Board Member / Switzerland

Marcelina “Lina” Manalo-Emert is a Filipina civil engineer-turned-social advocate based in Switzerland with a lifelong commitment to women’s empowerment and migrant resilience. A contributor to Bending Without Breaking: Thirteen Women’s Stories of Migration and Resilience, she has pursued both professional and community work that champions gender equality and supports the Filipino migrant experience. Her advocacy focuses on the dignity and capability of women across cultural and social boundaries, reflecting her passion for equity and community engagement.

Ate Lina is a civil engineer and social work professional based in Switzerland. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines, and later completed further studies in Social Work at the Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit in Zurich. With an interdisciplinary background spanning engineering and social services, she brings a strong analytical foundation and a deep commitment to community engagement, migrant advocacy, and social development.