New trustees Saeida and Shameem join the TTI board

Trauma Treatment International has welcomed two new trustees to its board, both of whom bring extensive experience of the charity sector and human rights.

Saieda Rouass has worked in international development for over 15 years, specialising in preventing violence influenced by extremism, education reform and environmental conservation. She has also helped government agencies and civil society organisations across Africa to respond to violence influenced by extremism through rights-based and gender-informed approaches.

Saeida, a UCKP trainee psychotherapist and author of historical crime novel Assembly of the Dead, says: “I believe TTI is a charity that holds two important things at the same time: social conditions and their mental health impacts.

“The charity recognises collective violence as a driver of trauma, understanding that recovery must happen in society and the community and not just the clinical setting.

“Supporting individual recovery from trauma without acknowledging the structures that drive it risks creating cycles of harm that have no end. I am excited to be joining TTI and contributing to the important work it does.”

From left, Saeida and Shameem

Also joining the board is Shameem Sadiq-Tang, a former director of operational change at Refuge and the architect of survivor activism at Freedom from Torture. Shameem is now an independent consultant supporting grassroots organisations, larger charities and funders. Her role involves helping these organisations develop and implement programmes of work around trauma-informed approaches and lived experience activism.

Shameem says: “Having spent my career working directly and strategically with people who have experienced trauma, I was inspired to join TTI because of its commitment to survivor centred and culturally responsive approaches to trauma treatment.

“My professional journey has shown me how essential it is for organisations to honour lived experience, challenge inequity and deliver support that is both compassionate and contextually grounded. I’m looking forward to supporting such a committed team and helping TTI to strengthen its important work.”

TTI’s chief executive officer Sarah Cutler says the charity will benefit hugely from its new trustees. “Saeida and Shameem are both hugely knowledgeable about collective violence and the trauma which arises as a result,” she says. “Their combined experience will bolster our already robust board of trustees. We are extremely grateful that they have chosen to join us, and we look forward to a fruitful working relationship with them.”

The TTI team, including CEO Sarah Cutler (pictured front row, second from left)