Last month, the British Ladies Club, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) to an audience of members and guests, at Yves Rieffer, in Bridel; during the AGM, attendees thanked the members of the Committee stepping down and welcomed the new Committee members.

The new Committee was elected as follows:

- Chair: Jugera Ibrahimi

- Treasurer: Clare Jenner

- Secretary: Claire Holroyd

- Membership Secretary: Victoria Hodgson

- Area Rep Co-ordinator: Jennifer McCue

- Advertising & Public Relations: Sue Hartley

- Kids Co-ordinator: Liz Farafonov and Anya Bernhoeft

- Editor: Caroline Grounds and Lucy Topping

- Newcomers: Co-ordinator Joanne Roberts and Hilary O’Halloran

Statement by the new Committee: “We are delighted and proud to be part of the BLC Committee this forthcoming year, pride which walks hand-in-hand with the responsibility to keep up the excellent work done by previous Committees, as well as to introduce new ideas in benefit of both the club and its members.”

Jugera Ibrahimi (Chair): Jugera relocated to Luxembourg from Albania in January 2015, after a long career with international organisations such as World Bank, USAID, World Learning, etc., holding roles mainly in Programme Management. Soon after arrival, she started volunteering with the US Embassy in Luxembourg and the Red Cross, Dress for Success and the Luxembourg Women’s Network as an Ambassador, contributing to numerous successful initiatives. She was U.S. Embassy Grantee for Refugee Women Empowerment, a role which she carried for almost 2 years, while volunteering regularly with the Red Cross. She loves Luxembourg and loves spending time with her husband and son, whom she refers to as her best supporters in all her initiatives. 

Clare Jenner (Treasurer): Clare moved to Luxembourg 19 years ago from London. She initially worked in fund accounting before qualifying as an accountant and working for a variety of holding company and family office structures. She met and married her Irish husband here and has two children.

Victoria Hodgson (Membership Secretary): Victoria is a former children’s librarian, as she left work to have her two children, William and Sebastien. She moved to Luxembourg for her husband's job and settled in quickly, with the boys attending local school. She volunteered in the local community library back in England and was very involved in various church groups. She is the BLC’s Membership Secretary. She lives in Echternach, a very beautiful part of Luxembourg, on the edge of the Mullerthall region, where there us huge forests, amazing rock formations and great walking.

Claire Holroyd (Secretary): Born and bred in Lancashire, Clare spent much of her adult life in Bonnie Scotland, moving to Luxembourg in August 2014 with her husband and their two girls. A Chartered Accountant, who previously worked as an auditor in the public sector in Scotland; since moving to Luxembourg she has been enjoying somewhat of a sabbatical! The BLC has been an enormous help to her since moving here, from the social events to all the kids events, it has allowed her to get out and meet people and settle in here. She is looking forward to helping others find their way in this lovely little country!

Jennifer McCue (Area Rep Co-ordinator): Jen moved from Scotland to Luxembourg in 2014 with her husband and their two children and, after working in retail banking for the last 15 years, she now spends her time muddling through language classes and helping her kids with school. Her family loves Luxembourg and she is embracing all the new experiences this lovely wee country has to offer, enjoying their adventures in lovely Lux while they last.

Sue Hartley (Advertising & Public Relations): Sue left the UK in 2005 living in various parts of Europe and finaly settling down in Luxembourg for the last 7 years. She has a 6-year son who is attending the local school in Remich. She joined the BLC in 2011 and then the committee in 2012 as Membership Secretary, and is currently the Club’s Webmaster and Advertising Manager.

Liz Farafonov (Kids Co-ordinator): Liz is originally from Rugby in the UK and moved to Luxembourg four years ago. Liz is loving raising her four kids in Luxembourg and discovering new things to do in this amazing country!

Anya Bernhoeft (Kids Co-ordinator): Anya is originally from Hexham in the north of England. Along with her family, she moved to Canach last July. Anya has two young, energetic boys, Lewis and Sam, to keep her busy and is really enjoying living here in Luxembourg.

Caroline Grounds (Editor): Caroline is originally from the UK, where she taught Biology, however she spent the past 9 years abroad, teaching in science museums and volunteering in animal shelters in the US and Southeast Asia. Luxembourg, however, with its friendliness, diversity and beautiful countryside is now where her and her family are pleased to call home. She has been in her role as Editor of the BLC newsletter approaching 2 years now, and to her it has been a fantastic way to meet some great people and to get involved and learn about various events and organisations in Luxembourg. She is a mother to two young boys, so she also enjoys the diversion! According to her, it's great to have members contribute each month, share their experiences and gain inspiration. She is excited to see what the new committee and club members will bring to the BLC in the coming year.

Lucy Topping (Editor): Although Lucy hails from Manchester originally, she enjoyed spells in Cambridge, London, Zurich and Lausanne, before finally settling here in lovely Luxembourg in late 2015 with her husband and two-year-old son. In the past she has written for websites about creative advertising, jewellery and history, and has even stretched her limbs as a sports journalist for Formula One racing’s official site.

Hilary O’Halloran (Newcomers Co-ordinator): Hilary Leonard is Irish, having lived in Luxembourg and been a member of the BLC for the pas twenty-six years. Twenty-one years ago she became an Area Rep for Area F. She lives in Bascharage, is married and has one child. She has many different hobbies and enjoy meeting people.

Joanne Roberts (Newcomers Co-ordinator): Jo is British originally from Leicester and moved to Luxembourg 17 years ago. She is looking forward to her new role as Newcomer Coordinator as she enjoys meeting people.