Washington, DC—On May 23, 2017, the Women’s Foreign Policy Group held its annual Celebration of Women Diplomats at the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The program recognized the achievements of women ambassadors and deputy chiefs of mission in Washington, DC. Honorees included Ambassadors Floreta Faber of Albania, Kirsti Kauppi of Finland, Anne Anderson of Ireland, Audrey Marks of Jamaica, Vlora Çitaku of Kosovo, Hassana Alidou of Niger, Thelma Phillip-Browne of St. Kitts & Nevis, and Lou Anne Gilchrist of St. Vincent & the Grenadines, as well as Chargé d’Affaires Marki Tihhonova-Kreek of Estonia and Wafa Bughaighis of Libya. WFPG also recognized Deputy Chiefs of Mission Caroline Millar of Australia, Alejandra Solano of Costa Rica, Lara Romano of Croatia, Maria Theodorou of Greece, Véronque Dockendorf of Luxembourg, Margaret Mwanza Gadabu of Malawi, Joanneke Balfoort of the Netherlands, Wilma Patricia Frutos Ruíz of Paraguay, Cheryl Shum of Singapore, Cristina Fraile of Spain, and Natercia Coelho da Silva of Timore Leste. Brief remarks were made by Ambassador Anderson, Ambassador Gilchrist and Ambassador Faber on the importance of mentoring, the impact mentoring has had on their careers, and the ways in which they practice mentoring.

WFPG Board Chair Gail Leftwich Kitch opens the program		Véronque Dockendorf, Deputy Chief of Mission of Luxembourg
WFPG President Patricia Ellis recognizes ambassadors		Ambassador Anne Anderson of Ireland
Marki Tihhonova-Kreek, Chargé d’Affaires of Estonia		Ambassador Lou Anne Gilchrist of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Chargé d’Affaires Tihhonova-Kreek, Patricia Ellis, and DCM Wilma Patricia Frutos Ruíz of Paraguay		Ambassadors Kirsti Kauppi, Anne Anderson, Thelma Phillip-Browne, and Hassana Alidou
Ambassador Vlora Çitaku and Ambassador Thelma Phillip-Browne with guests		Cheryl Shum, DCM of Singapore, with Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi of Finland
Wafa Bughaighis, Chargé d’Affaires of Libya		Ambassadors Audrey Marks, Lou Anne Gilchrist, Thelma Phillip-Browne, and Hassana Alidou
DCM Natercia Coelho da Silva of Timor Leste and Ambassador Anne Anderson of Ireland		Patricia Ellis and Ambassador Audrey Marks of Jamaica