International
Women's Think Tank
Mission: To Promote Research, Critical Thinking and Innovative Solutions on Issues Related to Women and Girls
Board of Directors
The IWTT Board of Directors comprises a diverse range of seasoned thought leaders with broad experience in key areas of focus for the International Women’s Think Tank.
Brenda Morant - Founder
As a thought leader, I have always been committed to conscious conversations that foster women’s sense of empowerment and unveil their impact on the world stage. Founding the International Women’s Think Tank (IWTT) was a natural in that it supports my social entrepreneurial intentions and champions my quest for innovative strategies and solutions to empower people's lives.
IWTT is one of a very few think tanks devoted to issues related to women and girls, thus making it a pioneer and forerunner for the empowerment of women and girls. IWTT is a women and girls’ centric think tank that provides a platform to address the critical issues and challenges faced by women and girls. Our mission is to promote research, critical thinking and innovative solutions on issues related to women and girls. We encourage and facilitate the discussion of ideas in support of improving the status of women and girls. And we encourage the discovery of solutions to women centric issues and problems.
The global outbreak of COVID-19 has created strategic opportunities for women and girls to be empowered with resilient mind-sets. We are positioned to write our future and shape it in a reflective way that mirrors us post COVID-19. And we must take opportunities such as this to determine our response and strategies moving forward. I believe it is time for bold prioritization, we must move to put women at the forefront of recovery.
Moving forward post COVID-19, we will continue our focus on strengthening multi-sector partnerships, professional and leadership development training, supporting caregivers through our Child Well-Being initiatives, planning the Women’s Empowerment Roundtable Summit 2022, optimize, support and increase the global mandate of promoting gender equality and empower women leaders by connecting communities from across the globe with clearly defined goals centered on critical issues as addressed in the Sustainable Development Goals.
We are implementing Phase I of our latest research project the Status and Impact of Women in Think Tank Governance on Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery and Resilience Policy Recommendations.
Dr. Girish Panicker
Dr. Girish Kumar Panicker, Director of the Center for Conservation Research, Alcorn State University, Lorman, Mississippi, is an internationally renowned agricultural scientist; an authority on C-factor (cover and management) research. Dr. Panicker had the privilege of exhibiting his research findings on organic fruit production at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C, the largest educational, research and museum complex in the world.
His advanced research methodologies on sustainable and organic production practices with plant and animal residues for a healthier environment are being podcasted globally by the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS), American Society of Agronomy, International Society for Horticultural Science, USDA, and e-Organic-e-Extension. Invited by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), Belgium, Dr. Panicker represented the United States twice to deliver lectures on conservation research on horticultural crops. Dr. Panicker received the 2011 Pride of India Award (Bharat Gaurav) in New Delhi, during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
Manori de Silva, Esq.
Manori de Silva is an Attorney at Carreras & Lemoine, LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. She assists small to medium-sized businesses to do business in the U.S. and advises on various aspects of employment law. Manori regularly represents businesses in lawsuits in state and federal courts. Manori is familiar with many aspects of European culture having lived in Europe for many years. She speaks fluent Dutch and is proficient in French. Manori is also President of the Netherlands-American Chamber of Commerce for the Southeastern U.S.
Dr. Paddy Sharma
Dr. Paddy Sharma is a Philanthropist, Entrepreneur and Business Executive and holds many key community positions such as President, Rotary Club of Clayton County, Trustee of Clayton State University Foundation and Director of Indian American Cultural Association. She has initiated several medical camps and other relief camps in India.
Dr. Paddy is from a family of educationists and received her Doctorate from Vanderbilt University. She believes strongly in high values and the importance of cross cultural understanding in the educational systems and states that "Imparting Education to a Child is Educating a Nation”.
A proclamation for “Outstanding Georgia Citizen” was presents to Dr. Paddy in 2009 by Georgia Secretary of State for her commitment and dedicated service to the business and community at large.
Dr. Mary Lou Frank
Dr. Mary Lou Frank is a licensed psychologist and court approved mediator. She has a Ph.D. and M.S. in Psychology, a M.Ed. in counseling, and B.A. in Speech Communication from Colorado State University. She completed training in Advanced Negotiations for Executives at Harvard University and mediation training at Brenau University and Georgia State University. She is the Chair of the International Law School Tournament Committee, an executive committee board member, and immediate past-President of the International Academy of Dispute Resolution. She is on the board for the International Women’s Think Tank and co-founder of the consulting group, Transforming Mediation. Dr. Frank is a Fellow at the Institute for Higher Education at the University of Georgia, teaches at Brenau and Middle Georgia State Universities, and serves on boards and committees for several international universities. She has worked in higher education administration as a department chair, dean, and academic vice president as well as being a professor for over twenty years. She has published research, articles, and textbooks on psychological theory and practice, eating disorders, gender, leadership, psychology and law, and conflict resolution. Her textbook, “The Mind of a Peacemaker: The Psychology of Mediation,” is in second edition of the University System of Georgia.
Dr. Linda Gray
Dr. Linda Gray is a nonprofit business consultant with expertise in nonprofit start-ups, nonprofit management, grant
research and strategic planning and development for small businesses, grassroots faith-based organizations and community organizations. She is a Certified Mentor with SCORE a Volunteer Resource Partner with the Small Business based Administration (SBA) and is currently serving as an Executive Officer and Business Coach at the Dallas, Texas SCORE Headquarters. As Resource Partner, Linda is responsible for recruiting and providing assistance in business planning and proposal development, business certifications, registrations, and business financial packaging for minority, women owned, disabled and veteran businesses.
Judge Angela T. Butts
Municipal Court Judge of the Recorder's Court of Dekalb County, Georgia (USA)
The Honorable Angela T. Butts was appointed to the Recorder’s Court of Dekalb County as an associate Judge in March 1997. She has presided over thousands of Bench Trials in one of the busiest courts in the State of Georgia. Judge Butts also sits by designation in Dekalb County State and Superior Courts. She presently serves on the Executive Committee of the Council of Municipal Court Judges as the Fourth District (Stone Mountain) representative; as a member of the Dekalb County Mental Health Task Force and the Advisory Board of the Dekalb County Task Force for Runaway, Homeless and Sexually Exploited Youth; and serves on the Academic Support Committee of Decatur High School.
