Meet the committee
president
Carol Young
Originally from Gloucestershire, I have also lived in London, Cheshire and Buckinghamshire before we moved to France in 2003 with our two daughters. We loved the bilingual and French cultural experience, spending eleven happy years there. In 2014 we accepted our first expat posting to Tokyo. Schools are usually the easiest way to meet new friends but with our girls working in London by this time, I soon realised the importance of foreign associations. Before long, my calendar was full of cultural visits, creative and sporting activities, and I had made many new international friends. BASS was my first point of contact on arriving in Seoul in 2014. After taking on responsibility for Welfare I am now proud to take over the role of President for BASS.
treasurer
Belinda Bannister
I am a true blue Aussie born in Sydney, growing up with lots of sun, surf and sand. With English grandparents, our family was well versed in many English traditions, my favourite being the Sunday roast…in all seasons☺ I did a Bachelor of Economics, majoring in Accounting at Macquarie Uni, also in Sydney, then qualified as an Australian Chartered Accountant with KPMG, in Sydney of course! I did venture off to London to work for a year and returned to marry a Royal Australian Naval Officer, have three kids and move many, many times between Sydney and Canberra. The last move was most unexpected and very welcome – to Seoul, South Korea. We have since been moved south of Seoul to the US Army Base Camp Humphreys, so travelling back and forward a lot now. Amongst the very first people we met in Korea were the wonderful BASS folk. Feeling right at home with BASS, and fond of a good hike and a nice cuppa, I joined and became involved straight away. It feels great to be able to contribute to support Korean charities, while also meeting such marvelous people and making the most of our Korean experience.
Welfare Coordinator
Jackie Powell
A recent arrival to Seoul from the United Kingdom where we lived in Sandhurst, Berkshire. I am currently on a career break, my company kindly allowing me to take some time out to follow my husband (who works for Coupang) half way round the world to Korea to see how we like it. This is our first expat posting as a family but I have served in numerous places around the world at different times in my life. We have a young son who is at Dulwich College, Seoul. We have quickly settled into life here and I decided I would like to take on a role in BASS. I am delighted to take on the role of Welfare Coordinator and I am very much looking forward to getting to grips with the role and hopefully return something of use to the people and city we now call home.
Membership Chair
Sally Nixon
I am originally from England, where I trained and worked as a primary school teacher before starting our expat journey in Fiji in 1998. We are still on that journey and have since lived in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Tokyo before moving to Seoul in 2016. I have two teenage children. I joined BASS as soon as I arrived in Seoul and through the many events that are offered (especially hiking and mahjong) I met and made many new friends and soon felt part of a very welcoming and international community. As Membership Chair, I hope to be able to welcome many more new families to Seoul and BASS and help them feel part of our community too.
Events and Korean Liaison
Sujeong Shin
I am a Korean who can speak English and Japanese. My goal is to be a person with a beautiful free spirit.
I earned my master’s degree in political science and worked as a researcher at the Institute for Global Regional Studies at Korea University. I went to the United States after I got married and ended up living there for almost ten years. During my stay in the US I was encouraged by friends with good heart.
I was thinking about what I could do before I came back to my country so I organised an international ladies luncheon, a cultural exchange group of ladies I met at the public library. I also volunteered as a storyteller in Korean for families who adopted Korean babies.
Another ten years passed since I came back to Korea. I’ve been working as a freelance interpreter in the fields of tourism and medical tourism. I also used to teach conventional English in an interdisciplinary programme at Konkuk University.
I joined BASS in the fall of 2017 and it’s been a joy to be part of this wonderful group. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason. This encounter will make my journey even more exciting and lead me closer to the UK.
Website Support
Anna Mehta
Although born and raised in Australia, I’ve long had a strong affiliation with the UK – my husband is British! Since he joined the Foreign Office we have been posted to Uganda and Malaysia, though we first met in Japan. We arrived in Seoul with our two children in 2018 and have been thoroughly enjoying theopportunities to discover and learn that this amazing city offers. With my background in Linguistics and EAL, I’ve really welcomed the chance to learn a new language, though this is most definitely a work in progress!
I’m in awe of the good work BASS does, as well the friendships and special memories it fosters, and pleased to be able to play a very small role in supporting this.
Honorary Patron
Sian Stickings
Secretary
Sally McEachen
I am a UK wife and mother who first discovered Seoul back in 2013 when I came on my first tour with my husband and teenage children. After 3 years here we were moved to Malaysia, but we love Seoul so much we came back for a second tour. We have 4 children, with the last in his final year at school, and the others now back in the UK. Since moving here I have discovered pottery, write poetry and enjoy the seasons and the unique way of life of Korea. I have sung in the Camarata choir and also love taking part in the St Andrew's Society events.
I am very happy to be part of BASS, and I am full of admiration for all the work that the BASS Committee members and others put into making it a welcoming, active and thriving organisation which links non-Koreans living in Seoul with Koreans and Korean good causes. As I have moved from one city to another around the world over the past four decades, I have always valued the welcome and support offered by organisations like BASS. Come along to a BASS event, and you will meet interesting and friendly people!
