Meet Our Members

The Board

Dianne Jeans - Co-President

Dianne is a senior UK civil servant specialising in corporate strategy and change management, with 40 years’ public service experience in Australia and the UK. Founder of Challenge DV, she champions domestic violence awareness. A committed Zontian for 30 years, she holds leadership roles in District 29 and lives near Reading with her family.

She is also currently Area Director of Zonta Distrcit 29.

Originally a teacher, Sue became a pioneer in educational technology, creating award-winning digital learning resources for leading publishers including Oxford University Press and BBC Worldwide. As Lead Apple Professional Learning Specialist for EMEIA, she championed coaching-based professional development. Working globally with governments and NGOs, Sue supported innovative, student-centred learning before retiring in 2020.

Sue Bennett - Co-President

Kate Spalding - Vice President

Kate has enjoyed a distinguished consulting career with KPMG, ATOS and boutique firms, leading major public sector transformation programmes across the UK and Northern Europe. Now Senior Advisor at The D Group, she supports strategic discussions on national priorities. A Zonta e-club board member, Kate is passionate about improving women’s lives and enjoys family, horses and muddy fields.

Oluyemisi Raiwe - Treasurer

Yemisi is a Chartered Engineer and certified PRINCE2 Practitioner with extensive experience delivering major programmes across the public and private sectors, ranging from £0.5m to £6bn. Her expertise spans infrastructure, housing, change management and strategic planning. A strong advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, Yemisi is passionate about championing women and girls while leading high-performing teams and stakeholder engagement.

Siobhan Brookman - Director

Siobhan has over 35 years’ experience in the technology sector, holding senior roles at IBM, AT&T, BT and Vodafone before founding Brookman & May, a consultancy focused on talent and strategy. Now a Client Director at Palo Alto Networks, she specialises in cyber security and is passionate about supporting women in business. A dedicated Zontian, she led the 2024 Girls in Leadership Programme inspiring young women from minority groups. Married with four children, Siobhan enjoys horse riding in her spare time.

Chinmaya Potnis - Director

Born in India and raised in Tanzania, Chinmaya Potnis is a passionate educator dedicated to inclusion and supporting vulnerable communities. A former teacher and headteacher in India, she is now a Presidential Scholar completing a PhD in Education at University of Southampton. Chinmaya actively contributes to participatory research, widening access to education and Zonta leadership initiatives.

Fiona Dos Santos - Secretary

Fiona is a London-based senior associate solicitor specialising in real estate and complex legal transactions. Passionate about supporting vulnerable women, she previously volunteered advising women facing homelessness and domestic violence. With an international outlook shaped by her heritage and experiences abroad, Fiona values global connections through Zonta. An amateur kickboxer, she also promotes women’s confidence through self-defence training.

Meet Our Other Members

Meet the amazing women that make up the rest of our club

Deb Blackmore

Originally from Detroit, Deb built a career in writing and organisational development consultancy after earning degrees in English Literature, Communication Arts and an MBA. She joined Price Waterhouse Coopers in London in 1985 and now volunteers her writing skills to support charitable causes. A Zonta member since 2008, Deb lives between London and Cornwall.

Gita Singham-Willis

Gita is a strategic transformation and change leader specialising in digital innovation, public service reform and diversity, equity and inclusion. As Founding Partner at Cadence Innova, she leads people-centred transformation programmes. A trustee, adviser and advocate for vulnerable women and girls, Gita is also passionate about theatre, choreography, singing and performance.

Fatima Roshan Rakheeb

Fathima is a Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at University of Leicester with previous academic roles at Queen Mary University and Kingston University London. A qualified CIMA accountant and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, she combines academic expertise with industry experience in management accounting and supervises students across undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels.

Lisa Rosier

Lisa has an extensive international background in policing, public safety and community advocacy across Australia, the USA and Canada. A former Queensland Police Service Sergeant, she contributed to initiatives addressing violence against women, stalking legislation and disability advocacy. Lisa has received numerous awards for community leadership and remains passionate about supporting vulnerable people and animals.

Sarah Pertzel

Sarah is a primary school teacher and KS1 Phase Leader with a passion for literacy, behaviour management and mentoring early career teachers. As English Lead at her school, she inspires children to develop a love of reading and learning. Long connected with Zonta, Sarah enjoys travelling, reading and caring for animals, especially dogs.

Akousa Ashiagbor

Akosua is a leadership strategist, speaker and organisational culture expert with over 20 years’ experience across law, transformation and executive advisory. As Founder of MR Associates and creator of Strategy 2 Soul, she supports leaders and organisations to build healthier workplaces. Through Zonta’s Girls in Leadership Programme, Akosua champions confidence and leadership in young women.

Åsa Wilén

Åsa Wilén is a children’s librarian in Piteå, Sweden, with a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Umeå University. She has worked in libraries across Sweden and Norway and has been a Zonta member for nearly 20 years. Åsa also contributes actively to her local church and choir community.

Rowena Castillo-Nicholls

Born and raised in the Philippines, Rowena moved to Cornwall in 2009 after completing a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. Now working in the UK Civil Service, she is also a STEM advocate, photographer and author. Through her photography, conservation work and advocacy projects, Rowena is passionate about inspiring others and creating positive change.

Dr Tafara Estelle Makuni

Amelia Earhart Fellowship recipeint

Dr Tafara Estelle Makuni is pursuing a second AI-focused PhD at Imperial College London within the Structural Integrity and Health Monitoring Group, funded by CINEA and UKRI. She previously completed a PhD in Experimental Aerodynamics at University of Cambridge. With experience across academia, education and industry, including Rolls-Royce and MBDA UK, Tafara combines technical expertise with strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.

Maya Luzia Würfel is studying International Business and Intercultural Studies at Heilbronn University. She is passionate about communication, community and giving people a voice, and enjoys connecting ideas and perspectives. Alongside her studies, she works as a self-employed project assistant and co-hosts a university podcast. She has strong interests in languages, cultures and international experiences, supported by studies in British law and English. Maya has extensive volunteer experience, including football coaching, social media and animal welfare work, and is a founding member of a Zonta e-Club.

Maya Würfel

E-Club Award Winners

For all of our award winners, we offer honorary membership to the club for the year of their win, meet our winners here.

Dr Diana Mandewo

Women in Business Award Winner 2026, District 29 Winner

Dr Diana Mandewo is committed to advancing women’s health through ethically grounded innovation and responsible artificial intelligence. Her work focuses on improving maternal and reproductive healthcare access across African contexts while ensuring emerging technologies remain inclusive and equitable. Diana is particularly passionate about HPV prevention and cervical cancer treatment for women and girls.

2026

Ruby Zheng has worked within J.P. Morgan across investment banking, portfolio management and commercial finance roles. She specialises in financial analysis and strategic presentations, contributing to complex business initiatives. Ruby’s experience reflects strong commercial insight, analytical ability and a growing impact in the business and finance sector.

Ruby Zheng

Women in Business Award Winner 2025

Ruby Zheng

Women in Business Award Winner 2025

Anya Smith-Roman is an educator, design thinker and social innovator working at the intersection of STEM, equity and human-centred design. As Director of Design Thinking & Education at WiSH for WASH, she develops sustainable solutions in global water, sanitation and hygiene. Her work uses innovation and technical expertise to create meaningful social impact.

Anya Smith-Rowan

Women in STEM Award Winner 2025

2025

Angel Akpovi is the reigning Miss Teen Nigeria UK and a passionate youth advocate dedicated to education, leadership and community wellbeing. As Student President and an active member of national youth organisations, she champions positive change for young people. Angel will begin studies at Vanderbilt University to further develop her leadership journey.

Angel Akpovi

Young Women in Leadership Award Winner 2025

Ana is a Saïd and JMK Zonta Scholar pursuing an MBA at University of Oxford. With a background in consulting and entrepreneurship, she is passionate about solving meaningful problems and turning ideas into action. Ana is driven by innovation, impact and creating positive change through leadership, strategy and business development.

Ana Lucia Chavez

JM Klausman Scholarship Recipient 2024

2024

Jennifer Ohiri is an international student from Nigeria studying in the UK with interests in science, community service and women’s empowerment. A longtime volunteer with the Red Cross and community organisations, she supports vulnerable women as a female support worker. Jennifer is passionate about improving opportunities and outcomes for younger generations of women.

Jennifer Ohiri

Young Women in Public Affairs Award Winner 2024

Join Our Community

Become a part of our UK-wide network of members dedicated to service and advocacy. Whether you're a new member starting your journey or looking to contribute to our advocacy and education projects, your voice matters. Together, we empower women across the nation through connection and impactful action.