Zalayhar Hassanali, Former First Lady of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 1987 -1997, was committed to charity work and community service as First Lady. She has been involved in voluntary community service since she was 16 years old. She continues a life of service through her active involvement in many non-governmental and charitable organisations. She is the recipient of many awards including the Order of the Repubic of Trinidad and Tobago for her outstanding work and dedicated service. She is a devoted Muslim, a Mother, a Grandmother and Greatgrandmother. Mrs Hassanali, once again is generously giving of her time and service to the TTEA as patron. She is committed to improving the health outcomes for girls and women with endometriosis in Trinidad and Tobago.
Nikki Crosby, Media Personality, is an advocate who has always been genuinely sympathetic towards the cause and is committed to raising awareness of the disease, endometriosis and improving health outcomes for endometriosis patients. Her media portfolio includes: 1. COMEDY: She was the first female stand-up comedian in the Caribbean. She has represented the Caribbean world over, including The Apollo – New York, The Montreal Comedy Festival and various comedy festivals; 2. THEATRE: She was a multiple Cacique Award winner for her work in theatre: Best Actress, Best Production, Original Writing and Best Producer. In 2008 formed the first all-femaleTheatre Production Company along with Ms. Penelope Spencer and Mairoon Ali, Ha Ha Ha Productions. Since its inception, Ha Ha Ha Productions have produced many successful plays including Best Little Whorehouse in Guapo, Sex in the City, RAW and most recently Hott Mouth Granny; 3. RADIO: She started with Trinidad and Tobago Radio Network (96.1 WEFM) with the Paul and Nikki Morning show and moved over to 107.7 morning show where she was the Morning Host on Caribbean Super Station (CSS), a radio show that is live weekday mornings in Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, The British Virgin Islands and Trinidad and Tobago. She is Currently back at 96.1WEFM, every weekday morning; and 4. TELEVISION: She first appeared on television with “Nikki on the Promenade”, a TV6 produced Carnival Show high-lighting the best of Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival. She spent two years with Gayelle the Channel where the “Paul and Nikki” show was brought to television. Additionally, she holds a BA in Marketing and B.Sc. in Psychology.
Abeesha Toussaint, A Women's Health Advocate, became an advocate and visionary when she recognised the needs of endometriosis patients in order for them to enjoy a better quality of life. She and the founding members formalised the undertaking in 2012 when the TTEA was officially registered. Together with her the team at the TTEA, her years of teaching experience, communication specialist skills and genuine sympathy for the cause, she worked with all stakeholders in her capacity as President to improve health outcomes for endometriosis patients in Trinidad and Tobago. She served on the Inaugural Steering Committee of the World Endometriosis Organisation [WEO], an affiliate of WES. She continues to support the initiatives of the TTEA, advocate for endometriosis patients and remains dedicated to this cause.
Madixia Broomes, Registered Nurse, Licensed Midwife, is a District Nurse with over 12 years experience in both the private and public sectors. She was awarded the highest GPA in postgraduate studies in Health Visiting in graduating class of 2018. Having interacted with the female population throughout the lifespan of a woman in her professional capacity, she believes that early detection and treatment of endometriosis would reduce the psychological and emotional trauma, and social tension associated with reduced fertility, which is secondary to the disease process. Thus, she is committed to the TTEA and its cause.
Daniel Plenty, Senior Communications Practitioner, has over 16 years experience in the field of Corporate Communications in the public sector. In addition to his profession, he is very family oriented and a Christian who is dedicated to the work of his local church and various initiatives to assist those in need. He has committed his expertise and time to improving the health outcomes for endometriosis patients in Trinidad and Tobago.
Steve Maximay, Scientist, is the Managing Director of Science-Based Initiatives, a consulting firm with a Pan-Caribbean clientele. He is also the Science Advisor to the Association of Caribbean Media-Workers and the TTEA's link to the scientific and media fraternities.
Sterling D. John, Attorney-at-Law, is a member of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago, this is an affiliation which started in April of 2011 when he was called to the bar in Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. John’s main areas of interest include but are not limited to Civil Litigation, Administrative Law, Corporate / Commercial Law, Employment Law, Conveyancing and Probate. Mr. John read for his bachelor of Laws Degree with the University of London and graduated with Honours in 2008. He then went on to attain his Legal Practice Course (with distinction) from Staffordshire University. Prior to entering into private practice with S. D. John and Associates, a law firm established by Mr. John and located in Port of Spain, Trinidad, he completed a period of internship with Mansfield Chambers.
Renee Blenman, Board Secretary, is a well qualified officer who has many years experience working in the public service. Her genuine sympathy for the cause made her volunteered with the TTEA on special occasions to raise awareness of the disease, especially among young girls. Her passion propelled her to take a more active role in the TTEA. She is warm, affable, energetic, dynamic and very sensitive to the needs of endometriosis patients. She is committed to the TTEA and its cause.
Indra Bharat, TTEA Committee Member, serves on the committee because having endometriosis took away so much from her. She wants to help in even the smallest way to get the information out to more girls and women about being more educated on this disease and to take heed of the signs and symptoms. She is intelligent, compassionate, committed, affable and sensitive the needs of endometriosis patients. She wants to get the message out there that we need a cure!
Arisha Ali, TTEA Committee Member, serves on the committee because she knows what dealing with endometriosis is like on a daily basis. Consequently, she wants to be part of the movement to educate society on endometriosis and to help and support persons in any way possible. Volunteerism continuously teaches her something new about endometriosis, people, co-operation, compassion, and herself. By helping others, she is reminded that we are all in this movement together and we need to remember to support each other. She is smart, compassion, hardworking, selfless and committed to helping endometriosis patients. She believes life has so much to offer if we remember look beyond ourselves.
Alysia Whittaker, TTEA Committee Member, serves on the committee because she wants to meet and help persons just like her. She wants to let them know that they are not alone. She is intelligent, affable, industrious, compassionate and committed to helping endometriosis patients.
Joleen Meharris-Simpson, Communications and Foreign Language Specialist, believes that God saved her life from complications due to severe endometriosis for a reason. She serves on the committee to help raise awareness on the condition and she is committed to working towards creating a much needed specialist network that will provide women with the right help and support that they need to manage and overcome endometriosis.
Gabrielle Douglas, Experienced Accounting Officer, is an ACCA student with an Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business with a number of years of accounting and auditing experience with a known audit firm. She loves working with numbers, holds hard and fast to 'by the book' procedures and pays attention to details. Although volunteering takes her 200% outside of her comfort zone, that nagging voice in her head made her join the TTEA where she is learning more about endometriosis and providing specialised accounting expertise to TTEA. She is enjoying her path to self discovery as she is sharing her professional experience and learning about the disease.
Chezelle Isha Armstrong, Production Expert, has developed her production skills over the 14 years in the Production Management field in Television Commercial, Corporate Events and various corporate projects. She has worked on over 40 TV commercials and has credits as a Location Assistant on the set of the Norwegian movie “Limbo” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1523326/fullcredits# cast filmed in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009. She also acquired a credit as a Second Unit Director or Assistant Director on the set of the Caribbean Next Top Model Season 1 in 2013, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4211842/?ref_=fn_al_n_1 In 2017, she was the outreach coordinator for the Trinidad and Tobago Beverage Alcohol Alliance conveying the message and drawing awareness at various events on the effects of intoxication and driving under the influence with the use of activities
using the drunk goggles. She’s the Managing Director of her companies Fountainhead Concept Limited and Tic Toc Ink together with her team they provide a range of services from production management, project solution and large format printing services. She sympathizes with the cause and is committed to the TTEA and its work.
