SWAN Vancouver (SWAN) will continue its front-line service and advocacy under new leadership. Please join the Board of Directors in congratulating Angela Wu on her new role as Executive Director.
Angela has seamlessly transitioned into this position. Her leadership skills and commitment to our mission and values were evident when she first volunteered with SWAN in 2021 for the Harms of Anti-trafficking project, which addressed the conflation of sex work with trafficking. In January 2022, Angela was hired as a Project Manager to lead SWAN’s project addressing media misrepresentations of im/migrant women engaged in sex work.
Angela Wu, Executive Director, SWAN Vancouver.
Before SWAN, she worked for many years in the non-profit sector and holds both a Bachelor of Social Work and an LLM in Human Rights Law, her thesis focused on the impact of Canada’s sex work laws on im/migrant sex workers. Angela’s expertise and integrity inform everything she does and we’re confident she can propel SWAN into a new phase.
We also want to share our sincere gratitude to outgoing Executive Director Alison Clancey. Alison is a fierce advocate for the women we support and a selfless leader who builds others up no matter what position they hold within the organization. She started as a volunteer in 2009 and became a staff member in 2012 before assuming the Executive Director position three years later. Alison is honoured to have worked with SWAN’s volunteers, staff and Board members over the years who contributed tirelessly to grow SWAN from a small grassroots organization to the force it is today, with more than 10 employees and three core programs. She’s leaving the organization with a firm foundation for Angela and the team to build upon.
Alison has been working hard right to the end of her time with SWAN, which has been invaluable to Angela and the Board during this leadership transition. We were very fortunate to have worked with Alison and we’re happy to see her continue her anti-trafficking advocacy in a new capacity.
It’s an exciting time for change and growth at SWAN. In March, we welcomed three new full-time employees and we’re looking forward to expanding our front-line services this year. The Board continues to work toward a shared leadership model, but we know Angela’s drive, compassion, and commitment to our mission will carry SWAN into this new chapter.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors, SWAN Vancouver