Leadership

Teddy Dianah Kemirembe, She/Her pronouns: Born and raised in Uganda, Teddy comes from a walk of humble beginnings.

Teddy’s story is long but in short here is the version: Teddy has a master's in social work (MSW) from Columbia University School of Social Work. She has a passion in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hence has attained Certificate of Diversity Profession (CDP) and Certificate of Diversity Executive(CDE) from the Institute of Diversity Center (IDC).

Teddy has over twenty years in Social Work, working primarily with children and families and has tremendous experience in child welfare, working with children affected by developmental disabilities, and over 7 years working in emergency rooms as a social worker assisting patients with mental health and homelessness.

Teddy currently works with the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) under DSHS as their Community Engagement and Client connection administrator. She is a mother of two beautiful girls, 12 years and 8 years both with special needs. Her 12-year-old daughter is diagnosed with Autism and her 8-year-old daughter is diagnosed with Rett Syndrome.

Teddy loves drumming, gardening, and watching movies in her free time.

Amel Aouam Alsalman emigrated from Tunisia (North Africa) in 2016 and joined the Washington State Patrol as a procurement specialist in 2017. She currently works as a Procurement Program Manager with the Department of Health and Social Services. Amel has worked for almost 19 years in the private sector, leading and managing local and international projects.

Amel obtained her bachelor's degree in economics and her master's degree in macroeconomics at the University of Economics and Management of Tunis. Amel also holds a master's degree in business administration from the Mediterranean School of Business (MSB) in Tunis.

Amel has been a member of the Rotary Club since 2011 and is currently the Treasurer of her club, Olympia Capital Centennial, which is dedicated to community service with an emphasis on children's education and diversity. Amel was a volunteer at the Food Bank, Washington Performance Center, United Way of Thurston County, and an active member of the WA chapter of the National Institute of Public Procurement.

Amel is married, and in her spare time, she enjoys photography, hiking, dancing, and travel.

Janet Nambi Kiwanuka is training and development specialist at Department of Retirement Services (DRS). She is a Certified Life Coach dedicated to helping leaders create cohesive teams and drive productivity. Her expertise in leadership and coaching empowers individuals to cultivate self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and positive communication, resulting in highly effective leaders.

Janet's coaching abilities have helped leaders in areas such as Communication, Conflict Resolution, Employee Engagement, Managing Change, and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, and Overcoming Burnout. Her dedication to personal and professional growth, coupled with her exceptional leadership experience, makes her an outstanding leadership development coach and consultant.

Janet has over 10 years of successful business management experience. She led a company that grossed 2 million dollars in income. Her leadership skills include Talent Management, Business Strategy Formulation and Implementation, Business Process Improvement and Administration, Sales Strategy Formulation, Financial Strategy Formulation, and Change Management.

Furthermore, Janet is a certified facilitator of Franklin Covey's Leadership and 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Prior to venturing into entrepreneurship, Janet achieved Assistant VP Level in her first job at a U.S. based Bank. Janet has also designed a highly effective Positive Leadership Course tailored for new managers and leaders. Her expertise in leadership coaching and development makes her a valuable asset for empowering leaders and fostering growth within teams.

Anu Rao is the Business Manager for Talent Acquisition (HRD) at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Born and raised in Bangalore, India, she is a dedicated advocate for workplace equity and has advanced the Washington Immigrant Network's (WIN) mission through mentorship, advocacy, and community engagement since 2017. Anu leverages her extensive human resources expertise to expand career access and create pathways to public service for immigrant professionals. Through mentorship, advocacy, strategic partnerships, and community engagement, she is committed to expanding career opportunities for immigrants, fostering meaningful collaborations, and building an inclusive, welcoming community where everyone can thrive.

Immigrating from the Philippines as a young mother, Dr. Gina overcame early language barriers and systemic hurdles, beginning her American career as a housekeeper in Skagit County. Inspired by her daughter’s college acceptance, she synchronized her academic goals with her family's milestones, embarking on a rigorous multi-disciplinary path. She went on to earn a Bachelor's in Human Services, a Master of Health Administration, a Master's in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and ultimately, a Doctor of Ministry.

Gina launched her professional healthcare career in the for-profit sector before transitioning to public service with Western State Hospital, where she discovered her true calling in equity, diversity, access, inclusion, and belonging (EDAIB). As a mentor, coach, and servant leader, she builds "circles of change" to create welcoming, safe environments for marginalized populations. She proudly brings her core strengths of empathy, humility, gratitude, and passion to her daily work with the DSHS community, Western State Hospital, and the Washington Immigrant Network.

Beyond her leadership role, Gina is an accomplished author of two books exploring trauma recovery, mindfulness, and navigating PTSD through gratitude. She is deeply committed to community development, regularly volunteering with Filipino American non-profits and supporting the Nurture Center in Lakewood, Washington. Outside of her professional and advocacy life, Gina enjoys writing poetry, kayaking, traveling, cooking traditional Filipino cuisine, and spending quality time with her husband, Mike. 

Francesco Somaini (he/him) brings a deep personal commitment to equity as a first-generation immigrant, a child of immigrants, and a first-generation college graduate. He holds a PhD in Media Studies from the University of Oregon. Before transitioning to public service, Francesco built a diverse career as a news reporter and a university professor. Currently, he serves as the Language Access and Accessibility Supervisor within the Equitable Access Branch of the Center for Community Relations and Equity at the Washington State Department of Health (DOH).