COC26 - Plant a Mangrove

Plant a Mangrove Sapling” Campaign Gains Momentum — Join Us in Growing Impact!

Our Plant a Mangrove initiative is gaining wonderful traction, with 27 mangrove saplings already paid for or pledged. This growing support reflects our shared commitment to environmental stewardship as we move toward the Conference of Clubs (COC) and strengthen our collective ESG efforts across the Federation.

Mangroves are powerful symbols of resilience — protecting coastlines, restoring ecosystems, and supporting biodiversity. By planting one, you are not only contributing to a greener future but also aligning SISEAP with global sustainability actions.

As we build momentum leading up to the COC, we warmly encourage more members, clubs, and supporters to subscribe to this initiative. Every sapling planted is a step toward climate action, community empowerment, and environmental sustainability.

Let’s continue this positive wave. Register Now

Call for Directors

Here’s your chance to make a difference and further your professional experience. Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific (SISEAP) is seeking applications from interested and qualified Soroptimists for vacancies for Directors.

To ensure we have a good breadth of skills across the Directors, we have skill deficits in the areas of Marketing, Grant Writing, Fundraising and publicity.

The successful applicants will take office at the end of the AGM on May 1, 2026 and in the first instance, serve for three years, renewable to a maximum of nine years.

SISEAP has nine Directors and one third must retire each year. According to the Corporations Act, at each annual general meeting, any Director appointed by the Directors to fill a casual vacancy or as an additional Director must retire, and at least one-third of the remaining Directors must retire. Under our Constitution, the Immediate Past President automatically retires after one year in that position and is replaced by the new President Elect. At the end of her biennium, the President remains for one year as Immediate Past President and a Director.

It is a legal requirement you have a Director Identification Number before you can be appointed, and we will only consider applicants that have already obtained their Director Identification Number. Refer to the Australian Business Registry website for further information here https://www.abrs.gov.au/director-identification-number

For further information please contact:
Company Secretary Theresa Lyford companysecretary@siseap.org

Applications close: Friday 20 March 2026 5:00 pm AEDT

Attendance at the Company and Federation Meetings

Dear Members,
The Board wishes to update you on the upcoming Company and Federation Meetings. These meetings are an important part of our governance responsibilities and ensure that Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific continues to operate with transparency, accountability, and alignment with our shared mission.

We are pleased to inform you that all SISEAP members attending the Company and Federation Meetings will not be charged any meeting fees.

Members who have already registered and paid the A$75 fee will receive a full refund. Tea, coffee, and water will be served during the meetings for all attendees, and the meeting room can comfortably accommodate up to 100 members. Lunch will be at your own cost @ Cafe Boleh on the ground floor of the conference hotel, The Pacific Sutera, Sutera Harbour.

Full meeting details, including agendas and key documents, will be circulated shortly. We encourage all members to review the materials and participate actively, as your engagement strengthens our Federation.

Notice of SISEAP 15th Annual General Meeting & General Meeting

The 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific will be held on Friday 1 May 2026 at 9:00am (Malaysian time), followed by a General Meeting of the Company.

Date:               Friday 1 May 2026
Time:               9:00am
Place:              Function Rooms 1-3, Level 1, The Pacific Sutera Hotel,
                        Sutera Harbour, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Quorum
Required quorum for a general meeting to be held, at least thirty [30] members (a quorum) must be present (by representative or by proxy) for the whole meeting. When determining whether a quorum is present, a person may only be counted once (even if that person is a representative or proxy of more than one member). [Company Constitution 24.1]

Club Representatives Registration Form for AGM & General Meeting

An authorised representative must attend from each financial member (clubs) within the Federation. A proxy representative must be an individual Soroptimist from another member club.

Clubs will need to nominate a Club Representative for the AGM and Company General Meeting and you will need to show that the Club has voted on their Representative or Proxy Representative at a club business meeting and this will need to be recorded in your Club Minutes.

Registrations close on 26 April 2026 at 5pm AEST (Sydney time)

This link will take you to the Registration Form for the Club Representative or Proxy Representative and will used for both the AGM and the Company General Meeting.

Please note: Your club president, secretary or treasurer are required to use the link to register your club representative. This link will need to be utilized from your club email account, i.e. you will need to be logged into your club email account from www.google.com If you have your club email account forwarded to a personal email account such as outlook etc, the link will not work. The reason for this is that we need to register that the nomination was made from the club email account and that the president, secretary or treasurer have to acknowledge that they were authorised to complete this form on behalf of their club.

Silent Observers
This link will take you to the Registration Form for Silent Observers and will used for both the AGM and the Company General Meeting

Question to the Auditor and/or Directors
Clubs are invited to submit questions to the Directors and/or the Auditor. Please submit your questions from your club email address by Sunday 26 April 2026 5:00pm AEST to enable a comprehensive answer to be given.

Business Papers
Member (clubs) will be informed via their club official email address when business papers will be available for download from the website.  Notifications will commence to be circulated to club's official email addresses on or before the 10April 2026. You are also able to log in and check for updates for the AGM and Company Meeting via the Members area of our SISEAP Website.

We are looking forward to your attendance at the AGM and General Meeting.

Warm Regards,
Theresa Lyford
Company Secretary

Notice of Federation General Meeting

The Federation General Meeting of Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific will be held on:

Date:              Friday 1 May 2026
Time:             1.00pm
Place:            Function Rooms 1-3, Level 1, The Pacific Sutera Hotel,
                      Sutera Harbour, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Quorum
The required quorum for a General Meeting to be held is at least thirty [30] members who must be present (by representative or by proxy) for the whole meeting.

Club Representatives for Federation General Meeting

An authorised representative or a proxy representative from each financial member (club) within the Federation must attend this meeting.  A representative or proxy may only represent one member club. A proxy representative must be an individual Soroptimist from another member club. 

Clubs will need to nominate a Club Representative for the Federation General Meeting. You will need to show that the Club has voted on their Representative or Proxy Representative at a club business meeting and this will need to be recorded in your Club Minutes. 

Please note: Your club president, secretary or treasurer are required to use the link to register your club representative. This link will need to be utilized from your club email account, i.e. you will need to be logged into your club email account from www.google.com If you have your club email account forwarded to a personal email account such as outlook etc, the link will not work.

Registrations close on Monday 20 April 2026 at 12 Midnight AEST (Sydney time)

This link will take you to the Registration Form for the Club Representative or Proxy Representative and will be used for the General Meeting.

Silent Observers Registration Form
This link will take you to the Registration Form for Silent Observers and will be used for the Federation General Meeting. 

Questions to the Federation Team
Clubs are invited to submit questions to the Federation Team. Please submit your questions from your club email address by Wednesday 1 April 2026 5pm AEST to enable a comprehensive answer to be given.

SISEAP Honours & Remembrance
Soroptimists are invited to submit notices for Soroptimists who have received Honours throughout 2025, and to remember Soroptimists now passed.  Submissions close 15 April 2026 midnight AEST.

We are looking forward to your attendance at the Federation General Meeting. 

Nominations for 2026-2028 Position Holders

Our By-laws state the following -
15.16 Positions unfilled by 1 February in each even-numbered year
15.16.1 If there are positions for which no nominations have been received, nominations shall be called for at the beginning of the next Federation meeting. If more than one nomination per position is received, and the nominees meet the eligibility criteria, voting will be required.

As a number of Federation positions were not filled on 1 February, nominations are still being invited for the following Federation positions with the closing date now being 1pm MYT / 3pm AEST on Friday 1 May 2026.

We encourage you to consider standing for these positions for the 2026-2028 Biennium which will take office on 1 June 2026.  It is recommended that nominations be sent prior to the Federation Meeting, as long as the correct form and requirements are all received.
 
Nominations have already been received for the positions highlighted below. Roles and responsibilities are currently being reviewed and will take effect for the next biennium, but the current roles and responsibilities are valid for these nominations.

LIST OF FEDERATION POSITIONS TO BE FILLED AT FEDERATION MEETING

• Programme Convenor
• Zone Programme Coordinator (4 positions)
• Governance Convenor
• Communication Convenor
• Membership Convenor
• Assistant Membership Convenor (Asia)
• Assistant Membership Convenor (NZ & Pacific) – Jane Stent
• Assistant Membership Convenor (Australia)
• Programme Database Support
• Friendship Link Coordinator - Eileen Middleton

The completed nomination form, CV and photo must be received by the Federation Secretary/Returning Officer at federationsecretary@siseap.org with a copy to HQ hq@siseap.org by 1pm MYT / 3pm AEST on Friday 1 May 2026.

SI President Elect Nomination

SISEAP has supported and submitted Theresa Lyford 's nomination for the position of Soroptimist International President Elect.

We wish her every success in this process

SISEAP Federation Membership Convenor

We are pleased to announce that Kerry Beer has been appointed as the new Federation Membership Convenor, effective immediately.

She takes over from Kristeen Johnston, who has stepped down from the role due to family commitments.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Kristeen for her dedication and service, and we offer our full support to Kerry as she assumes this important position.

Introducing the SISEAP Legacy Fund

President Joanne Yeoh is pleased to announce the establishment of the SISEAP Legacy Fund — a permanent, responsibly managed fund created to secure the long-term future of our work across South East Asia and the Pacific.

SISEAP is committed to advancing the status and well-being of women and girls through education, empowerment, and advocacy. Currently, SISEAP relies on member dues to fund its activities. However, administrative and operational costs remain a continual challenge especially with membership challenges we face. Establishing a dedicated fund sourced from donations and bequests will provide a stable, long-term revenue stream to offset these costs.

The Legacy Fund preserves capital and uses investment earnings to support strategic initiatives that empower women and girls for generations to come.

Members and clubs are warmly invited to consider contributing, either through a donation today or by including SISEAP in their Will.

A legacy gift is not about size — it is about ensuring that our mission continues well into the future.

For more information or to make a confidential enquiry, please visit the SISEAP website or contact SISEAP Director, Deborah Wood, director.deborah@siseap.org who is spearheading the SISEAP Legacy Fund.

Together, we are building a future that lasts.

Federation Fees

A reminder that Federation Capitation fees were due on 28 February. Clubs that have not yet made their payment are now overdue, please submit your Annual Return forms and payment to HQ as soon as possible.

To all Clubs who have submitted their Annual Returns, thank you for your patience in advance whilst we continue to process them over the coming weeks. Once processed, you will receive an invoice receipt along with any new membership numbers if applicable.

2026 Club Position Holders Changeover

Each year after the Club AGM, the newly elected Club Officers & Position Holders need to be added into our database. It is very important that each Club completes this task by 31 March 2026.  See Tipsheet (link below) on how to add club position holders to the SISEAP database.

President Joanne Yeoh is pleased to announce the establishment of the SISEAP Legacy Fund — a permanent, responsibly managed fund created to secure the long-term future of our work across South East Asia and the Pacific.

SISEAP is committed to advancing the status and well-being of women and girls through education, empowerment, and advocacy. Currently, SISEAP relies on member dues to fund its activities. However, administrative and operational costs remain a continual challenge especially with membership challenges we face. Establishing a dedicated fund sourced from donations and bequests will provide a stable, long-term revenue stream to offset these costs.

The Legacy Fund preserves capital and uses investment earnings to support strategic initiatives that empower women and girls for generations to come.

Members and clubs are warmly invited to consider contributing, either through a donation today or by including SISEAP in their Will.

A legacy gift is not about size — it is about ensuring that our mission continues well into the future.

For more information or to make a confidential enquiry, please visit the SISEAP website or contact SISEAP Director, Deborah Wood, director.deborah@siseap.org who is spearheading the SISEAP Legacy Fund.

Together, we are building a future that lasts

From the Federation Secretary

A reminder for Clubs who have not taken advantage of the Early Payment Discount that the final due date to pay full fees to HQ is 28 February 2026.

Nomination for SI President Elect

SISEAP Treasurer - Recruitment Summary

The SISEAP Board is moving toward a skills‑based leadership model to strengthen governance and financial stewardship across the Federation. As part of this transition, the roles of Finance Convenor and Treasurer will be merged into a single appointed Treasurer position.

Purpose of the Role

The SISEAP Treasurer leads the financial management of the Federation, ensuring sustainability, integrity, and compliance. The role provides strategic financial oversight and supports the Board, President, Company Secretary and HQ Officer.

Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership

• Oversee budgeting, financial planning and reporting.
• Monitor financial performance and advise the Board on risks, reserves and investments.
• Ensure compliance with Australian financial and company regulations.

Financial Operations

• Oversee financial transactions, expenditure approvals and record‑keeping.
• Work with the HQ Officer/bookkeeper to prepare monthly and quarterly financial reports.
• Coordinate year‑end accounts and the annual audit/financial review.

Budgeting & Strategy

• Prepare the annual draft budget with the President, Management Committee and HQ staff.
• Provide financial forecasts and sustainability recommendations.
• Support development of revenue and fundraising strategies.

Governance & Compliance

• Maintain strong internal controls and financial policies.
• Ensure accurate management of bank accounts, assets, insurance and financial documentation.

Skills & Experience (Preferred)

• Professional accounting qualification (highly desirable).
• Minimum 5 years’ financial management experience.
• Experience with accounting software (e.g., MYOB) and financial reporting.
• Strong analytical, communication and organisational skills.
• Understanding of SISEAP’s structure or willingness to learn.
• Current financial member of a Soroptimist club.

Personal Attributes

• High integrity and ethical judgement.
• Clear communicator with strong attention to detail.
• Culturally sensitive and collaborative.
• Adaptable, resilient and committed to SISEAP’s mission.

Term of Appointment

• Appointed by the SISEAP Board following a nominations/assessment process.
• Ratified by clubs at the AGM.
• The treasurer will be a member of the Board and must have her Director's ID No before assuming the position.
• Standard term: 2 years, with potential renewal based on performance.

More information on the terms and reference are attached.

Annual Federation Fees 2026

A reminder for Clubs who have not taken advantage of the Early Payment Discount that the final due date to pay full fees to HQ is 28 February 2026.

Club Position Holders Changeover 2026

Each year after the Club AGM, the newly elected Club Officers & Position Holders need to be added into our database. It is very important that each Club completes this task by 31 March 2026.  See Tipsheet (link below) on how to add club position holders to the SISEAP database.

Registrations are now open for the 2026 Company General Meeting, AGM and Federation Meeting.  Club Representatives/Proxies, Federation Invitees and all Soroptimists (as Silent Observers) are welcome.

Friday 1st May 2026
9.00am-5.00pm
The Pacific Sutera Hotel, Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu

At the Soroptimist International Board Meeting held on 10 October 2025, SI received notification from Soroptimist International of Africa Federation that they would not nominate a candidate for Soroptimist International President 2028-2029. Therefore, the rotation system previously used to elect the Soroptimist International (SI) President will no longer be used. Instead, nominations will be open for candidates from all Federations, except Soroptimist International of Europe as Renata Trottman will be the SI President 2026-2027.

The relevant SI Bye-Laws were agreed at the 10 October2 025 Board Meeting detailing the requirements, process and timeline that need to be followed for the election of the SI President 2028-2029 / SI President Elect [Term of office 1 July 2026 – 31 December 2027].

Fees will be waived for the final month of December 2025 for all members joining as part of our Federation wide M2M campaign.  Last opportunity!

All Clubs have been emailed notification of the Federation Fees and the Annual Return Packs for 2025.

All Soroptimists:
A reminder that the due date for Soroptimists to pay their membership fee to their Club is 31 December 2025.

All Clubs:
To be eligible for the Early Payment Discount. Federation Fees must be received at HQ by no later than 31 January 2026. Otherwise, the final due date for Clubs to pay fees is 28 February 2026.

The SISEAP HQ Office will be closed for the holiday period from Monday 22 December 2025 through to Tuesday 6 January 2026. 

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2026

HQ Officer Gabbi Kearney commences her long service and annual leave in November, with her final working day for 2025 on Thursday 30 October. Gabbi will return Wednesday 21 January 2026 . All HQ emails and phone messages will be monitored by Jessica during this period.

We are no longer accepting any further orders for 2025. We will resume taking orders when we reopen after the holiday closure in January 2026. Thank you for your understanding.

The Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific Conference of Clubs 2026 is from 1 - 3 May 2026 at The Pacific Sutera, Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. We gather with hearts full of purpose and hope, united by the theme: “Empowering Communities, Embracing Sustainability.”

To register for the conference, all registrants will first need to set up an account. This ensures that each delegate receives a unique QR code, which will be used for payment, on-site registration, hotel room reservations, and goodie bag redemption.

To know more about the Conference and register via the link below. 

Registrations are now open for the 2026 Company General Meeting, AGM and Federation Meeting.  Club Representatives/Proxies, Federation Invitees and all Soroptimists (as Silent Observers) are welcome.

Friday 1st May 2026
9.00am-5.00pm
The Pacific Sutera Hotel, Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu

Soroptimist International (SI) has decided to adopt blue instead of black as the official colour for its emblem and identity.

The SI South East Asia Pacific (SISEAP) Federation, however, has already invested significant resources in implementing the black version of the emblem, including updates to digital platforms, stationery, and official materials.

In view of this, SISEAP will not undertake a full changeover to blue at this stage. The Federation will retain the black emblem for existing applications, and adopt the blue emblem where it is appropriate or when creating new materials or items.

This approach ensures consistency with SI’s direction while maintaining responsible use of Federation resources.

We are pleased to inform you that Soroptimist International has recently approved a restructure of its Board and Committees. The new structure being implemented 01 January 2026 aims to be more inclusive, offering expanded opportunities through its Committees for Federation participation at international level.

All Committee meetings are held on line, most meeting once per month. Times often rotate to ensure fair allocation of having to attend outside of normal working hours.

If you are interested in applying for an SI Committee role to represent  SISEAP, please review the skills and experience cited in the Committee descriptions and ensure that your CV (or resumé) and covering letter demonstrate your suitability.  Please send your application to Federation Secretary, federationsecretary@siseap.org and cc a copy to HQ, hq@siseap.org by 5pm AEDT, 27 November 2025.

At the Soroptimist International Board Meeting held on 10 October 2025, SI received notification from Soroptimist International of Africa Federation that they would not nominate a candidate for Soroptimist International President 2028-2029. Therefore, the rotation system previously used to elect the Soroptimist International (SI) President will no longer be used. Instead, nominations will be open for candidates from all Federations, except Soroptimist International of Europe as Renata Trottman will be the SI President 2026-2027.

The relevant SI Bye-Laws were agreed at the 10 October2 025 Board Meeting detailing the requirements, process and timeline that need to be followed for the election of the SI President 2028-2029 / SI President Elect [Term of office 1 July 2026 – 31 December 2027].

Expressions of interest are being called for the Federation position of Assistant Membership Convenor - Asia. This is a great opportunity to play an important role within our Federation Membership Team for the remainder of the 2024-2026 Biennium.

Fees will be waived for all members joining throughout October to December 2025 as part of our Federation-wide M2M campaign

All Clubs have been emailed notification of the Federation Fees and the Annual Return Packs for 2025.

All Soroptimists:
A reminder that the due date for Soroptimists to pay their membership fee to their Club is 31 December 2025.

All Clubs:
To be eligible for the Early Payment Discount. Federation Fees must be received at HQ by no later than 31 January 2026. Otherwise, the final due date for Clubs to pay fees is 28 February 2026.

Conference of Clubs 2026

Hello Soroptimists, Changemakers and Friends,
 
It is my great pleasure to welcome all of you to the Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific Conference of Clubs 2026 from 1 - 3 May 2026 at The Pacific Sutera, Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. We gather with hearts full of purpose and hope, united by the theme: “Empowering Communities, Embracing Sustainability.”

This theme is more than a statement — it is a call to action. It reminds us that true empowerment happens when women and communities are given the tools, skills, and opportunities to shape their own future. And it challenges us to ensure that the future we help to build is one where people and the planet thrive together.
 
I encourage every one of you to participate — ask questions, share your experiences, and contribute your voice. Together, we can amplify the impact of our projects and create ripple effects that reach far beyond our own communities.
 
Let us make this gathering not only a time for learning and collaboration, but also a celebration of our shared vision — a world where women and girls are empowered, and sustainability is embraced in every aspect of life.
 
On behalf of the SISEAP 2026 Committee, I warmly welcome you all, and I look forward to the meaningful conversations and actions that will emerge from this conference.
 
Thank you, and let’s begin our journey together.

To register for the conference, all registrants will first need to set up an account. This ensures that each delegate receives a unique QR code, which will be used for payment, on-site registration, hotel room reservations, and goodie bag redemption.

To know more about the Conference and register via the link below. 

2026 Company General Meeting, AGM and Federation Meeting

Registrations are now open for the 2026 Company General Meeting, AGM and Federation Meeting.  Club Representatives/Proxies, Federation Invitees and all Soroptimists (as Silent Observers) are welcome.

Friday 1st May 2026
9.00am-5.00pm
The Pacific Sutera Hotel, Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu

Assistant Membership Convenor - Asia 2024-2026 Biennium

Expressions of interest are being called for the Federation position of Assistant Membership Convenor - Asia. This is a great opportunity to play an important role within our Federation Membership Team for the remainder of the 2024-2026 Biennium.

SISEAP Online Shop

Great news! The SISEAP Shop is now live. You can now browse our range of items and place your order directly online. For all orders outside of Australia, please contact HQ for GST-exclusive prices and shipping quotes.

SI Yangon Disaster Relief

On Friday, March 28, 2025, at 12:50 PM local time, a powerful earthquake magnitude of 7.7 struck near the city of Mandalay in Myanmar.  This was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock just minutes later. 

The Soroptimist International club of Yangon acted immediately. In the days following the disaster, they rapidly assessed the damage and consulted with local support services to define the most critical needs. Once a project plan was established, they reached out to SISEAP President Joanne Yeoh, who swiftly released AUD $3,000 in immediate Disaster Funds from the Federation.

SI Yangon Soroptimists identified that these funds would provide food and essential items to households in the Sagaing District, where many residents had been displaced and were living in tents.

Nominations for 2026-2028 Position Holders

Nominations are invited for the following Federation positions.

The successful candidates will take office on 1 June 2026.

Elected Positions
 Communications Convenor
 Finance Convenor
 Governance Convenor
 Membership Convenor
 Assistant Membership Convenor [3 positions]
 Programme Convenor 
 Assistant Programme Convenor [2 positions]
 Programme Zone Co-ordinator [4 positions]
 
Appointed Positions
Archivist
 Friendship Link Co-ordinator
 ICT Liaison
 Programme Communications Co-ordinator
 Programme Database Support  
 Webinar Training Co-ordinator

Click on the relevant link that will take you to the Nomination form.

The completed nomination form, CV and photo must be sent to the Federation Secretary/Returning Officer federationsecretary@siseap.org with a copy to HQ hq@siseap.org by 5pm Sunday 28 September 2025 Australian Eastern Standard Time [AEST].

Assistant Membership Convenor - Asia 2024-2026 Biennium

Expressions of interest are being called for the Federation position of Assistant Membership Convenor - Asia. This is a great opportunity to play an important role within our Federation Membership Team for the remainder of the 2024-2026 Biennium.

Send your expression of interest to:

president.joanne@siseap.org

membership.kristeen@siseap.org 

Nominations for 2026-2028 Position Holders

Nominations are invited for the following Federation positions.

The successful candidates will take office on 1 June 2026.

Elected Positions
 Communications Convenor
 Finance Convenor
 Governance Convenor
 Membership Convenor
 Assistant Membership Convenor [3 positions]
 Programme Convenor 
 Assistant Programme Convenor [2 positions]
 Programme Zone Co-ordinator [4 positions]
 
Appointed Positions
Archivist
 Friendship Link Co-ordinator
 ICT Liaison
 Programme Communications Co-ordinator
 Programme Database Support  
 Webinar Training Co-ordinator

Click on the relevant link that will take you to the Nomination form.

The completed nomination form, CV and photo must be sent to the Federation Secretary/Returning Officer federationsecretary@siseap.org with a copy to HQ hq@siseap.org by 5pm Thursday 28 August 2025 Australian Eastern Standard Time [AEST].

Assistant Membership Convenor - Asia 2024-2026 Biennium

Expressions of interest are being called for the Federation position of Assistant Membership Convenor - Asia. This is a great opportunity to play an important role within our Federation Membership Team for the remainder of the 2024-2026 Biennium.

Send your expression of interest to:

president.joanne@siseap.org

membership.kristeen@siseap.org 

Privacy Policy

We're pleased to announce that SISEAP has officially approved a new Privacy Policy. This comprehensive policy outlines how SISEAP handles and manages your personal information, ensuring greater transparency and protection.

You'll soon be able to download the full Privacy Policy directly from our website. Additionally, over the coming weeks, you'll see updated statements regarding our privacy practices accompanying our contact and inquiry forms, new member application forms, and annual club return forms.

We believe this new policy will enhance your understanding of our data handling practices and reinforce our commitment to your privacy.

In Loving Memory

Sadly, we send our Condolences as we say good bye to Elaine Mooney, a Past SISWP President from 1990-1992. Elaine passed away on 13th July, her funeral was scheduled for the 25th July at 11.00am at St Patrick’s Church, Murray Street Cooma.

During our SI Centenary Elaine reflected on her 2- year Federation Presidency: One of her main goals during her term of office was to create an efficient Headquarters office with full time staff. A new Photocopier was purchased and volunteer members assisted with the mailings to clubs which were established on a regular monthly basis. The headquarters shop was created and grew rapidly.

The other main goal was to increase membership both within the existing clubs and by the chartering of new Clubs. Membership increased from approximately 3500 to almost 3850 with a highlight of chartering SI Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, in Dec 1991, growing the number of countries in the Federation to 8 at that time. As we were not in the computer age at that time, Elaine remembers the stacks of paper work and numerous telephone calls which arrived at her home daily.

On behalf of the Federation’s Current and Past Presidents’ we thank Elaine for her volunteer work, her dedication, her Vision and her Leadership, as a Soroptimist that in turn helps to transform the lives of numerous Women and Girls! May Elaine Rest in Peace!

In Sympathy,
Leigh Ellwood-Brown
SISWP President 2008-2010

Shop - Postage Increase

Due to Australia Post recently increasing their prices we have implemented some minor increases to the postage & handling costs on our Australian Shop Order Form.

The updated Shop Order Form will be effective for all orders received on or after 1 August 2025.  If you wish to place an order, please complete the Shop Order Form and forward to HQ along with payment.

The Federation is saddened to inform you that Gwen Hotton, a member of SI Deakin, passed away on the 8th of June 2025.

Dear Soroptimists,

Gwen Hotton passed away on Sunday afternoon, June 8th, after being in Care for a considerable time.  Gwen was a Charter member of SI Cut Paw Paw and transferred to SI Deakin when Cut Paw Paw closed.

She was a member of the Soroptimist House Committee for many years and took very great care of the garden. Liz Hyde recalls working with Gwen for 2 days lifting the front bricks, from the street footpath back to the edge in front of the door, getting a trailer load of sand and relaying the bricks.  Gracemary MacKinnon provided us with cold drinks. Gwen worked very hard for Soroptimist House.

Cut Paw Paw went to Highpoint Maribyrnong for Cancer Council Daffodil Days and Gwen did all the organising.  Gwen did all the ordering etc. Cancer Council sent Gwen a Certificate of Appreciation.  After SI Cut Paw Paw closed, Gwen joined SI Deakin for some years.

A quiet, hard-working, sincere Soroptimist.

Vale Gwen.

Yours in Soroptimism,

Denise Meehan

Secretary

Soroptimist International of Victoria Inc

sivictoria@siseap.org

SISEAP and Australian Charities for Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC)

Many of our Members (Clubs) have been asking us, what does SISEAPs status now that we have become a charity mean to them as Clubs across our Federation? The following is a brief outline of SISEAP’s charity status and what is involved for our Company now operating as a charity.

The Company announced on 6 September 2024 (effective from 2 January 2023) that SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL SOUTH EAST ASIA PACIFIC had been approved and registered as a charity under ACNC – Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission.

Assistant Membership Convenor - Asia 2024-2026 Biennium

Expressions of interest are being called for the Federation position of Assistant Membership Convenor - Asia. This is a great opportunity to play an important role within our Federation Membership Team for the remainder of the 2024-2026 Biennium.

Send your interest to: president.joanne@siseap.org and membership.kristeen@siseap.org 

Vale

It is with much sadness that we notify you that Laurie Swift, member of SI New Plymouth (Aotearoa New Zealand) and long term Soroptimist passed away on Tuesday 3 June 2025.

Laurie was a Soroptimist for over 30 years and during this time she held many positions both at Club, Region, Country and Federation level. May she rest in peace and know that her contribution to Soroptimism will not be forgotten. Our deepest condolences to her family and friends at this sad time of her passing.