in 2018. She works with a select set of international clients and travels often. Stephanie is passionate about philanthropy, supporting women's initiatives, and engaging with her community. She's excited to be part of the IWF board helping empower and support all women in the Bologna community by creating opportunities for learning, growth, and connection. As the IWF Board Secretary, she is the administrative point of the Board, writes the Weekly News Flash, and coordinates the IWF website. In addition, Stephanie heads the IWF Diners Club which allows her to indulge in her gluttonous appetite for dining amongst good atmosphere, good bubbly, and even better conversation. In her down-time she enjoys over-loving her plants, attending the theatre and symphony, swimming and beachside sun, and most of all spending Sunday mornings in bed reading with her marmalade kitty Hubble.
On the board since 2021
Email: web@iwfbologna.com
TREASURER
Dorothea Knoebl
Dorothea is IWF member since 2005 and was already on the board in 2006/2007.
Currently she is IWF's treasurer and lives in Bologna with her family for many many years.
Travelling, skiing, aperitivo with friends & movies are some of her hobbies.
On the board since 2021
Email: treasurer@iwfbologna.com
MEMBERSHIP
Sigrid Hulisz
Although originally from the Netherlands, Sigrid has lived the last 19 years in Italy and Asia. She graduated in Law and worked as civil law notary in Amsterdam, before moving to Milan to follow her husband. After several years in Asia (Shanghai and Singapore), they moved to Bologna in 2017, where Sigrid soon started working as a trademark attorney. To meet international like-minded women and help her integrate in the new environment, Sigrid joined the IWF that same year. The next year she joined the board and has been part of the membership team ever since. In her free time she loves travelling, enjoys walking in the Bolognese hills, spending time in the mountains or at the seaside with her family, Pilates and reading books.
On the board since 2018
Email: membership@iwfbologna.com
MEMBERSHIP
Nicole van Leenen
Nicole has been living happily in Bologna with husband and daughter since the summer of 2021. She is Dutch and has an international background, growing up in the Middle East, Africa and Europe and working in the Netherlands, Vietnam and the UK. Nicole is a legal consultant who specialises in data protection law. The IWF made her feel very welcome in Bologna and it is her objective to do the same for new and current IWF members, and contribute to the wonderful women’s organisation the IWF is. Being a mum Nicole also co-leads the IWF’s Ciao Ragazzi kids group. She loves to sing, travel, cook, watch movies, listen to Desert Island Discs on BBC4, enjoying the Italian sunshine and spending time with family and friends.
On the board since 2022
Email: membership@iwfbologna.com
PROGRAMMING
Julia Gottschling
Julia moved to Bologna for work back in 2014, bringing her husband and dog-son Clyde along on the adventure. She works as the Head of Planning & Allocation at Furla. After spending several years in Italy, it wasn't until joining IWF in 2021 that she finally felt at home and found a community. She is Co-Chair of the Programming team for IWF. When not working hard to bring Furla Handbags to the world, or planning exciting monthly IWF events Julia enjoys hanging out with friends, her husband, and dog, going to art events or discovering the delicious regional foods in Italy. (Pesto Genovese is her favorite, but don't tell the Bolognese!)
On the board since 2022
Email: programming@iwfbologna.com
PROGRAMMING
Elena Fiorani
Elena is from the North of Italy, moved to Emilia Romagna in 2019 and spent, during her youth, 10 years in England, where, after an Italian Diploma in Accountancy, she took up English/Italian translation Studies. For the past 15 years she has been working in Sales and Project development for the High-end bathroom and kitchen design sector. In the past, she worked in different industries, including events managements and non-profit, so she joined the IWF board in 2022, as part of the Programming Team, to make good use of the professional experience gained over the years. Her main duties in IWF are related to the organisation of monthly IWF events. In her free time she enjoys books, cinema and red wine.
On the board since 2022
Email: programming@iwfbologna.com
INTEREST GROUP LIAISON
Natalia Woldarsky Meneses
Natalia became an IWF member in 2014, and joined the board in 2016 as Secretary. During those years, in 2018, she became the group leader of the runners and walkers group, a role she continues to fill. She served the board as secretary until September 2019, a year she juggled a baby and toddler. In 2021 she joined the board again, this time with the membership team. This social year, 2022-23, she has served the board as the Interest group liaison. Her role involves supporting group leaders as well as coordinating and communicating updates and group news with the social media contact for IWF. Finally, since 2021, she has been working along side other board members, Secretary and Web Support, to revise and rebuild the Professional Network. At the core of this work is the intention ensure the Professional Network operates as a system of support and connection for members and not as another interest group as it has in the past. Since 2022 we have begun having sessions and jump started the IWF LinkedIn page.
On the board since 2021
BOARD SUPPORTING POSITIONS
WEB ADMINISTRATOR
Hannah Pfanzelt
Hannah lived in Bologna from 2018 to 2020 and served as Secretary on the IWF Board for two years. Back in Germany, she continues to support the board with the design and maintenance of the website.
Email: web@iwfbologna.com
MEDIA CONTACT
Ari Gizzi
Ari is the IWF Bologna Social Media Manager. Hailing from Berkeley, CA, Ari fell in love with Bologna while spending her third year of university on exchange here. She moved back to Bologna in January 2022. Ari has worked in various roles in international education, as a writing consultant, and in communications and event planning. She currently is a translator, a research assistant, and an executive assistant to a California-based artist. Ari joined IWF Bologna in January 2022 and has been managing the social media since June 2022.
Email: media@iwfbologna.com
INTERN
Ruth Culligan
Ruth is from Ireland and moved to Bologna in 2022 after spending three years in the Netherlands. She studied Political Science and International Relations at Leiden University. In Italy, Ruth is pursuing a cooperative Master's degree from the University of Bologna and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Ruth has worked with non-governmental organisations advancing human rights. In her free time, Ruth enjoys travelling, hiking and cooking for friends.
Email: ruthculligan415@gmail.com
