SILA ELECTION FOR 2015 – PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES (in alphabetical order by first name)

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT ( vote for 5)

1. ERIKA JULIET ALVAREZ URUENA2. IMOLA TOTH3. IRINA PEZDIRC4. MOJCA LAH5. ZUZANA MERRIFIELD

1. ERIKA JULIET URUEÑA ALVAREZ

I would like to stand for SILA Board 2015 in the Secretary position.

I am professional in Modern Languages (Business Emphasis) and I work as Public Relation Manager. In the past I worked in AIESEC (international not-for-profit and the world's largest youth-led organization) where I had leadership roles and medium management positions in Talent Management and Incoming Exchanges areas. I am from Colombia. I would like to join into the SILA Board as secretary specifically in order to help the organization to continue developing the projects that already has and at the same time to support and give new ideas to go on new goals. From my professional background, my work experience and available time, I am sure I can give good support to the board duties and activities. My strong skills are based on organizational communication, logistics, projects development and administrative support.

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2.IMOLA TOTH

I moved to Ljubljana in September, 2014 from Hungary. I joined SILA inOctober to meet Ladies from all around the world. I speak English, German andlearn Slovenian since I know, we will move here. I have a Diploma (BSc) inInternational Business Management.I am really excited and eager even after such a short time to be in the Board, inorder to learn from the more experienced Ladies and try to help with my abilitiesand skills. But I've found SILA so welcoming, open and friendly that I wouldlike to be part of it.In Budapest I was working as an Executive Assistant – personal assistant, to theItalian Deputy CEO of UniCredit Hungary. My strength is, – which made itpossible that with my 24 years, my supervisors were satisfied with my job – thatI do all my tasks well organised, precise and I'm keen on learning anddeveloping my skills.I always wanted to help, work with people and to do charity work and being inthe SILA Board is the right place to achieve that.Kind regards,

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3.IRINA PEZDIRC

I was born in Ukraine where I finished my studies. Twenty-three years ago I came to Slovenia and got married. Now Slovenia is my second homeland. I am a proud mother of two sons, the elder studies biotechnology and the younger goes to highschool.

I graduated from economy. I have more than two decades of experiences as sales manager for foreign markets in three big slovenian companies. I was redactor of internet page with data for foreign countries of a public agency of the Republic Slovenia SPIRIT. I am member of Slovenian-Ukrainian Business Council.

I am very proud I became a member of SILA three years ago. That is why I want to be listed as a candidate for a board position of Treasurer because I want to be helpful and useful as an active member of SILA. On the other hand I have required experiences obtained on my posts.

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4. MOJCA LAH

I would like to stand for vice- president

My name is Mojca Lah, I am Slovenian, born in 1965. I am married and have three sons, aged 22, 19 and 16.By profesion I am a pedagogue and have obtained my Bachelor at University of Ljubljana. I have been employed in the field of education for a number of years, and later I have found my place in the business sector.I am a lover of art, particularly of contemporary fine arts, and I live my love of art through event organization in the TR3 Gallery.I am happy to be a member of SILA and I am proud of all well-implemented projects of our association. I believe that we can transfer all current successes to the future, upgrade them and shape and achieve new objectives.In the future I will continue to do my best to contribute to the creation of an even more successful and diverse SILA association through good local connections and by knowing the Slovenian economic, cultural and media space.

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5. ZUZANA MERRIFIELD

I would like to stand for vice- president

My name is Zuzana Merrifield. I'm originally from the Czech Republic, and I have spent the last 11 years living, working and studying in Egypt, Switzerland, Russia, Bulgaria, and the UK. I've been living in Ljubljana since October 2013.I hold an M.A. in Korean studies and an M.A. in Coaching and mentoring practice. Throughout my professional career I have focused on people - I've helped clients relocate and settle in their new destination, I've supported personnel to improve their performance and I've coached clients to overcome obstacles in their lives.Over the past year I’ve had the pleasure of working on the Management board as a vice-president responsible for coordination of events and activities, sending our newsletters and weekly reminders as well as managing the sila.si email account. Many of you recently asked if I wanted to continue to work for SILA. Your words of encouragement and support helped me decide to run for the second year.  I'd like to try to ensure continuity, that our experience is not lost and the next team doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel again. I’d like to continue the great work that done over the past year. There is always room for an improvement and I’m more than happy to learn from past mistakes. My vision for SILA is to continue being a welcoming and friendly organisation, offering a supportive network to help newcomers and also fun, education and entertainment for all our international ladies. 

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SUPERVISORY BOARD (Vote for 3)

1. ALENKA SKALERIČ2. LAURA BOLFA JAMŠEK3. VESNA SMOLE GROBOVŠEK

2. LAURA BOLFA JAMŠEK

Economist with more than 10 years of experience in the field of marketing and communications in international business environment. Current owner of the tea shop Tea Time. I used to work in team and as team leader. Social, open, good communicator. I speak five languages: Romanian, Slovenian, English, French and Italian.In my student life I was a member of the international organisation AIESEC and a member of the board taking on the position of treasurer. As a member of MENSA organization I have also been in the board taking on the position of Public Relations. In 2014 I was president of SILA bringing a lot of improvements.

I think that my communication and teamwork skills, analytical and synthetical thinking, hard-working towards deadlines, my work experience and my education meet the criteria of SILA organization.

My knowledge, my experience with non-profit organizations and my skills can help SILA organization to reach its goals successfully.

I am confident I can give my precious contribution to SILA thanks to my knowledge, my experience with non-profit organizations, my skills and my experience after one presidential year of SILA.

I candidate for Supervisory Board.

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3.VESNA GROBOVŠEK SMOLE

My name is Vesna SMOLE GROBOVŠEK. I am a retired civil servant with last employment at the Protocol of the Republic of Slovenia. I am married and have two grown up sons. By profession I am a sociologist with postgraduate specialization at the Institute of Social Studies in the Hague. I studied also one year management at the Sophia University in Tokyo.

I was born in New York, USA to the Slovenian parents and have lived more than half of my life abroad. I grew up in Belgrade and finished high school and studies in Ljubljana. I worked many years as a consultant at the International Center for Public Enterprises ICPE in Ljubljana. Later I accompanied my husband, who was first a foreign news correspondent for Delo and RTV and became later a Slovenian diplomat. With my family I lived 6 years in Viena, Austria, four years in Warsaw, Poland, four years in Buenos Aires, Argentina and the last four years I spent in Bern, Switzerland.

In each of the mentioned diplomatic posts I was actively engaged in the activities of the Women International Organizations. Through those organizations ( IWG, ADEA, GAD, FOULARD etc.) I came to discover more about the culture of the hosting countries, got the possibilities to present my own country and have contributed to the charity or other cultural activities.

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DISCIPLINARY BOARD (Vote for 3)

1. ELSA ŠKANTELJ2. GABRIELA SMUK3. TAKAKO KIMURA UDE

1. ELSA ŠKANTELJ

I would like to stand for Disciplinary Board

Short CVMy name is Elsa and I am from SwedenI have lived in Slovenia for more than 40 years, because my husband is Slovene.I was the whole time at home with our tree children.I am a member of SILA eleven years. I started mostly because I wanted to help with the Bazar

3.TAKAKO KIMURA UDE

I would like to stand for Disciplinary board

My name is Takako Kimura Ude and I come from Japan. I have lived in many countries during my childhood. I first came to Ljubljana, Slovenia in 1996 and since then, have been dividing my life between the two countries. My husband is Slovene and we have one son, who started going to gimnazija this year. I studied history at a university in France, and currently work at home as a translator and also as teacher of Japanese language. I have been a member of SILA for many years and enjoy participating in different activities. I would be happy to serve in the Disciplinary Board for the year 2015.

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