Emilia Castelao
Founder and President
Emilia began her career as a Historian getting a PhD in Comparative History, and hoped one day to work at the UN. In 2022, she entered the chess community through her love of chess history. During her short time studying the culture of chess and attending high level tournaments, she saw just how significantly this world affected the lives of young girls and women, which led her and Michael Duke to create the Women in Chess Foundation.
Michael Duke
Founder & Chairman of the Board of Directors
Online personality Michael Duke, or Mr.Dodgy as many know him as, works primarily as a Marketing Executive for Chessable. As an integral part of the community, he saw just how much the issues faced by women in chess were swept under the rug. In an effort to push the chess community to take actionable steps, him and Emilia worked together to bring to life the vision of the Women in Chess Foundation.
Board of
Directors
WGM Jen Shahade
Advisory Member
Nigarhan Gurpinar
WIM Ayelen Martinez
Tallulah Roberts
Michael Duke
WIM Yosha Iglesias
Jeroen Van Den Berg
IM Jovanka Houska
Executive
Team
Lauren Guzman
Communications Manager
Tallulah Roberts
Content Manager
Madeline Soiney
Development & Outreach Manager
