Our Story
Every association, organisation, business has its own beginning and story.
Read about ours…
Read about ours…
Our Beginning
It might be destiny or just an amazing coincidence that the city’s motto is: “Avia Pervia”, which translates into “let difficult paths made be easy to walk”. These two words, representing the city of Modena, speak from our hearts, as they are identical to our goals as an association.
A deep wish to help others, who are in the same situation as so many of us were once, was the key driver to building this association, which has grown unbelievably fast since our foundation in December 2014.
Our Founder
Simone Zaminer Founder & Former President (2014-2025)
Born and raised in Germany with Austrian roots, Simone has always felt deeply Italian at heart—a connection that brought her to call Modena home in 2014. That same year, she founded the International Women’s Association of Modena to create a space where international women could connect across cultures, support one another, and thrive both personally and professionally.
Over the following decade as President and Vice President, she grew IWAM into a well-established, vibrant community that bridges cultures and continents, creating lasting and meaningful connections.
Having worked and studied across the world and traveled to over 70 countries, Simone brings a genuinely global mindset and deep curiosity for people and cultures. Her passion for empowering women—especially those navigating moments of transition—is the same foundation that led her to create IWAM and now drives her as founder of a transformative travel business for women at crossroads, ready for more.
She stepped down in 2025 to make space for new energy and leadership. Her heart remains closely connected to the flourishing community IWAM has become.
IWA Modena - Our Board Member History
The essential aspect to founder and run our association is our board of directors.
Looking back over the years, here are our volunteer Board members and some of our assocation highlights.
Looking back over the years, here are our volunteer Board members and some of our assocation highlights.
2026-27
- PRESIDENT: Isabell Guidastri – President
- SECRETARY, WEBSITE & APP DIRECTOR: Kelly Louise Rooker
- TREASURER: Irem Sel Pacini
- MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: Meredith Hansbury
- COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING DIRECTOR: Sabrina Sattler
- EMPOWERMENT DIRECTOR: Gisele Gurgel
- EVENTS DIRECTOR: Rosy Stainer
Highlights
- Meeting with the Mayor of Modena; Massimo Mezzetti
- First Welcome & Connect event for new members
- Women’s Safety Petition
- Global Wellness Day #JOYMAGENTA
- Connecting with Talenti@MO, it-ER and Casa Ciao
- Received award from Profilo Donna Magazine
2025-26
- PRESIDENT: Isabell Guidastri – President
- SECRETARY, WEBSITE & APP DIRECTOR: Kelly Louise Rooker
- TREASURER: Irem Sel Pacini
- MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: Meredith Hansbury
- COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING DIRECTOR: Sabrina Sattler
- EMPOWERMENT DIRECTOR: Gisele Gurgel
Highlights
- Restructured our chat communications into WhatsApp Communities
- Wellness Interest Group created
2024-25
- PRESIDENT: Simone Zaminer
- SECRETARY & VICE PRESIDENT: Eva Young
- TREASURER: Deniz Aydoslu
- COMMUNICATIONS & MERCHANDISE DIRECTOR: Sabrina Sattler
- DIGITAL DIRECTOR: Tinamaria Colaizzi
- NEW MEMBER DIRECTOR: Meredith Hansbury
Highlights
- 10-Year Party Celebration
- Personal Hygiene Kits Initiative for Porta Aperta
2023-24
- PRESIDENT: Simone Zaminer
- TREASURER & VICE PRESIDENT: Deniz Aydoslu
- SECRETARY: Eva Young
- COMMUNICATIONS & MERCHANDISE DIRECTOR: Sabrina Sattler
Highlights
- Introduction of the Wild Apricot App for membership management
- Welcome Book Edition 3 printed
- Italian Language and Culture Interest Group created
2022-23
- PRESIDENT: Simone Zaminer
- TREASURER & VICE PRESIDENT: Deniz Aydoslu
- SECRETARY & MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: Lavinia Nitu
- MARKETING: Sabrina Sattler
- INTERNAL ENGAGEMENT: Sandra Gabriele
- COMMUNICATIONS: Evelyn Montes
- PUBLIC RELATIONS: Rosy Stainer & Quyen Ha
- EXTERNAL & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Sam Frearson-Tubito & Quyen Ha
- EVENTS DIRECTOR: Quyen Ha
Highlights
- Clothes Swap events began
- Puppy Lovers Interest Group created
2021-22
- PRESIDENT: Simone Zaminer 🇩🇪
- VICE PRESIDENT & TREASURER: Deniz Aydoslu
- SECRETARY & MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: Magda Basso (until Sept 2021), Eva Young
- ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR: Eva Young (until Sept 2021), Sam Frearson-Tubito
- MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Sabrina Sattler 🇩🇪
- SOCIAL RELATIONS DIRECTOR: Kerstin Leiters
- PR & OUTREACH DIRECTOR: Rosy Stainer 🇮🇹
- EMPOWERMENT DIRECTOR: Lavinia Nitu
Highlights
- Two events series recorded and live streamed: Italian Crafts and Travel Junkie
- Community Engagement Campaign: Growing Together
- Fundraising Event and Silent Auction
- Renovation Ladies Interest Group created (2021-2023)
2020-21
- PRESIDENT: Simone Zaminer 🇩🇪
- VICE PRESIDENT & MEMBERSHIP EXPERIENCE DIRECTOR: Kerstin Leiter 🇩🇪
- TREASURER: Deniz Aydoslu
- SECRETARY & MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: Magda Basso
- SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Sabrina Sattler 🇩🇪
- EVENTS DIRECTOR: Rosy Stainer 🇮🇹
- SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR to ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR: Eva Young
- OUTREACH DIRECTOR: Lavinia Nitu
Highlights
- IWAM events move online during pandemic
- Started a members-only library of IWAM recorded events
- Community Engagement Campaign: Cooking to Fight Cancer
- Interest Group screated: Gardening and Foodaholics
2019-20
- PRESIDENT: Kerstin Leiter 🇩🇪
- VICE PRESIDENT: Simone Zaminer 🇩🇪
- TREASURER: Deniz Aydoslu
- SECRETARY & MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: Julia Stoecker, Madga Basso
- SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Sabrina Sattler 🇩🇪
- EVENTS DIRECTOR: Rosy Stainer 🇮🇹
- SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR: Eva Young
Highlights
- Community Engagement event:
- Charity Gala to support the project Operation: Everyday Essentials
- Creatives interest group founded
- Dec – Facebook Page created to replace Facebook Group
- Nov – Instagram account created
2018-19
- PRESIDENT: Kerstin Leiter 🇩🇪
- VICE PRESIDENT: Simone Zaminer 🇩🇪
- TREASURER: Dorothee Schweigard
- SECRETARY & MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: Julia Stoecker
- SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Sabrina Sattler 🇩🇪
- EVENTS DIRECTOR: Alessandra Devitofrancesco
- ADMIN SUPPORT: Kristen Rothe
Highlights
- First empowerment visioning workshop at Stars and Cows
- Community Engagement Campaign: Fighting Domestic Violence
- Charity Gala to support the project Sostegno della Maternità
- Business Table Interest Group created
2017-18
- PRESIDENT: Simone Zaminer 🇩🇪
- VICE PRESIDENT & TREASURER: Kerstin Leiter 🇩🇪
- SECRETARY: Kristin Rothe 🇩🇪
- COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Sabrina Sattler 🇩🇪
- SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR: Ana Elena Sanchez Marin
- CORPORATE & PR EVENTS DIRECTOR: Julia Stoecker
- SOCIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR: Alessandra Devitofrancesco
- SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR: Inbal Haim
Highlights
- Dec – Christmas dinner at the Academia Militare
2016-17
- Simone Zaminer- President
- __ – Treasurer
- __ – Secretary
- Sabrina Sattler –
Highlights
- Mar – First artist (photograher) aperitivo
- Dec – Facebook group created
- First Profilo Donna attendance to hand out prizes
- First Welcome Book produced Edition 1
2015-16
- PRESIDENT: Simone Zaminer 🇩🇪
- VICE-PRESIDENT: Kathrin Goevert 🇩🇪
- SECRETARY: Kristin Rothe 🇩🇪
- TREASURER: Kerstin Leiters 🇩🇪
- (Julia Stoecker – ? )
- Isabell Guidastri – ?
- WEB DIRECTOR: Catherine Morgan, British
- Manon Bauer? –
- EVENTS DIRECTOR: Sandra Gabriele, American
- Sofia Angidou – ?
Highlights
- May – First family day
- Sept – Held a cooking class
- Nov – Met with the Major of Modena; Gian Carlo Muzzarelli
- Dec – First Christmas party and Christmas presents collection
- Regular Newsletter sent to members
- Family “Little Ones” Interest group created
2014
- Founder and President: Simone Zaminer
IWA Modena - Our first decade
2024 counts down to the 10-year anniversary of our association.
Take a look as we reminisce with photos taken across the decade.
2015
2016
2019
