About the American Women's Network
Connecting Cultures Through Friendship
The American Women’s Network (AWN) is an informal group comprised of international women living in Abu Dhabi. AWN facilitates contact, support, and information exchange for both new arrivals and long-time residents. Through social events and special programs, AWN provides a platform for integrating into the community. Formed in 1994 by a group of expatriates from North America, AWN welcomes all women of all nationalities.
What We Do
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Welcome newcomers of all nationalities
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Facilitate friendships among members
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Provide information about the region
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Offer activities that inform and entertain
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Interact with the local community
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Support volunteer activities
Board Members
Co-President
Anna Dolgano
Originally from Canada, Anna moved to Abu Dhabi from Singapore where she and her family lived as expatriates. As a trailing spouse for the past few years, she knows what it takes to make family life abroad a success.
Anna is an accountant and before starting her expat journey, she worked in Canada for different non-profit organizations. She was the Director of Activities and Events for American Women’s Association of Singapore, and worked on the Treasurer’s team. She loves being active and exploring new cultures. Anna joined AWN Abu Dhabi in July 2019. She believes that will provide a wonderful jump-start to life in Abu Dhabi.
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Co-President
Michelle Charnley
Michelle is originally from Australia. She worked as a registered nurse and diabetes educator for 25 years, before moving to Hong Kong, in 2016. Here she completed a Psychology degree and Master’s in counseling and volunteered as a trauma counselor at Sons & Daughters NGO, supporting women in need. Since relocating to Abu Dhabi in 2021 and joining AWN, she has contributed in various roles and now serves on the board as Events Chair. With two adult children working in Australia, her focus is life as an expat, with her husband.
Michelle’s extensive experience in health education makes her passionate about empowering women through wellness and community. She values the AWN’s cultural diversity, and loves creating events that foster knowledge, and create strong connections among women.
A Welcome Message From Our Co-Presidents
Welcome to the American Women's Association website. We are an international group of women who come together informally to facilitate friendships, cultural exploration and dialogue for women new and established in Abu Dhabi. We have interesting speakers on diverse subjects of interest along with social coffee mornings to meet up with friends and meet new ladies. We also organize activities and events so that we can socialize and explore.
Please have a look through our website and learn more about us.
We hope to see you soon at one of our events.
Co-President AWN
Vice-President
Jane-Marie Pugh
Jane-Marie has been a member of AWN for over 5 years, joining shortly after moving to the UAE. She has contributed in various roles and now coordinates Afternoon Mahjong alongside her Vice President role. Originally from the UK she has lived and worked in NZ and Australia as a medical social worker. Now a supporting spouse she enjoys Abu Dhabi life and participating in AWN activities. She values the friendships and experiences that AWN has provided her.
Secretary
Shivani Wanchoo
Shivani grew up in India. She has lived in Dubai and Hong Kong before arriving in Abu Dhabi in 2001. With a Masters in History from the University of Delhi, she has worked in marketing research and taught in elementary schools. As a long time expat, she appreciates the support that AWN provides to newcomers in Abu Dhabi. She is an active member of AWN and also coordinates the Bridge Club. She enjoys serving the AWN community as a Board Member.
Treasurer
Jane-Marie Pugh
Jane-Marie has been a member of AWN for 5 years, joining shortly after moving to the UAE. She has been part of the membership team and now coordinates Afternoon Mahjong alongside her Treasury role. Originally from the UK she has lived and worked in NZ and Australia as a medical social worker. Now a supporting spouse she enjoys Abu Dhabi life and participating in AWN activities. She values the friendships and experiences that AWN has provided her.
Honorary Chair
Mary C. Corrado
Mary is the Head of the Advisory Committee for Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE, a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening conditions. She is also an advisor to the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Mary first arrived in Abu Dhabi in 1977 with a background in nursing and education. She was the founding Country Director of AMIDEAST UAE, a non-profit American education and training organization that brings educational opportunities to the Middle East and North Africa.
Activities Chair
Nicola Jeffreys
Nicola is British and has lived in several countries, both as a child and a supporting spouse, including long stints in Malaysia and the US. She was on the Board of International Connections in Houston and a member of International Women’s Association in Chicago. Her career started in finance in the City of London, and more recently she worked for several years as a Relocation Consultant in the UK drawing on her experiences as an Expat.
Coffee & Speaker Series Chair
Francisca Brunner-Lopez
Francisca brings extensive international experience and a strong record in leadership, strategic development, and organizational management. Born in Spain, she has lived and worked across four continents. Francisca holds an LL.M. in International Commercial and Contract Law and has a professional background in Business Administration. Before moving to Abu Dhabi, she served as Vice President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Johannesburg and held board positions at the American International Schools of Vienna, Johannesburg, and Helsinki. Passionate about international relations, cultural exchange and the arts, Francisca enjoys exploring local cultures and supporting initiatives that create positive impact.
Membership Services Chair
Cleo Paleologos
Cleo has been a member of AWN since 2013. Over the years, she has served as Mahjong Coordinator, Activities Chair, and currently as Membership Chair. Being actively involved in AWN offered her the opportunity to socialize, discover new hobbies, and, most importantly, form lifelong friendships. Drawing on her extensive experience as an expat, she is delighted to support others adapting to a new country and contributing to this wonderful organization.
Greek by birth and American by choice, she spent 25 years in the United States, completing her education in Management and Marketing, raising a family and volunteering in various community organizations. Cleo has two daughters living and working in New York, in the medical and legal fields.
Events Chair
Kathleen Rivera
Kathleen is originally from New Jersey, USA, and holds a degree in Nursing. She spent over two decades living in Singapore before relocating to Abu Dhabi in 2019 with her husband. She embraces her role as a supportive wife while building new international friendships. She joined AWN in 2021 and first served as a dedicated mahjong coordinator before being appointed onto the AWN Board as Events Chair in 2026. She is a mother of two daughters working in Singapore and one son working in Spain.
Living abroad has taught her to embrace new cultures with curiosity and respect. A fresh lens through which to understand both the differences that define us and the similarities that connect us.
Explorers Chair
TBD
Marketing and Communications Chair
Hsing-Wen Wang
Hsing-Wen was born in Taiwan and has studied and worked in the US for 20+ years before relocating, with her husband, to Abu Dhabi in 2015. She has a PhD in biomedical engineering, specializing in biomedical optics and cancer research. She loves new technology and is passionate about music, art, philosophy, and experiencing different cultures. She joined AWN in 2024 as the webmaster volunteer. She is delighted to continue serving the AWN community that connects cultures through international friendships.