SONJA JOHNSON
Sonja currently serves as the Secretary of the FIDE Planning and Development Commission(PDC) where she is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the activities of the PDC. She is also the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association(TTCA), where she contributed to the improvement of the standards of operation within the TTCA while also focusing on inclusivity. She has volunteered in chess programmes for children at risk and held chess tournaments at the Maximum Security Prison and the Carrera Prison. Under her leadership, the TTCA was awarded Top Administration (Small) from First Citizens Sports Foundation for 2015, 2016 and 2018. Under her stewardship, the TTCA produced its first publication: “The First Moves: Celebrating 80 years of Chess in Trinidad and Tobago” in commemoration of the TTCA’s 80th Anniversary in 2016. Sonja was also the first person in the English-speaking Caribbean to hold an International Organiser(IO) title, which she obtained in 2016.
Sonja is a senior level manager with over
15 years’ experience spanning Financial Services, Stakeholder Relations, Public
Affairs, Business Development, Customer Care and Strategic Planning. She has
worked extensively with internal and external stakeholders including several
local, public sector and international entities across various industries and
countries. Sonja has championed initiatives,
including those that leveraged the use of Information and Communication Technologies(ICT),
which have resulted in the improvement of a number of processes within the
various institutions in which she worked She is passionate about customer
service and has often been a catalyst for change in her various work
environments.
Sonja possesses a Masters in Business Administration(MBA),
specialising in International Finance, as well as a BSc. in Computer Studies
(Hons.) from the University of the West Indies. She also successfully completed
the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) programme from the Project
Management Institute. Sonja has participated in several professional training
programmes including Leadership, Compliance, Risk Management, Strategic
Planning and Sales. She has also facilitated team-building and coaching
sessions. She
is a native English speaker and has a functional knowledge of Spanish.
MAJILINDA PILINCI
Ms. Pilinçi has been serving as Secretary General of the Albanian Chess Federation (ACF) since 2010.
During her tenure with ACF, she worked hard to improve the ACF’s management and the quality of national and international chess activities, through close collaboration with the ACF’s Board, FIDE and ECU. As a passionate educator, she has been actively working to introduce chess in school as an educational tool at middle and high school level, contributing to encouraging young people to join chess.
Ms. Pilinçi is a FIDE International Organizer. Her contribution to the Albanian chess development was recognized in her being member in the Women’s Commission of ECU since 2014. She appreciates her presence in the Fide PDC commission as an opportunity for further experience, contribution and engagement, following Fide’s policies.
Ms. Pilinçi studied physical education and sport at university level. She also holds a M.Sc. in Physical Education & Sports and an M.A. in Sports Management. She worked as a physical education teacher for several years being also involved in various sports associations, before joining the Albanian Olympic Committee (NOC Albania), as a member in vote and later being elected on its Executive Board for ten years now.
She speaks Italian, French and English.
THEODOROS TSORBATZOGLOU
Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou is the Secretary General of the European Chess Union (ECU), a position he has held since 2014. He is also a member of the FIDE Planning and Development Commission (PDC). Theodoros is a former chess player and FIDE Master. He was a member of various Greek Chess National Teams during his chess career which ended in 1993. Tsorbatzoglou retired from a professional chess career and started working as a chess trainer. Later on he obtained a FIDE Chess Trainer title (2010). In 2008 he was appointed an Executive Vice President of Galaxias Sports & Cultural Club, and he is performing this duty ever since. Galaxias Sports & Cultural Club is a 6.000 m2 space of own Sports and Cultural facilities, including Volleyball Basketball, Chess Teams and Academies.
From 1996-2004 Tsorbatzoglou had been working as an Engineer, in Supervisions and Constructions Programs. At the same time, he worked as a Consultant on EU Educational & Funding Projects (Instructor in European Training Programs, 1998-2002. Later on he performed as an E-Marketing and Conference Manager in Tourism sector (2003-2008). In 2008 he had been working as a Co- Producer and Host in Sports Educational TV Show Games Festival. In 2004 he established Event Consulting Co, a Marketing & Event Management Company. Until then Tsorbatzoglou organized more than 50 events, among which scientific conferences, corporate events, various sports events and a number of International Chess Events and World Championships. In 2005 he started a huge annual event with the brand name Games Festival. In 2013 he established Event Properties, a Real Estate Agency which is still developing and facing the new professional challenges.
Theodoros holds a Masters Degree in Engineering and completed a paper in Business Administration. Serving in Hellenic Army 1996-1998 he got a Diploma in “Hermes” Telecommunication System. (NATO’s communication system). The also has a Certificate in E-Trade & Internet Marketing, with Special Training for European Union Programs and Funds. He is fluent in Greek and English, and has a working knowledge in Russian.