South African Institue For Traumatic Stress
Room 122 Emthonjeni Centre, University of the Witwatersrand
Cr Jorrisen & Station Streets (Entrance from Station Street)
Braamfontein Johannesburg, 2001
Tel: (+27 11) 717 8677, Mobile: 084 2988 135, Fax: 086-6568-216
Leoni.Futter@wits.ac.za

Full Time staff

Operational Director
Leoni Futter
(+27 11) 717 8677 or 084 2988 135
SAITS is currently contracting specialists in as required.

Board of Directors

Barbara Holtmann (Chairperson), Dr. Merle Friedman (Founder), Craig Higson-Smith (Founder), Leoni Futter (Operational Director), Farzana Amod, Gloria Hlophe, Johanna Kistner, Stacey Leibowitz-Levy, Nomfundo Mogapi, Mathulwane Mpshe, Dr. Annemarie Novello, Zuzelle Pretorius, Siyabonga Nkosi, Dr. Ugash Subramaney, René van Son.

Barbara Holtmann
Barbara Holtmann is the Research and Development Contract Manager in the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Defence, Peace, Safety and Security Unit. Previously she was a Project Director at Business Against Crime, then the Chief Director Communications, for the National Department of Safety and Security. Barbara has a Master of Public and Development Management Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is the chairperson of the SA Institute for Traumatic Stress (SAITS) and serves on the Board of the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC). She participates on the UN Expert Groups on Norms and Standards for Crime Prevention, and on Urban Crime Prevention. She is also part of a group convened by the Canadian Government to develop international tools for the assessment of crime and violence problems at local level.
Barbara sadly tendered her resignation on the 28th November 2007, having seen the organization through one of it's most difficult periods.
This position has to be filled in 2008. SAITS is open for nominations from members. Dr. Merle Friedman (Clinical Psychologist).
SIs one of the founding members of SAITS, has served on the board of the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) for several years. is a highly acclaimed and internationally recognised trauma specialist who has concluded extensive research, written and presented numerous articles on traumatic stress at both an international and national level and has extensive experience in developing clinical interventions with survivors of trauma in both corporate and non-corporate environments, as well as in teaching courses in traumatic stress at post-graduate level.

Craig Higson-Smith (Research Psychologist).
Is one of the founding members of SAITS, is called on to consult regularly in Africa in the fields of torture and safety and security services, has concluded extensive research and produced several publications in the field of trauma, set up and managed the KwaZulu-Natal programme for survivors of violence and presented extensively on trauma locally and internationally.

Farzana Amod
Is a registered chartered accountant with invaluable experience in financial and management accounting, auditing, taxation and general business controls. She was serving as independent audit committee member of the SAITS board, but was obliged to tender her resignation from the board on the 14th October 2007, as she moved overseas. This position has to be filled in 2008. SAITS is open for nominations from members.

Gloria Hlophe
Serves as a technical support member on the SAITS board of directors.

Johanna Kistner
Johanna is a clinical psychologist and director of Ekupholeni Mental Health Centre, which offers community centred mental health services to residents of the Katorus area.

Stacey Leibowitz-Levy
Stacey is a Clinical Psychologist and lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand. She has a special interest in the field of child trauma and interventions. She has practised in the field for eight years, supervised practitioners and published in the area of child trauma interventions.

Nomfundo Mogapi (Clinical psychologist CSVR)
Was the Operatioonal Director for SAITS from 2003 - 2006, is currently Manager for the Trauma and Transition Programme in the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR). She has experience in trauma treatment with particular focus on ex-combatants and community work, has conducted several trainings in the trauma field around South Africa, and presented papers both locally and internationally.

Mathulwane Mpshe
Is currently the Executive Director Human Resources and BBEE at Makro, Johannesburg, and serves as a technical support member of the SAITS board, with the HR and business portfolio. With a B Comm ( UNISA) 2000) in Business Management and Industrial Psychology, a Certificate in Masters in Business Management (University of Warwick)2003 and substantial managerial experience, we look forward to having her on board in 2008.

Dr. Annemarie Novello (Clinical Psychologist)
Extensive experience in trauma training in South Africa. Extensive experience in clinical interventions with victims of trauma. Teaches courses in traumatic stress at post-graduate level.

Suzelle Pretorius
Deputy Director of Themba Lesizwe

Siyabonga Nkosi
Awarded a first class certificate in Neuro-psychology (1998), he has a background as Group Talent Development Consultant, Group Talent Acquisition Specialist, Manager: Employee Wellness and Assessment Centre Services , lecturer and supervising psychologist, development consultant, regional account manager, assistant project manager and research assistant, and serves as a technical supportmember

Dr. Ugash Subramaney
Dr. Ugash Subramaney is a qualified psychiatrist who is employed as a full time senior consultant in the department of psychiatry at WITS. She is involved in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at the department. She has been employed as a part-time psychiatrist at the trauma clinic in CSVR for the last 4 years. She is currently involved in research on PTSD. She has presented a paper on the "profile of psychiatric clients at the trauma clinic" at the psychopharmacology congress in September this year.

Barbara Holtmann
Senior Manager Social Crime Prevention, CSIR Crime Prevention Centre. Previously held contract post of Chief Director Communications for the Department of Safety and Security. Prior to that Project Director Business Against Crime with responsibility for Police Partnerships and Community Based Victim Support. Has MM (Public and Development Management) from Wits.

Renè Van Son
René van Son holds a BA in Museum Studies (Reinwardt Academy in Amsterdam). He worked as head of Marketing, Communication and Fundraising at major Dutch organizations such as the Dutch Theatre Institute www.tin.nl, the Tropenmuseum www.kit.nl and as Development Manager at the national museum, the Rijksmuseum www.rijksmuseum.nlM. As a senior fundraising & marketing strategy manager he has a 5 year experience at GLP/Match House www.glp.nl in Amsterdam, working for clients in Arts & Culture (e.g. Kröller-Müller Museum, Toneelgroep Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum, Glass Centre Leerdam, Gelderland Classical Orchestra), Leisure, Entertainment & Media (Joop van den Ende Musicals, Boyband The Musical, Cartoon Museum Groningen, Racism Beat It! Festival) and Welfare (Dutch Guide Dog Association). He since 2003 runs the regional office of Antenna Audio Ltd. www.antennaaudio.com, the world market leader in audio and multimedia tour guides and group tour systems for museums, heritage sites and production plants. He is the regional manager of Vernon Systems Ltd., the producer of the world's most admired collection management system. He is a boardmember of the South African Institute for Traumatic Stress www.saits.org.za and recently founded a children's welfare fundraising NPO, Twice-As-Nice www.twiceasnice.co.za