Wendy Felicia Philander is currently a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament for the Democratic Alliance in South Africa, where she serves as the Chairperson of the Health Standing Committee.
Wendy’s passion to serve is related to transforming the landscape for women in politics. Women make up 56% of her provinces’ population, yet this is not reflected in leadership. She believes there is no time like the present to change the landscape and empower women to take up their seats.
Wendy is a Democratic Alliance Political Development Programme graduate, as well as a graduate of the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy Women in Politics Programme. These programs opened a whole new world for Wendy and shaped her as a steadfast leader.
The youngest of three daughters, Wendy comes from a family that only had enough to get by. She sees herself as an example of what can be achieved – no one’s circumstance of birth determines their future.
Wendy believes all communities deserve bold and progressive leadership, and very much relates to Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, when she says: "Everything I've ever thought about doing has been, in some sense, about helping people". A simple principle of being the change.