Our Board & Contact Form
We would love to hear from you!
If you would like to contact us, please email by clicking on the button below.
For specific enquiries, email one of our Board members whose profiles and details are listed below.
The Board meets on a monthly basis (excluding the summer) to monitor progress, 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 at least 3 days before the meeting.
Our Board of Directors
2024
Simone Zaminer
President
Simone is a strategic business consultant and project manager, who worked all over Europe before moving from her native town Munich to Modena in 2013 with her Italian husband, whom she met during her MBA at SDA Bocconi Milan, and her two children. Although fluent in Italian and having great support from her family, she struggled with trying to socialize and integrate into her new environment. Thus, her idea of founding a network of like-minded women, who support each other in all aspects of life was born! Simone was President of IWA Modena for the first 3.5 years and returned to this position in 2020. She is responsible for the strategic direction and management of the association and all its engagement activities. In her free time, she loves travelling and meeting new people, mountain sports (skiing, trekking), all kinds of dancing; especially Tango and finding her core with Pilates and Mindfulness.
Deniz Aydoslu
Vice President and Treasurer
Deniz moved to Italy in the summer of 2018 after marrying an Italian from Sassuolo, Modena. She joined IWA Modena and has assumed treasury duties since February 2019. She used to work as a Freelance Investment Advisor to companies and family offices investing in Turkey and Turkish companies investing abroad. She is passionate about travelling, keeping an active lifestyle and Camilla (her in-laws dog).
Sabrina Sattler
Marketing and Communications Director
Sabrina is from Germany and moved to Modena in 2015 after spending more than ten years in the United States. She studied International Business in Germany before moving to Texas where she graduated with an International MBA and an M.S. in Business Administration. She has worked in various industries in Egypt, Germany, France and the United States and now works as a freelance research consultant. Her areas of expertise are qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and statistical data analysis. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, scuba diving, skiing and discovering the beautiful Italian countryside.
Eva Young
Secretary
Eva has been an IWA Modena Member since its inception and lives in the hills of Modena with her family. Although born in Sweden, her formative years were spent in Britain. Passions include naked eye astronomy, yoga and trekking.
Tinamaria Colaizzi
Digital Director
Since moving to Italy from her hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA) in 2014, Tinamaria has had the pleasure of calling four beautiful Italian cities “home”; Milan, Parma, Ferrara, and her favorite – Modena. With family roots in Abruzzo, a strange love for airplane food, and a passion for travel, Tinamaria is always planning her next trip somewhere and can pack a carry-on bag in less than 10 minutes. When she’s not doing that, you can find her working in her office as a freelance Communications Specialist, carrying out international projects that combine her background and skills in writing, education and business.
Meredith Hansbury
Membership Director
Meredith was born and raised in Marin County, just outside of San Francisco, California. Her first trip (of many!) to Modena was in 2008 to visit her Italian relatives. After multiple summer trips, she finally decided to move in 2022 and call Modena home. Her professional journey has seen her transition from roles as a Winery Cellarhand in New Zealand to a Tasting Room Manager in California’s Central Coast, then onto Consulting Firm Recruiter, Automotive Operations Manager, and presently, an ESL Teacher in Modena.
Beyond her career pursuits, Meredith finds joy in collecting magnets while traveling, thrift shopping, and leisurely Italian Sunday lunches with friends and family.