The FIGT Board announced the annual nominations process to fill the positions of FIGT Board President, Membership Director, and Community Engagement Director in May of this year. We were very glad to receive a number of applications from very qualified and experienced candidates.

In accordance with FIGT Bylaws, a dedicated Nominations Committee comprised of non-Board FIGT members, Louise Wiles and Kristine Racine,  together with Volunteers Director, Ozlem Nolet, presented a slate to the Board, after following a rigorous selection and interview process.

The Board of Directors has approved the following slate of nominees to fill vacant positions on the FIGT Board.

Voting members of FIGT have until August 3, 2025 to provide comment on the slate of nominees. Unless 5% or more of the membership petitions against the slate or a particular nominee, the slate of nominees as presented will be automatically elected. The on-boarding process will begin in September 2025 and new Board members will take office on October 1, 2025.

Nominee for President - Flor Garcia

Flor is an intercultural and DEI consultant with prior ties to the FIGT Board. She served as FIGT's Communications Director from 2020-2022 and describes her term at  FIGT board as a ‘game changer.” It is this previous very positive experience with FIGT that motivated her to return in a more strategic level as President. 

Flor loves helping people not only to understand and appreciate one another but also to harness their diversity for greater creativity and productivity. She is an exceptional communicator with fluency in English, Spanish and German. Her areas of expertise also include budgeting and cost control, leadership and peer support, conflict resolution and project management. 

Born in Venezuela, Flor relocated to the New York area almost a decade ago and after spending much of her life in different countries around the world.  Her grown children are leaving home to begin their own lives and Flor strongly believes that it is the right time in her life to dedicate herself more fully to FIGT initiatives.

Nominee for Membership Director - Patrick Kadian

Patrick is a very well known and influential member of the FIGT community and membership team.  He currently manages the member WhatsApp notice board and spearheads FIGT's Parenting Affiliate's Safe Home Base, a 10-session Moai series designed for globally mobile TCK parents, grandparents, and caretakers. The sessions are focused on nurturing emotional well-being through connection-focused parenting.

He has gained rich expat experience having lived nearly thirty years abroad and across 16 countries around the world. He works to help expats worldwide achieve success in their careers, personal growth, and family life while navigating life abroad. He understands the importance of creating a space where globally mobile individuals feel heard, valued, and engaged. 

US-born, Patrick is currently based in Chiang Mai, Thailand with his wife and two children. He holds a MBA degree in Finance and Non-Profit management from Case Western Reserve University. And his background is within international development, hypnotherapy, and cross-cultural coaching. 

Nominee for Community Engagement Director - Yoshi Hashimoto

Yoshi is new to the FIGT community but he brings over 20 years of cross-cultural corporate experience leading global teams across the US, Europe, and Asia.

Throughout his career, Yoshi has worked on building high-performing, cross-cultural teams and supporting professionals through complex transitions. He espouses a relationship-first approach to creating a safe and open space for stakeholders to thrive. 

Yoshi is currently based near Amsterdam in the Netherlands with his wife and twins.  Born in Japan, he's a "third-culture kid" himself, having been raised in the United States, Japan and Canada. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is a certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) with credentials from the International Coaching Federation.

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We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who applied for these board positions and demonstrated their willingness to serve FIGT's vibrant community. We firmly believe that FIGT's success stems from the unwavering dedication and commitment of our volunteers, including our Board Directors, committee members, affiliate leaders, and individuals who continually contribute their time and energy to our organization.