Young YWCA leader elected to global governing body

Young New Zealand woman Nive Sharat Chandran was recently elected as Vice President of the World YWCA Board. The elections were held at the World YWCA Council which meets every four years and this year was in Bangkok, Thailand.

At just 24, Ms Sharat Chandran has already held a variety of leadership roles and is currently Co-President of the YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand.

“New Zealand needs women as decision-makers and leaders, particularly young women, in fact the world does, and I’m proud to represent Aotearoa on the world stage,” says Ms Sharat Chandran.

“As an organisation we lead the way in developing the leaders of today and tomorrow by creating opportunities for young women to be leaders.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of being part of the team leading social and economic change in over 120 countries worldwide, reaching 25 million women and girls.

“Being goal driven means that in twenty years time, I will be able, hand on heart know that I have given my all to the goal of 100 million young women and girls transforming power structures to create justice, gender equality and a world without violence and war.

“Critically, I am excited to be part of leading a sustainable YWCA movement by being bold and transformative and inclusive of all women.”

The YWCA of Aotearoa NZ has a commitment to board diversity, with 40% young women directors, as well as Maori, Pacific and Asian representation. We are also the only YWCA board globally that operates an inter-generational Co-Presidency model – something we advocated for at World Council.

“As co-president of YWCA Aotearoa NZ I am looking forward to the global governance role as well as using the global work to guide our purpose and work here,” says Ms Sharat Chandran.

ENDS

About the YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand is part of a global YWCA network spanning 120 countries. The organisation is dedicated to providing leadership opportunities for young women with a mandate stating 25 percent of its board must be women under 30 years of age.

The YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand supports individual and community change by empowering women, especially young women, to develop and exercise their individual and collective leadership through enhancing their spiritual, physical, mental and cultural well-being. We are committed to addressing all forms of oppression, so that women may together attain social and economic justice.

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