The American Women’s Association of Singapore (AWA) has chosen Kerry Wilcock, AWARE’s Direct Services manager, as its 2010 International Woman of the Year.

The AWA created the award to recognise and honour international women who have made a positive difference to the lives of people living in Singapore. The award this year, AWA said, went to a woman who is “a role model in her effort to make a difference” and exemplifies this year’s International Women’s Day theme of Equal right, equal opportunities: Progress for all.

Kerry, 40, has worked in the social services sector for 20 years, including six years in Singapore. She joined the AWARE Secretariat as Direct Services manager two years ago.

AWARE President Dana Lam said: “We are delighted and very proud of the honour bestowed on Kerry Wilcock by the American Women’s Association. In the two years that she has been on staff, Kerry has added substantively to our core services. She has also been an inspiration and a source of strength as a leader and a trainer to her peers and to the organisation.”

AWARE’s Direct Services reach out to more than 3,000 women in Singapore every year.

Apart from her work at AWARE, Kerry was also active in 2009 in these community groups – The Society Against Family Violence, Raffles Community Leaders Forum, Befrienders Training for NTUC female union leaders, South West CDC Community Leaders Network, Family Violence Network Outreach for West Division, ASEAN Human Rights Workshop and Guest Mentor at the Singapore chapter of Women @Intel Network.

The award was presented to Kerry at a reception on 5^th March attended by members of the diplomatic corps and guests from the local and expatriate communities. Read an abridged version of the speech she made.