Our Trustees

Our Board of Directors is responsible for the overall control of CAIA and they set the strategic direction of CAIA. The Directors and CEO meet regularly to discuss, decide and review strategies and policies and to receive reports and updates.

The CAIA Directors work on a voluntary basis to ensure that the organisation is doing all it can to support UK Armenians.

Karine Alexanian

Company Secretary

Karine is a community interpreter and importer of Armenian goods to the UK. She serves as CAIA’s Secretary. In this role, Karine supports the Chair in ensuring the smooth functioning of the Board. Karine ensures the Board maintains effective records and satisfies the legal requirements of governing documents, charity law and company law in the UK.

Flora Mansurian

Treasurer

Flora is a long standing  member of CAIA.  She has always valued and supported CAIA In it’s mission.  Flora  retired from the royal college of general practitioners (RCGP) in September 2018 Where she was employed as the assistant financial accountant. Her main responsibilities in the royal college of GPs were preparation of accounts for two subsidiary branches and cash flow management. Flora would like to contribute her accountancy knowledge and experience to CAIA.

Nona Mesilane

Nona first found out about CAIA in 2018 when she became a mother. She was looking for an Armenian community where she could meet and socialize with other Armenians while keeping our language and culture alive. That’s when she discovered the CAIA pre-school playgroup, which she describes as “an amazing place for children to learn, have fun, and interact with others”. 

Nona was so impressed by the CAIA community that she wanted to be a part of it. She began volunteering with administrative and accounting tasks, and become a Trustee in November 2024. Whilst new to the role, she is highly motivated and is proud and happy to be involved in a community that has supported Armenians for so many years. Having spent half of her life in Estonia and the other half in England, she understands the value of a strong community.

Nona graduated from university in Estonia with a degree in Human Rights, and currently works as a financial clerk.  She is fluent in Russian , Armenian and English and has completed Levels 1and 2 in Psychology.

Alexandra Sarkis

Co-Chair

Alexandra is a long-standing supporter of CAIA, and admirer of its work. She has had almost 40 years of experience as a solicitor in the private client field, for most of those as a partner in an established Inns of Court firm and its successor practice, and her work has involved taking on a number of trusteeships. Now a consultant with her firm, she is delighted to have the opportunity of playing a part in the governance of CAIA, and contributing to its ongoing success.

Vanita Nicholls

Co-Chair

Vanita has been a member of CAIA since the mid-1990s where she joined the Armenian language class. Her mother was an Armenian from Cyprus. She has worked at Ealing Council for 26 years and with the employment and skills team for the last 17 years where she manages the apprenticeship programme and youth employment offer. Vanita sees CAIA as an invaluable resource for the Armenian community which, like any organisation, needs to be supported and cared for just as CAIA supports and cares for Armenians in the UK.

Armenoohi Der Hacopian

Vice Treasurer

Armenoohi lived and worked in the UK for many years before living in Milan, Italy.  Since returning to London in 2019, she has been an active member and volunteer with CAIA.  She has a Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies (how children learn a language in a multicultural and multilingual environment).  This enabled her to organise Armenian language playgroups and language courses for children with the help of parents in Milan. She taught Armenian language at Armenian Language Saturday school in London. Armenoohi is passionate about the vital role CAIA plays in the welfare of the Armenian community and wishes to contribute her experience and knowledge to the sustainability of CAIA’s various services.