Executive Committee
Who runs Viva?
The Viva Committee meets on a regular basis and is represented by a group of professional women from different backgrounds and countries, based in Beijing. The committee is responsible for the strategic and operational success of the group and currently comprises the following individuals.
President Kelly Brantner
As Viva's new President, Kelly's aim is to further build the Viva brand and create awareness of the group whilst finding new and creative ways to add further value to the members and help Viva to become the leading professional women’s association in Beijing.
Kelly Brantner is the Executive Director of the International EMBA Programs in China for Rutgers Business School (RBS). RBS is the business school at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey which is the 8th oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, founded in 1766.
Kelly’s entire professional career has been in the field of executive education and organisation development. Prior to joining RBS, Kelly worked in Vancouver, Canada for MICA International a firm that specialises in Strategic Talent Management including talent selection, talent development as well as advanced organisational development solutions. At MICA for over 13 years, her clients included Fortune 100 organisations as well as leading-edge entrepreneurial firms and a number of Canada’s foremost universities.
Contact Kelly at: president@vivabeijing.org or by phone on 1391 0732 081.
Marketing Manager Kate Alden
Kate Alden moved to Beijing in 2006 and is currently Marketing Manager for the British Chamber of Commerce in China. A marketing specialist, she has over 6 years experience in communications and strategic marketing for both multi-nationals and non-profit organizations, as well as significant freelance experience. She is an enthusiastic writer and is the Editor of British Business in China magazine. She speaks English and French, and has a keen interest in Chinese language and culture.
Contact Kate at: marketing@vivabeijing.org
Membership Benefits Segolene Dufour-Genneson
Originally from France, Segolene came to China upon graduating from the London School of Economics in 2006. Although her original expertise lies in International Politics, she fell upon the contemporary art scene in Beijing and found herself in a career born out of her second passion at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art. Drawn back to issues of civil society, she is now in charge of speaker development for TEDxBeijing, identifying the "ideas worth spreading" in Beijing.
She has a penchant for jiaozi, bitter chocolate and French wine. Her regular attempts at conquering the world of music are met with patience from her neighbours as she's playing away on her piano. Segolene also enjoys travelling.
Secretary/Special Projects Katja Kochte
Originally from Russia but grown up in Germany, Katja moved to Beijing at the beginning of 2008. She has more than 5 years experience in the field of marketing and project management working for multinationals and small business in Germany and Australia. Before moving to Beijing she worked for Hyundai Motor Germany being responsible for trade marketing and cooperation.
Growing up in an international family Katja speaks German, Russian and English and is now studying Chinese. She holds a degree in marketing and management and is undertaking further studies in graphic design and website development. She enjoys travelling through China and meeting interesting people from all over the world.
Contact Katja at: projects@vivabeijing.org.
Finance Manager Arina Divo
Arina comes from St. Petersburg, Russia. Her degree in Linguistics and desire to travel led her to work for three years as an interpreter for a multitude of international business projects. Then she dropped her suitcase in Geneva to combine work with further studies. As a bonus to her degree in Management Accounting came addiction to chocolate, cheese and Montreux Jazz Festival. After graduation, she moved to Luxembourg and worked as a business analyst and project manager for the investment fund businesses of JP Morgan and Nomura.
Arina came to Beijing in August 2007 with her husband and two sons. She worked as a financial controller for an automotive company till February 2009 when she decided to spend one year gaining proficiency in Chinese at Beijing Language and Culture University. Besides Mandarin, she speaks Russian, English, French and German.
Arina loves her family and friends, blue sky days, good books, traveling, sipping Chinese tea, hiking the Great Wall and singing with the Chorale Francophone of Beijing.
Membership Manager Lucie Lau
Lucie first moved to Shanghai in 2001 and has lived in both Shanghai & Beijing.
She is a Senior Partner of Mega City Relocations Ltd, specializing in relocations (international / domestic / local & office moving) home & school search and import / export of furniture & commodities.
She has played an active role in the Singapore Chamber of Commerce & Industry in China in membership drives, networking, social & yearly events.
Lucie has secured sponsorships, participations, lucky draws and advertisements for various events and charity auctions. She has been active in volunteering and charity drives since a young age, from Interact Club, the previous Bukit Merah Old Folks’ Club and numerous Charity Auctions for the American Womens’ Association in Singapore. She has assisted to secure sponsorships and items for the Amcham Charity in Beijing for four years. She has also participated in the Annual Charity Carnival in Shanghai.