Leadership
Key Staff
Lisa Herb, Founder and Executive Director
Lisa Herb is an attorney who has spent years working with equal employment opportunity issues, including gender discrimination. In addition to living in Mongolia, Lisa has also spent a year living and teaching in Thailand and traveling extensively throughout Asia. Lisa oversees all the day to day operations of the Alliance, including overseeing its volunteer programs, as well as all operational and administrative aspects of the Alliance.
e-mail: lisaherb@aiwr.org
Scarlett Chidgey, Armchair Volunteer Program Manager
Scarlett is a communications specialist based in San Francisco. Scarlett was first associated with the Alliance as an In-Country Volunteer in 2006 in Mongolia. Scarlett is responsible for coordinating Armchair Volunteer projects in addition to assisting with the Armchair ESL Program. Scarlett also serves as a technical adviser and is responsible for overseeing and revising the Alliance’s new website – a project that involves a tremendous amount of time and skill.
e-mail: scarlett@aiwr.org
Vicky Willson, Armchair ESL Coordinator
Vicky Willson is from Prince Edward Island, Canada and she has lived and worked in South Korea, China and Thailand. Vicky has been teaching English for more than ten years and is quite adept at using the internet and technology to provide long-distance English classes. Vicky will help us coordinate all ESL classes that occur in partnership with the Afghan Women’s Network and UNIFEM.
e-mail: vickyw@aiwr.org
Mary Gillespie, Armchair ESL Coordinator
Mary Gillespie is from New Brunswick Canada. Mary has taught English for over 15 years, including teaching in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Like Vicky, Mary has experience using the internet and technology to teach English long-distance. Mary will help us coordinate all ESL classes that occur in partnership with the Afghanistan Higher Education Project.
e-mail: maryg@aiwr.org
Board Members
Lisa Herb, Board Member and Executive Director
Lisa Herb is an attorney who has spent years working with equal employment opportunity issues, including gender discrimination. In addition to living in Mongolia, Lisa has also spent a year living and working in Thailand and traveling extensively throughout Asia. Lisa continues to practice law while also serving as the executive director of the Alliance.
Peter Zahler, Board Member and Vice President of Strategic Planning
Peter Zahler has lived and worked in northern, western, and Central Asia for over a decade. This includes running or supervising wildlife and community conservation projects in the Russian Far East, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and northern Pakistan. He is currently the Wildlife Conservation Society's Assistant Director for Asia. In addition to serving as a board member, Peter also serves as the Alliance's Vice President of Strategic Planning.
Denise Ashbaugh, Board Member and Vice President
Denise Ashbaugh is a partner with the Seattle law firm, The Summit Law Group. Denise has extensive experience in employment law and gender discrimination in addition to commercial litigation. Denise is also active as a volunteer attorney who serves her community by proving free legal services for low income individuals.
Carolyn Douglas, Board Member and Media Relations Specialist
Carolyn Douglas is a television news anchor at KING TV in Seattle with more than a decade of broadcast communications experience. She has covered national and international news while working as an anchor and reporter at television stations throughout the country. In addition to being a board member with the Alliance, Carolyn is also an active member of Rotary and involved in community fundraisers in the Seattle area.