Staff
Florence Yilmaz
Bookkeeper & Project Officer
Florence is a proud Indigenous Filipino woman of the Igorot people, a passionate feminist, and a dedicated advocate for migrant and women’s rights. She studied business accounting in the Philippines but chose to use her skills to support churches and non-governmental organisations, all while actively organising within her community—especially among women.
As a migrant woman in the UK, Florence has faced the challenges of the hostile immigration system firsthand. While working as a part-time domestic worker, she played a key role in founding the Filipino Domestic Workers Association, now a registered charity supporting domestic workers who have experienced trafficking, exploitation, and modern slavery. She continues to campaign for immigrant justice and for domestic work to be recognised as valuable and legitimate work.
Florence has worked as a bookkeeper for Kanlungan and Bahay Kubo Housing Association, both of which support Filipino communities. She now brings her expertise in finance and her deep commitment to social justice to SEEAWA, where she serves as Bookkeeper & Project Officer, and to the Southeast and East Asian Centre (SEEAC) as a Bookkeeper. Through her work, she helps empower and uplift South East and East Asian communities.
Sarah Reid
Fundraising Manager
Sarah is passionate about human rights, sustainability, and philanthropy. She has experience in nonprofit fundraising with the Kanlungan Filipino Consortium and has developed philanthropic projects for businesses focused on eco-art psychotherapy.
Beyond her work at SEEAWA, Sarah is an art psychotherapist and runs her own walking tour company in London.
Lyn Yavuz
Women’s Support Officer
Born and raised in Quezon City, Philippines, Lyn is a loving daughter, aunt, and partner. Her experience includes working as a devoted civil servant, and she holds a Psychology degree from Universidad de Manila, earned through a scholarship programme.
Lyn is deeply committed to empowering vulnerable women and children, including those affected by domestic violence, human trafficking, and exploitation. With a caring and collaborative approach, she works closely with organisations to share resources and create a supportive network for those in need.
Amanda Lago
Projects Officer
Born and raised in the Philippines, Amanda is a writer whose work has appeared in major Filipino news outlets. She holds a Masters degree in Media Practice for Development and Social Change from the University of Sussex. Driven by her own experiences, she is focused on how storytelling can explore migrant issues and lead to transformative action.
She is currently based in Brighton, from where she maintains a long-distance relationship with her dog, Matilda.
xx
Trustees
 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. |  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. |  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. |
 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. |  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. |  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. |
Volunteers
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 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