The WDO team facilitates the exchange of ideas within the design community by implementing a range of projects and initiatives, and raises awareness of the power of industrial design to effect positive change in the world.
Andréa Springer
Acting Managing Director
With over 20 years’ experience in strategic communications, organizational leadership and international partnership development, Andréa has been a key architect in shaping WDO’s evolution into a respected global voice for design. Since joining in 2005, Andréa has played an instrumental role in building the organization’s flagship programmes and initiatives, forging alliances with international institutions and expanding its worldwide reach. Her expertise spans corporate communications, branding, and high-level stakeholder engagement across diverse sectors, including information technology, telecommunications, and consumer goods. In her role as Managing Director, she is recognized for her ability to bring together diverse voices to advance shared goals and empower a dynamic team to deliver innovative projects that create meaningful, sustainable change.
Dorothée Bolade
Community Engagement Officer
Dorothée has extensive experience in the public and not-for-profit sectors gained in the United Kingdom, Central Africa and more recently in Canada. Her areas of expertise include volunteer management, community engagement and programme management, including proposal writing and the monitoring and evaluation of projects. At WDO, her remit is to develop and implement membership growth and retention strategies with a particular emphasis on building the organization’s online communities. Dorothée studied International Relations & French at the Nottingham Trent University which included semesters at the California State University Long Beach and the Paris 12 Val de Marne University (France).
Natalie Dutil
Communications Manager
Natalie Dutil is a communications professional with over 10 years of experience in the non-profit and corporate sectors. Her work has varied to include public & media relations, product launches, store openings, local and international event management and internal corporate communications. Natalie joins WDO with an enthusiasm for communicating the oganization’s vision and mission of design for a better world. As the Communications Manager, she facilitates the development of content and ensures consistency and visibility across the organization’s roster of programmes.
Eric Lauwers
Programmes Manager
Eric Lauwers is an accomplished project manager and has worked in a variety of nonprofit and for-profit organizations ranging from the creative industry, science journalism, design, social economy, telecommunications, etc. His major experience lies in strategizing and working with cross-functional teams to bring about fundamental change and improvements in strategy and project process. He first joined WDO in 2019 as a project manager for WDC Lille Metropole 2020 and WDC Valencia 202, and contributed to the design challenges. As Programmes Manager, his focus will be on the World Design Capital (WDC) and World Design Protopolis (WDP) programmes, among others. Eric is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
Tu Tram Pham
Visual Communications Officer
Tu Tram is an experienced Visual Designer with her work spanning through a trifecta of private, public and non-profit sectors. She’s been part of cross-functional teams such as Brand, Product Design, Marketing and Communications, lending support as a Graphic Designer. She champions and values strong visual narratives while taking into consideration the user experience across the digital landscape. As Visual Communications Officer, Tu Tram will be dedicated in all web and social media management, while spearheading visual brand and user experience.
Sarah Virgini
Programmes & Communications Officer
With a background in sustainable community development, Sarah has several years of professional and volunteer experience with a variety of member-based non-profit organizations. She is a skilled communicator, with proven expertise in event management, public relations and community outreach. As the Programmes & Communications Officer at WDO, she contributes to the development and curation of content to ensure consistency across all communications platforms and collaborates on programme-specific projects. Sarah has a Bachelor of Arts in International Development from McGill University.
Rose Wu
Accounts Administrator
As the Accounts Administrator, Rose contributes to the ongoing advancement and achievement of WDO’s strategic objectives through the facilitation of essential administrative functions. Her responsibilities include bookkeeping, preparing financial statements, quarterly and annual reports, as well as assisting with other related accounting duties. Rose also provides administrative and project support to the management team at the Secretariat.
