WAND is committed to a philosophy of equality and fairness. We believe that every human being has the right to dignity, respected, and freedom from oppression, fear and unfair discrimination. Women need to be empowered to become fully actualized agents in their own lives and their own development. We must continuously seek to empower and liberate people and support them in their struggle for self-respect and self-confidence.
Gladys is a retired academic Librarian. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Durham (BA Dunelm), a Masters degree from the University of Columbia , New York (MSc Columbia) and is a Fellow of the British Library Association (FLA). She established the Institute of Library Archives and Information Studies where she served as its first Director. On arriving in the United Kingdom in 1997 due to the Rebel war in her home country , Sierra Leone, she devoted her time to a commitment of serving in the voluntary sector. She was one of the 5 West African women who established WAND UK based on a similar organisation they had in their home country : ‘professional women using their expertise to help less favoured women to improve their quality of life and hence their families and giving them a voice in their communities’.
Ola is a qualified Medical Doctor and Pharmacist with over 10 years in the healthcare industry, working with the NHS. She completed her studies at St George’s University and the University of Brighton. She is also currently completing her MBA.
Ola is passionate about tackling social and health inequalities and empowering women and young people.
Ola‘s volunteer work has involved various causes including working with women, young people from ethnic minority backgrounds and the elderly in different capacities. Her areas of focus are education, upskilling, tackling social and health inequalities.
Dr. Sanya Arora is a dedicated healthcare professional with a strong background in women’s health and fertility. She earned her MBBS from Manipal University, India, and an MSc in Clinical Embryology from the University of Oxford. Currently serving as an Oncology Fellow at The London Clinic, Dr. Arora is also pursuing an MSc in International Health Policy at the London School of Economics (LSE), driven by her commitment to reducing maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through transformative global health policies.
Dr. Arora’s dedication to health equity is complemented by her interdisciplinary approach to policy development. Recognizing the profound implications of globalization and digitalization on governance and health systems, she completed an advanced postgraduate course with CIVICA, focusing on the evolving challenges of policymaking within the UK and EU. Her academic and professional pursuits reflect a deep understanding of the nexus between global health, socio-political change, and sustainable policy frameworks.
As a Trustee of WAND UK, Dr. Arora brings a wealth of expertise in health systems strengthening, strategic advocacy, and evidence-driven policy-making. Her vision aligns with the organization’s mission to empower women and reduce health inequities. Dr. Arora is committed to leveraging her global experience, academic insight, and professional acumen to advance WAND UK’s impact in addressing systemic barriers to women’s health and social empowerment.
Domi de Coincy has been working at Moody’s for over a decade, and is currently a Senior Director heading the EMEA Customer Success team for Structured clients. She is managing a team of financial engineers across Europe and is responsible for a portfolio of 100+ clients across 15+ countries. She is also the co-chair of Moody’s UK Women Business Resource Group. In addition to her corporate role, Domi is a self-employed yoga teacher and the Deputy Chair for WAND UK since September 2024. She holds an M.A. in Mathematics of Finance from Columbia University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Mathematics from Paris-Dauphine University.
Alicia is an experienced professional in the legal industry and has been a charity trustee since 2021. Prior to joining WAND, Alicia was on the board of a production and touring company that was a leading voice for African theatre in the UK. At WAND, using her experience and skills from both her personal and professional life, she is eager to deliver good governance to empower women and girls.
I joined WAND UK as a volunteer through the London borough of Westminster Volunteer Centre. I am a professional Arabic interpreter. I later joined the trustee Board and served as chair. I have lived experience of some of the issues being tackled by WAND UK . I am committed to the development of community engagement in WAND UK .