Meet the Team

Emilia Castelao
Founder & 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

Michael Duke

Tallulah Roberts

Chris Callahan – Lichess

Geert Van der Velde

WIM Ayelen Martinez

IM Jovanka Houska

Executive Team

  • Lauren Guzman

    COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

  • Tallulah Roberts

    CONTENT MANAGER