Dear IWA Members and those interested in learning more about IWA,

I am extremely honored to serve as the new IWA President for the 2021-23 term. I wish to thank the most recent IWA President, Nila Bayvas, and all past IWA Presidents, for their dedicated service to this wonderful membership organization.

International Women Associates is an organization of more than 350 women from over 60 countries in the Chicago area and beyond. We welcome both foreign-born women and those who have lived abroad or have international connections. Since our founding in 1978 by Doe Thornburg, we continue to celebrate our diversity through friendship, community service and cross-cultural exchange. Doe’s vision was to create an organization that promotes global understanding by seeing the “sacred” in everyone. It is this vision that attracts new members to IWA and keeps the organization vibrant.

The past year has presented enormous challenges, but it has also shown us that the world is deeply interconnected, validating IWA’s mission even further. The IWA Board of Directors and myself will work together to serve IWA members through enriching programs, events, philanthropy and community service opportunities. I encourage all of our members to take advantage of all we have to offer, and I welcome prospective members to reach out to learn more about our organization.

Thank you!

Catherine Sinegal

IWA President, 2021-2023