committee members
Pat Pledger, Founder and Chair
Pat comes from UK, where she was in Human Resources management in London for over 20 years. Arriving in Frankfurt some 15 years ago, Pat decided to channel her management experience into business English training, moved to Hamburg and set up her own business training executives and staff in-company and specialising in human resources English training. Feeling a necessity to network in a new country without any contacts, Pat founded PWF in 1994, having networked extensively in her previous jobs in London. Having chaired PWF for the first 7/8 years, Pat stepped down in 2001 to concentrate on her business. She took the Chair again in September 2006.
Wendy Sprock, Vice-Chair
Wendy comes from the UK, where she trained as a Chartered Accountant in the late 1980's and then ventured across to Germany to work in the accountancy profession here, securing her German qualification as a Wirtschaftsprüferin at the end of the 1990’s. When she decided she would rather be self employed Wendy started her own business in 1992 as a translator (German to English), consultant and trainer in special accounting issues. Networking became a lifeline for developing her business so Wendy joined Pat Pledger in 1994 as Vice Chair of PWF, driving it to a membership of around 100 before she stood down in 2000 due to family commitments. Wendy has been Vice Chair again since September 2006 and would like to see PWF regain its excellent mix of members in terms of nationalities and professions.
Anette Brandt
Anette graduated from Hamburg University in North American Culture, Language & Literature, British Literature, and German Literature. In the early 1990’s she trained as a lecturer in the field of further education. In 1994 she qualified as a state-approved & certified translator and interpreter and started her own business as a translator and interpreter. Three years later, Anette joined dpa subsidiary news aktuell and established and managed the Global Desk before changing to her current position as International Acccount Manager. Anette has been a member of PWF for many years.
Jo Dawes
Jo comes from the UK, where she studied modern languages and worked for 10 years as a journalist. She moved to Hamburg in 1994 and was for many years in charge of press and public affairs at the British Consulate-General before setting up in business as a communications consultant specialising in media and public affairs and English copy writing. An early active member of PWF, Jo stood down in 2001 to concentrate on a major UK initiative in Hamburg. She rejoined in 2006 and has been on the committee since September of the same year.
