Board of Directors - IWEN Canada

Board of Directors


IWEN Board of directors

Support Members

Profiles

Kevin Edgecombe

Kevin’s passion for IWEN started during a visit to Nepal in 2009 where he and his wife Linda travelled to Kathmandu and the Dang region. It was there that the two of them had the benefit of meeting many of the young girls whose lives have been changed by the efforts of IWEN volunteers. Not long after the visit Kevin and Linda came up with the concept of “Classrooms for a Cause”. Kevin was extremely inspired by the spirit of the Nepalese people and in April of 2012 lead a team of volunteers to build 2 classrooms at the Chainpur School in Godhawa, Nepal. This experience certainly solidified his commitment to the charity and the people and he looks forward to his first term as President of the board. Charity profile, Sponsorship, Classroom Construction and Sustainability are high priorities for Kevin and his role with the Charity. Kevin loves the outdoors, hiking, camping, fishing and boating. He and Linda have 2 beautiful daughters, Chloe and Josee. Kevin is Owner and President of Edgecombe Builders in Kelowna.

Jill Conroy, CDA

Jill has worked in Kelowna's dental field as a Certified Orthodontic Dental Assistant now for almost 10 years. She currently manages Align Smile Clinic for Dr James Scramstad, and loves her career and 'dental family' there. Jill's work experience and past volunteer opportunities have contributed greatly to her new position as IWEN's Vice President. As head of the communication's committee, Jill ensures that IWEN's website, blog, Twitter and Facebook accounts are active and keep IWEN's supporters up to date. With a vision of encouraging volunteer vacations and missions trips for years to come, Jill is extremely passionate for the cause both here and in Nepal.

Paul Whitewood

Linda Edgecombe, BA

Linda is an internationally popular motivational speaker on the topic of work/life balance. Her humorous yet insightful keynote addresses have thrilled groups as diverse as McDonald's Restaurants and Shell Oil to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Edgecombe County Schools. We are incredibly lucky to have Linda as our Fundraising Director again this year, and are very grateful for her support. Linda is also the author of several best selling books, and sells them as well as IWEN scarves at her various speaking engagements around North America.

Heather Oishi, CEA

Education is Heather's passion. Helping students with special needs, Heather believes in life-long education and that education is the ticket to opportunity. As a full time Certified Education Assistant, mother, wife and community volunteer, Heather enjoys a life full of family and friends. She has been an extremely valuable resource for IWEN here in Kelowna, and her enthusiasm for education is evident in her work fundraising for our students in Nepal. Heather is currently our Membership Director, and is the kind person updating your sponsor relationships online, reminding you of upcoming payments and answering your questions about specific students.

Deana Hills, CDA

Deana has been a Certified Dental assistant for 25 years and has worked for Dr. Richard Bell as his Surgical Assistant at the Okanagan Oral Surgery Center for 14 years.  She has had a lot of volunteering experience during her professional career as a regional representative and then Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Certified Dental Assistants of B.C.  She loves the outdoors and in her spare time can be found hiking, biking, skiing or out for a run.  Her involvement with IWEN began as a volunteer on their first classrooms build in Nepal.  After seeing firsthand what a difference IWEN is making in the lives of the girls they support as well as their families and their community, she decided to run for a position on the Board of Directors.  Deana has two grown children and two wonderful little granddaughters that are a blessing and a joy!

Sherri Chapman

Sherri is the owner of Platinum Personnel a full service employment agency in Kelowna. A 35 year Kelowna resident, Sherris passion is for people, whether helping them get gainfully employed or taking a stand against indentured girls in Nepal. Sherri brings to the board enthusiasm and experience in event organization and fundraising. Her excitement is assisting with the Fundraising campaigns and membership drives that will provide new stimulus and growth to support the IWEN cause. Venturing to Nepal in 2013 is definitely on her to do list to add to the hands on knowledge of IWEN and she is looking forward to assisting in the classroom build.

Katie Phelps, BA

Katie Phelps has a strong background in development and international organizations. Some of Katie's previous experience includes participating as an NGO delegate at the UN, a Country Coordinator for the Middle East Partnership Initiative in Oman, and the President of the Expat Women's Association in Surabaya, Indonesia. In addition to her work with IWEN, Katie is the mother of 2 young girls. Katie's love for travel and children ignites her passion for working with local immigrant women and our cause in Nepal.

Michelle Bonneau, BA, MA, R.C.C.

Michelle is the founder of IWEN. While travelling around the world on a year "off " in 2000, she came through Nepal and learned about the lack of education for Nepali women. Her dream was to start an educational society to ensure Nepali women would have options in their lives. Five years later, she started IWEN with like-minded people, sold her beautiful apartment on Lake Okanagan, gave up her job as head of the Kelowna Family Centre and moved to Kathmandu to make this project a reality. Michelle is a volunteer. She lives and works in Nepal at her own expense. She returns to Canada for a few months every year to help raise money and to attend the IWEN Annual General Meeting.

Buy A Brick

For $100 you can buy a brick with your family name on it and have it installed on the walls of the school. You could also dedicate the brick to someone you care about. All proceeds from this will go directly to the Cause and you will be provided a tax receipt for your contribution.

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