Elize Sakamoto is Woodbrooke’s Programme Coordinator for Quaker Service and Roles. She is on the Quaker Peace and Social Witness Central Committee, having served as its Co-Clerk for two years and as Link member to Turning the Tide programme (now part of Peacebuilding & Nonviolence). She continues to co-represent QPSWCC in BYM Trustees’ Group to Review Central Structures. Locally within North West London AM, she serves as an elder, co-clerk to the eldership team, and co-elder for the CYP team. She has been a clerk and elder in a number of other Quaker settings as well and has helped develop anti-racism initiatives and in-reach educational gatherings as part of her roles. Elize cares about Friends’ corporate future in terms of discerning a balance between being open and curious about modern influences and confidently continuing aspects of the Quaker tradition. She hopes to be an approachable and effective accompanier for Friends in their journeys of learning and re-learning of the functions and the responsibilities as Quaker role holders – in the widest sense.

Originally from Tokyo and Los Angeles, she has lived in London for nearly half of her life. She has advanced degrees in Philosophy, Women’s Studies, Education, and Political Science Research and extensive work experience in the commercial, social enterprise, International NGO, academia and faith-based sectors. Elize became a Quaker as an adult but feels she has always been one with her life-long commitment to peace, integrity and equality, emanating from an inexplicable source of conviction.