Our Team

Jutheanne Cruz Wild
Operations and Systems Manager
Jutheanne is the founder of Panubli Therapies, a London-based healing space rooted in Philippine traditional medicine and ancestral practices. She also serves as the London Ambassador for The Human Expansion School, promoting somatic wellbeing and collective healing. As Operations & Systems Manager at SEEAWA, she integrates cultural leadership, bodywork, and organisational care to strengthen community resilience and empower Southeast and East Asian women.

Sarah Reid
Policy & Advocacy Manager
Sarah leads SEEAWA’s policy and advocacy work, developing and implementing strategies to address systemic inequalities and promote community integration. She builds strong partnerships with government and community stakeholders, championing the rights and wellbeing of diverse migrant communities. Alongside her role at SEEAWA, Sarah is an art psychotherapist and runs a walking tour company in London that celebrates creativity, culture, and connection.

Lyn Yavuz
Women’s Support Officer
Lyn, born and raised in Quezon City, Philippines, holds a Psychology degree from Universidad de Manila, where she studied under a scholarship programme. Her career as a civil servant and advocate reflects her deep commitment to supporting women and children affected by domestic violence, trafficking, and exploitation. At SEEAWA, she works collaboratively with partners and communities to create safe, inclusive spaces where women can heal, rebuild, and thrive.

Florence Yilmaz
Bookkeeper & Project Officer
Florence is a proud Indigenous Filipino woman of the Igorot people, a feminist, and an advocate for migrant and women’s rights. Trained in business accounting, she has devoted her skills to supporting churches and community organisations. As a migrant in the UK, Florence co-founded the Filipino Domestic Workers Association, now a registered charity helping workers affected by exploitation and trafficking. Through her work with SEEAWA and SEEAC, she combines financial expertise and activism to uplift Southeast and East Asian communities.

Yvette Van-Cliff
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Yvette is a creative storyteller and digital strategist dedicated to amplifying Southeast and East Asian women’s voices. With experience in content creation, branding, and community engagement, she leads SEEAWA’s online presence across platforms. Her work focuses on inclusive digital storytelling, promoting advocacy campaigns, and connecting communities through accessible, empowering communication. Yvette combines creativity and compassion to ensure SEEAWA’s message reaches and inspires a diverse audience.

Sarah Yeh
Chair
Sarah is a multi-award winning Chinese/Vietnamese creative director. She has long advocated for the ESEA community, running dimsum.co.uk, the award winning online community magazine for the Chinese diaspora, from 2000-2010.

She has been a trustee for several organisations, including Yellow Earth Theatre, Min Quan, Hackney Chinese Community Centre and currently is a board member of SEEAC and The Phoenix Way.

She enjoys hanging out with her pygmy hedgehog and leopard gecko.

Susan Cueva
Deputy Chair
A Filipino woman with lived experience of migration, Susan works with migrants, refugees and diaspora communities, enabling them to navigate the government’s hostile environment. She has campaigned against labour exploitation, working in trade unions and the Greater London Authority. Along with SEEAWA, she founded other grassroots organisations such as Kanlungan, the Filipino Domestic Workers Association, and the Southeast and East Asian Centre. She is among the racialised leaders who founded the Phoenix Way Fund.

She finished her post-graduate degree at the London School of Economics.

Melissa Allada
Secretary
Melissa brings a rich background in fashion, civil service, and community engagement to her role as an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion officer for a higher education institution. She has mentored underrepresented groups, coordinated campaigns, and facilitated impactful discussions to foster inclusivity. Her wide-ranging experience strengthens her ability to drive positive change across communities.

Cathy Zhao
Treasurer
Originally from northeast China, Cathy moved to the UK 20 years ago and has since built a career as a business consultant, building on her extensive experience in the banking industry. Passionate about diversity and inclusion, her focus is on supporting people from minority backgrounds to reach their potential. Though new to the charity sector, Cathy is eager to contribute to a better future for ESEA women and children in the UK.

Yin Myint
Trustee
Burmese by background, Yin is dedicated to health and human rights. Working at the NHS for 23 years, she championed the wellbeing of mothers and children while supporting vulnerable families, refugees, and victims of violence. Beyond the frontline, Yin develops inclusive healthcare policies and actively raises funds and awareness for humanitarian aid in Myanmar through the Stars of Myanmar Friendship Club.

Yvette Mercado
Trustee
As a dedicated Filipina single mother residing in the UK for nearly 16 years, Yvette is passionate about supporting fellow mothers, especially those who have experienced domestic violence. She is an active volunteer for various organisations, including the Kanlungan Filipino Consortium. She also spearheads activities and provides support through Mumshie group, and contributes to projects and documentaries advocating for migrant rights and welfare.

Mei-Yee Man Oram
Trustee
Mei is a London-born, first-generation immigrant to parents of Hong Kong / Chinese heritage, and is the Access and Inclusive Environments Lead at Arup. As part of her work, she designs inclusive spaces that celebrate diversity, engaging communities to create solutions rooted in lived experiences.

Eileen Wada Willett
Trustee
Born in Vancouver to Japanese parents, Eileen is co-founder of Cucumber Clothing and founder of the East Asian Girl Gang. She launched the East Asian Girl Gang during the pandemic as an informal sisterhood and supportive space to share experiences based on a common cultural and ethnic heritage. Eileen was Shortlisted for the 2020 Asian Woman of Achievement Awards, and runs events and speaking engagement on female entrepreneurship, slow fashion, and the East Asian community. She also co-hosted i:entrepreneur’s Wednesday Lives series, speaking to entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.

Thiri Thinn Pyae Sone
Thiri is originally from Myanmar and is a passionate volunteer at SEEAWA. With roots in Southeast Asia and a strong belief in the rights of women and a safe, secure world for all gender groups, she is dedicated to empowering marginalised communities. Thiri finished her postgraduate studies in Sustainable Development and Global Governance and Sustainable Development from Middlesex University, London. She is proud to support SEAWA’s mission to uplift and advocate for Southeast and East Asian women in the UK

Aimee Atli
Aimee is a History and Politics undergraduate passionate about social justice and women’s empowerment. As a half Southeast Asian woman, she feels deeply connected to SEEAWA’s mission to uplift Asian and migrant women. Inspired by the strong migrant women who shaped her life, Aimee volunteers to raise awareness of SEEAWA’s vision through social media, research, and campaigns. Outside her volunteer work, she enjoys learning Turkish, volunteering with the RSPCA, and making Leche Flan.

Sr. Maria Evelyn Anuncio, MMS
Sr. Maria Evelyn is a member of the Medical Mission Sisters and a registered nurse from the Philippines. For over three decades, she has served in community health, youth ministry, and advocacy among Indigenous and migrant communities in the Philippines, Germany, and the UK. Now volunteering with SEEAWA, she brings her compassion, experience, and commitment to holistic care to support Southeast and East Asian women and promote dignity, healing, and empowerment.

Mélanie Lam
Mélanie is a London-based creative and first-generation migrant from Mauritius of Chinese heritage. A qualified accountant, actor, playwright, poet, and supporting artist, she brings a rich blend of artistry and professional experience to her work. Her poems have been featured in Shine International Poetry Series (2025), Chinese Write Now (2022), and Creating Apart (2021). Currently developing her debut play, Mélanie explores themes of feminism, migration, displacement, and hope. Through her volunteer work at SEEAWA, she aims to help build a resilient and connected community.

Thae Hsu Hsu Hlaing
Thae is originally from Myanmar and holds a postgraduate degree in Comparative Politics and Conflict Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science. With extensive experience in humanitarian work in conflict-affected regions, she has supported communities impacted by violence and natural disasters. As a volunteer at SEEAWA, she advocates for gender equality and the rights of Southeast and East Asian women, promoting an inclusive world grounded in dignity and justice.