President and Acting Treasurer
Michele Dunlap
Germany

Michele has served as the past chair of the German Tourette Association TGD e.V. since 2011 and has been an active member of the ESSTS Patients Group since 2012, a platform for Tourette Syndrome advocacy in Europe. She played a key role in transforming the ESSTS Patients Group into the registered umbrella organization TTAG. Michele is personally connected to TS through her husband and son-in-law, both of whom are touched by TS and related conditions. She is deeply passionate about TS advocacy, particularly in supporting and empowering young people as they transition into adulthood. With over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, Michele has a strong background in project management and customer relations. She currently works as an Executive Coach and is pursuing a master’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience alongside her degree in Intercultural Business Communication and Intercultural Training.

Vice-President
Rosita Sunna
Australia

Rosita works as Executive Officer for the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA) and in her own business as consultant for not-for-profit organizations. Rosita has 20+ years commercial experience working in marketing, engagement, development, management, communication, start-up and has held leadership positions in companies and not-for-profit organizations including the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia. She holds a Bachelor Professional of Marketing (CCI) and Bachelor Professional of Wholesale & Foreign Trade (CCI) from Germany and is a Certified Professional in Digital Marketing and Fundraising. Her passion for advocacy of neurological disorders was born 15 years ago, when her son was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome (TS) and other coexisting neurological disorders. Her volunteer experiences include being a TS Support Group Leader and Phone Volunteer for over seven years. Rosita joined OneNeurology Partnership as Ambassador for Australia. She is passionate about raising awareness and understanding, changing negative perceptions, creating opportunities and to help people with neurological disorders to live their best lives. She believes in collaboration and is excited to work with international teams to make Tourette Syndrome and Neurology a global health priority.

Secretary
Marla Shea
UK / USA

Marla Shea is the proud mother of two (2) adult daughters with Tourette and Co-Existing Conditions.  She has been a member of the Tourette Association of America (TAA) since 2004, chairing the Mid Atlantic Chapter for eight (8) years and an active member of  ESSTS since 2022.  Marla received her BA in Psychology with a minor in Management from Old Dominion University, is a Special Needs Advocate from William & Mary’s Law School Institute of Special Education Advocacy (ISEA) and a Certified Business & Performance Coach from MAPS Business Coaching, Keller WIlliams.  Marla’s personal passion is directly supporting and empowering families with Tourette and coexisting diagnoses to live their best lives by introducing families to systems, models and tools which allow families to have strong communication, organization and accountability within their homes and the medical and educational communities.

Board Member
Seonaid Anderson
Belgium

Seonaid is a chartered research psychologist and freelance neurodiversity consultant with many years experience in neurodevelopmental disorders and a board member of Belgian Tourette Syndrome Patient Association Iktic/Jetique. She is CEO of Neuro-diverse.org and created the Behavioural Therapy for Tics Institute (BTTI) https://www.neuro-diverse.org/btti which offers online behavioral therapy training for tics and other events for clinicians and therapists. She contributed to the updated European clinical guidelines for the treatment of Tourette syndrome (TS). She  co-created podcasts and a topic guide on TS for The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) and has written many publications on the subject of Tourette Syndrome. 

Board Member
Stefano Carrara
Italy

Stefano Carrara is the President and co-founder of Tourette Italia. He has a high level of enthusiasm for the work he does with parents, patients, and doctors. He lives and works in Milan and is also the CEO of Leanus, a company he founded 10 years ago. Stefano has a degree in Law and an MBA from Bocconi University. He speaks Italian, English, and Spanish fluently. He believes that successful charities require both the heart of good people and the organization of excellent businesses.

Board Member
E.G. Gidner
USA

E.G. Gidner, a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribe, is the Director of the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration in the United States Department of the Interior and a member of the Board of Directors of the Tics and Tourette Across the Globe. He participates in TTAG in his personal capacity as an individual with Tourette Syndrome.  E.G. holds a law degree and a master’s degree in Natural Resources Policy and Management from the University of Michigan and an MBA from American University. He received his bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Michigan State University. E.G. lives in Arlington, Virginia, United States, with his wife, and has two daughters, one in college and the other in veterinary school.

Board Member
Paula-Riitta Huttunen
Finland

Paula-Riitta Huttunen is a board member of the Finnish Tourette and OCD Association (STOy), where she also volunteers as a peer group instructor for people living with Tourette’s Syndrome and/or OCD. She is studying Computer Science at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu, North Karelia. In addition to her studies and volunteer activities, Paula-Riitta offers freelance services as an Expert by Experience, having been diagnosed with TS herself for over a decade. Paula-Riitta has experience in organizational and cooperative roles and has a diverse background in teamwork. Apart from TTAG and STOy, she has volunteered at a cooperative firm and participated in the Epic Challenge study program, where she collaborated with innovative international teams as a mentor. As a Tourette’s advocate, Paula-Riitta is passionate about supporting especially young adults with TS and other non-neurotypical individuals, ensuring they are recognized and included in society.