Diane Thompson is a Metallurgical Engineer and retired in 2019 as Director of Technical Services for Komatsu Mining Corporation where she led the Centers of Technical Expertise and the Product Development Test Center. She sat on the Komatsu Mining Inclusion and Diversity Council and was a member of the Global Womens Network.

Diane joined Soroptimist in 1981. She served as Governor of the North Atlantic Region from 2002-2006 and was a Federation Board Member from 2008-2010. She also served many club positions, including club president. Diane is a member of the Inner Circle of the Laurel Society and has participated in the monthly giving program since its inception. She is currently Chair of the Dream Big Campaign for SIA. With her recent move to Michigan, Diane worked on chartering a new club in her area and is a charter member of SI Hines Park in the Midwestern Region, chartered in April 2020.

Dana Martin is a member of Soroptimist International of Chilliwack and a member since 2005. In this time, she has served as Governor of Western Canada Region, as a member of the SIA board, SIA Rep for the SI Presidents Appeal Region, LYD Chair, Club President and Secretary as well as various club committees. Dana has a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology. She facilitates a relationship violence treatment group for men. Dana notes, "Being a member of Soroptimist has enhanced my life in ways too numerous to count." She enjoys being part of an organization that creates the opportunity to serve women and girls in innovative ways, that has a vision of hope, and empowerment, and an organization where Dreams really do come true.

Madoka Ushio has been a member of Soroptimist International of Asahikawa Japan-Kita Region since 1998. She became Club President in 2004 and served as the Japan Kita Regions Public Awareness Chair in 2010-2012. Madoka then went on to become the Kita Region Governor in 2012-2014 (1st place winner of Outstanding Region Award) and an Executive Committee Member of the 45th Federation Biennial Convention in Yokohama in 2018.

At the request of the Japan 5 Region Governors, Madoka has been appointed as the Japan Country Manager for the Dream Big Campaign. She wanted to do something to help Soroptimist celebrate its 100th anniversary. In addition to Madoka, there are region managers in each of the five regions in Japan: Sachiko Inoue (Japan-Chuo Region ), Michiko Shoji (Japan-Higashi Region), Eriko Shinojima (Japan-Kita Region), Masako Sakashita (Japan-Minami Region), Hiroko Tamura (Japan-Nishi Region).

In order to achieve SIA's Big Goal, the funds raised by the Dream Big Campaign are indispensable. We have positioned the Dream Big Campaign as Soroptimist's 100th anniversary donation. Together with the Region 5 Board of Directors, we are calling on our members in Japan to understand and implement the Dream Big Campaign to honor the past 100 years and to ensure that Soroptimist maintains a strong influence in the international and local communities as an organization that contributes to improving the lives of women and girls for the next 100 years.

In 2019, Tina Wei-Kang Pan of Taipei City, Taiwan, served as a one-year term as president of the Board of Directors for Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc.® (SIA), a global volunteer organization of women that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.

She then became a Soroptimist board member from 2020-2022. She served in Global Impact committee and President Appeal committee, hoping to do more on increasing the influence of the organization, communicating with other regions and even federations by sharing Taiwan’s experience on helping women and girls, so that we can all learn from each other.

“A woman’s volunteer organization like Soroptimist has a collective power to truly realize the concept of ‘women helping women’,” stated Pan.

“Education is the master key to really change women and girls’ lives and realize their fullest potential,” Pan added. “As the African proverb goes, ‘If you educate a woman, you educate a nation.’ As country manager for DBC, I encourage all of our members to participate in our Dream Programs.”

Pan is a member of Soroptimist International of Taipei, one of 1,200 clubs throughout the world. A member since 1998, Pan has held several leadership positions at all levels of the organization including region governor and club, federation president.

Pan holds a doctorate degree from the National Taiwan Normal University. She is the youngest councilor of Taipei City Council in 1981, and for consecutive three terms (12 years) of Taipei city councilmen and councilwomen. She also served as a legislator at Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan for six terms, 24 years. The terms of congress women have earned a great reputation due to advocating women’s right and social welfare laws. The most famous ones are three: 1) Anti-Sexual Assault Act 2) Anti Domestic Violence Act 3) Anti Sexual Harassment Act

She is the founder of the “Modern Women Foundation” since 1987. The foundation now employs professional social workers to provide all of the services regrading violence against women, helping to more than 8,000 victims every year.

Susan Gilbey enjoyed a 40-year career in the forest products industry, where she was employed in a number of administrative and sales positions in both Canada and the United States. At her retirement in 2018, she managed a diverse account base of over $60 million annually. Her experience includes participation in her employer’s Sales Advisory Council, Manufacturing Service Enhancement team, a cross-functional Planning Council, and assisting in the development and deployment of a robust e-commerce platform. An experienced sales professional, Susan is most at home when helping people to see value in the product she represents, and now that ‘product’ is Soroptimist Dream Programs.

A native of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, she graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles with a B.A. in English, Minor in Business. Susan has completed a number of professional development courses, many of which involved communication, motivation, building virtual teams, and developing successful strategies.

Susan has been a lifelong volunteer, and currently serves on the City of Westminster’s Senior Commission, advising the City Council on issues affecting seniors in the community. She acted as the Secretary of American Family Housing, a non-profit that was dedicated to moving “the homeless to a home” from 2007 to 2009. Susan joined Soroptimist in 2001, and served ten consecutive years on Desert Coast Region’s Board, culminating as Region Governor from 2016-2018. In 2018 she was appointed to SIA’s Fundraising Council in 2018, where she continues to serve.

She has been a monthly donor to Soroptimist since 2010, and currently is a Laurel Society Ambassador. In addition, she is proud to be a Laurel Legacy member.

Susan and her husband, Lyon Kaplansky, have lived in Westminster, CA since 1995. They love to exercise, read, shop for antiques, travel, cook together, and are Film Noir fans.

Raquel Arreola Ruiz is a member of Soroptimist International of La Mesa, Tijuana, Mexico. A member since 1984, Raquel has held several leadership positions including Soroptimist board member, region governor, and club president-elect, president and treasurer.

“Soroptimist has affected my live in a very positive way,” Raquel said. “I have learned about conditions for women in my community and around the world, and have added my drop of water in the ocean to create the wave of change. That is so satisfying! Soroptimist membership has also given me the opportunity to meet amazing women, locally and globally, many of whom I count among my closest friends.”

“Many years ago I was so fortunate to receive an invitation to become a member of Soroptimist. This has been one of the most precious gifts that I have received in my life,” Raquel said. “The years have passed and with the joy of giving through Soroptimist, and I am proud to have served as Soroptimist’s first Mexican President in 2012-2013.”

Raquel attended Our Lady of Peace in Tijuana and is the accountant and co-owner of a gas station. In addition to her Soroptimist activities, she has also volunteered at El Meson, a local rehabilitation center for women.