Advisory Board
Maggi Quadrini Advisor
Maggi Quadrini is a human rights activist who works with community-based organizations along the Thai-Myanmar border. Her work focuses on issues affecting women, refugees, internally displaced people, and children. Maggi also writes about her work and observations in outlets such as The Diplomat, Southeast Asia Globe, New Naratif, and Tea Circle Oxford – where she offers a unique first-hand feminist perspective of human rights issues in the region. She started closely working with PFG as an advisor in early 2020. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, hiking, and reading. She’s always on the lookout for good cups of coffee and vegetarian food.
Maggi Quadrini
Advisor
Laura Milne Advisor
Laura Milne is a feminist human rights lawyer and women’s rights advocate based in Amman, Jordan. She is currently working with the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative overseeing the implementation of national and regional trafficking in persons and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) projects. Prior to that, Laura spent over four years in Myanmar, first as Senior Legal Advisor to a USAID-funded civil society and media strengthening project and later with the International Development Law Organization, where she advised on the development and implementation of rule of law and SGBV programs. Laura qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2009 before starting her career in human rights with Liberty, the UK’s largest civil liberties organization. In addition to her work with the Purple Feminists Group, Laura sits on the board of Justice Base, a UK-registered human rights organization operating in Myanmar. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, Bagel, and cooking for friends.
Laura Milne
Advisor
Dr.Yadanar Advisor
A passionate advocate for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for adolescents and young people. Dr. Yadanar began working as Young Women’s Coordinator at the Myanmar Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), where she helped to develop a safe space in which to equip adolescent girls with SRHR skills and knowledge and to empower young and ethnic minority women, and other young key populations, including LGBTQIA, by equipping them with leadership and SRHR knowledge and skills to become change agents within their communities. Dr. Yadanar then worked as an Adolescent and Youth Programme Analyst at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), where she partnered with adolescents and youth to promote meaningful participation in decision-making and advocate for CSE. Dr. Yadanar brings a wealth of experience working with countries throughout Asia and the Pacific Region, both with UNFPA and other CSOs, INGOs and bilateral development partner agencies, promoting gender transformative CSE, Digital Sexuality Education and young people’s empowerment. Dr. Yadanar holds a medical degree from the University of Medicine 1 in Yangon and a Master of Public Health from the University of Melbourne. She is now in the final stages of completing a Master’s degree in Health Policy, Planning and Financing at the London School of Economics (LSE) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). During her free time, she likes to travel, swim and bake.
Dr.Yadanar
Advisor
Our Team
Ma Nandar Executive Director
Ma Nandar is a feminist activist, a storyteller, and a podcaster from Shan State, Myanmar. Her passion for justice and equity started early in life when she began to question the cultural norms in her community that were demeaning women’s and girls’ lives. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Purple Feminists Group and hosts the podcasts G-Taw Zagar Wyne (in Burmese) and Feminist Talks (in English). Nandar translated and published, world-renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s essay books Why We Should All Be Feminists and Dear Ijeawele or A Feminist Manifesto in (15) Suggestions into Burmese language. She co-organized and co-directed The Vagina Monologues show (bilingual) for four consecutive years in Myanmar. She has also co-authored articles and research around Myanmar Women Human Rights Defenders and spoke on several discussions about feminism, poetry, and democracy worldwide. In 2020, she was named in the BBC 100 Women list. She has recently been selected for the CAHR Protective Writing Fellowship at the University of York, UK. In her free time, she enjoys walking, writing, reading, and watching comedies to rest and respite.
Ma Nandar
Executive Director
Khaing Wai Lwin Production Coordinator
Khaing Wai Lwin is an aspiring filmmaker who loves to talk about gender-related issues in the community. As an environmental enthusiast, she has shown her bold heart for nature at every chance she gets. She ensures that everyone around her including co-workers and family know the value of sustaining nature. She may have quiet confidence which is not easily visible however, she is not afraid to stand up for women’s rights and feminism against any form of discrimination. She enjoys doing DIYs and recycling.
Khaing Wai Lwin
Production Coordinator
Nay Chi Thel Kyaw Htun Program Assistant
Naychi is an energetic girl from Mon State, Myanmar, who is eager to work for women’s empowerment and leadership development. She is currently taking a Program Assistant role to amplify her advocacy in this atmosphere. In recent days, she actively participated in projects which focus on community engagement, contribution and development. Then, her compassion for the rights of women led her to be a participant in Women for E4 (Environment, Energy, Ecology & Equity), organized by YSEALI-WLA (Women Leadership Academy). In her spare time, she loves to relax on her own by watching TV series, documentaries, and poem composing and reading books.
Naychi Thel Kyaw Tun
Program Manager
Moe Thandar Aung Graphic Designer
Moe has been a graphic designer at PFG since early 2019. She loves playing and combining the colors and shades to create designs. She believes that art is the loudest way to revolutions. When she is not creating, she will be learning, watching movies, taking self-portraits. She is a big fan of AC/DC and Martin scorsese. Her biggest desire in life is to educate society on equality so that next generations of womxn get to live with their human rights.
Moe Thandar Aung
Graphic Designer
Suu Yee Phyo Finance & Admin Officer
Suu Yee Phyo has been working as a human rights activist since 2012. She has since continued to work as a human rights and women’s rights activist. Research on human rights and women’s rights; provided education and training. She formed a charity association with her friends and helped provide basic food and medicine school supplies for children; Hygiene products for women; Family planning education to the people in Karen, Kayah and Shan State. In 2020, during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked as a volunteer at the Quarantine Center Thein Phyu Stadium in Myungalar Taung Nyunt Township until 2021. PFG is now a group working on women’s affairs and has been actively involved in this group in finance and administration positions. She loves reading and writing poem, listening the music and learning new things.
Suu Yee Phyo
Finance & Admin Officer
Yoon Thu Win Program Assistant
Yoon Thu Win is a young lady from Mandalay, Myanmar, dedicated to community development through the acquisition of knowledge and experiences. She actively advocates for youth development and gender equality by participating in various development projects. She has a strong interest in gender equality and women’s rights, working with the Purple Feminists Group to support initiatives that bring positive changes to society. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and series, baking, and cooking, combining her hobbies with her commitment to making a meaningful impact on her community.
Yoon Thu Win
Program Assistant
Phyo Thiha Aung Volunteer
Phyo Thiha Aung is a young research enthusiast and a sophomore student at Parami University majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He has a great deal of working experience in both professional and voluntary aspects. As a community-committed person, he has voluntarily worked as Deputy Program Coordinator and Internal Researcher at the Student Research Initiative Program at Myanmar Youth for Peace Development since 2021. He has managed three successful SRI Programs, delivering qualitative research and advocacy training to a hundred youths and students from different backgrounds who are disadvantaged in formal education. His prior work experiences and achievements mainly involved social research, food security of Internally Displaced People, indigenous rights, human rights, good governance, and program management. In addition, he worked to advocate for inclusive policies promoting inclusive development and Indigenous Rights Reform at the Indigenous Peoples Development Program at Chin Human Rights Organization. He has recently engaged in the Nutrition at School Initiative Program, securing the food security of IDPs and children in schools in Chin State. His strong endeavors and interests are solid in gender equality, food security for IDPs, politics and revolution, and social research to analyze social injustices within the community.
Phyo Thiha Aung
Volunteer
Ei Phyu Sin Win Volunteer
Ei Phyu Sin Win (Cathryn) is a passionate young woman who deeply believes in the transformative impact of education. She is dedicated to the idea that education can significantly improve our community, empowering people and fostering positive change. A strong advocate for feminism, Cathryn recognizes its essential role in achieving equality and providing opportunities for everyone, irrespective of gender. In her free time, she loves listening to music and exploring the imaginative realms of sci-fi movies.
Ei Phyu Sin Win
Volunteer
Myat Thiri Htun Intern
As a person who grew up in a household led solely by her mother who not only had to take the family responsibilities but also took a leadership role in running the family’s business, She has witnessed the strength and capability of women since she was a child. These experiences make her eager to contribute to her society by raising awareness for women’s rights, women empowerment and gender equality to end the patriarchal society and domestic violence through the effective ways. That’s why she decided to join Purple Feminists Group as an intern. With willingness to eradicate all kinds of inequalities in her community, she made contributions by volunteering as a mentor for rural children at Global Hope Myanmar Organization and serving as a volunteer at one of the Non Profit Organizations which provide free and qualified education to the students in Myanmar. she also participated as a volunteer at E-ASEAN Youth Volunteer Programme Thailand: Community Development and Poverty Eradication. She usually spends her free time listening to music, cooking and reading some kinds of novels.
Myat Thiri Htun
Intern
May Phoo Pyae Intern
May Phoo Pyae is a 18-year-old young woman, passionate about social justice and feminism. Feminist literature and prominent feminist figures around the world kindled her spirit of activism. She believes feminist action is about regaining the rights of women for patriarchy is neither inherent nor a default to human beings. She hopes to spend her life fighting for the right causes and to alleviate the lives of oppressed communities!
May Phoo Pyae
Intern