The TTAG Board
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
Roxana A. Apollonio Cabrera
Spain
Roxana is a neuropsychologist and an elementary school teacher from Argentina who has lived in Spain for the last 25 years. She specialises in Tourette’s syndrome and has been collaborating with the Acovastta Association since 2010, where she coordinates the therapeutic team service and served as president from 2019 to 2021. She has extensive clinical experience providing Behaviour Therapy for tics to children, adolescents, and adults, and coordinates support groups for parents and adults with Tourette’s.
Roxana created roxanaapollonio.com/espacio-tourette/, which provides training to psychologists, parents, and adults with TS through an e-learning platform. She has written a guide of educational strategies for children with TS and numerous popular articles, is a member of the ESSTS, and is a founding member of TTAG. Roxana is passionate about helping people with TS.
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
Paula-Riitta Huttunen
Finland
Paula-Riitta Huttunen is a board member of the Finnish Tourette and OCD Association (STOy), where she also volunteered several years 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.
Board Member
Liv Irene Nøstvik
Norway
Liv Irene Nøstvik has been general manager of the Norwegian Tourette Association (NTA) for the past 11 years. Before that she was chair of the national board for about 4 years on a voluntary basis. Liv Irene is a trained nurse with 17 years’ experience with Tourette Syndrome in particular, and neurodevelopmental disorders in general. She has extensive experience with counseling people with TS, their relatives, and professionals, and has expertise in interdisciplinary areas such as education and work, rights, and social services, in addition to health services
On an international level she has been an active part of the ESSTS Patients Group since 2012 and has participated in various exchange projects and international cooperation. Her main reason for contributing to the development of TTAG is encouraging international cooperation between TS associations, increased patient and public engagement (PPI) in research, and to support establishment of TS associations in more countries around the world.
Board Member
Agnieszka Malek
Poland
Since 2018, Agnieszka Malek has served as the President of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Poland, bringing over 15 years of dedicated volunteer experience to the organization. As the mother of an adult son with Tourette Syndrome, she brings a deeply personal understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and families dealing with this condition.
Agnieszka is a neuropsychologist, educator, and certified therapist specializing in developmental disorders in children. She has advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for children and adolescents, supporting young people with tics as well as their families. She also leads specialized courses on tic disorders for teachers and students, fostering awareness and understanding in educational settings.
In addition to her clinical and advocacy roles, Agnieszka is an active university researcher and educator, promoting knowledge of tic disorders and co-occurring conditions within the academic community. Her contributions include authoring scientific articles and educational resources on tics, as well as participating in national and international projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life for individuals with tics and their families.
Board Member
Donatella Comasini
Italy
Donatella Comasini is the President of A.I.S.T. ETS, the Italian Tourette Syndrome Association. She joined the Tourette Syndrome community in 2016, motivated by empathy for those impacted. In 2021, she became President after serving as Vice President since the organization’s founding in 2003 by Prof. Mario Porta.
Passionate about helping others, Donatella is committed to providing support and education within the Tourette Syndrome community. She actively promotes training and awareness initiatives in schools and workplaces, aiming to inform teachers, peers, and employers about Tourette Syndrome and advocate for inclusive practices.
As a clinical psychologist specializing in adult and child neuropsychology, digital psychology, and virtual reality, she delivers psychological support to help individuals cope with feelings of loneliness and navigate personal and professional challenges. She also focuses on assessing and enhancing cognitive abilities.
Donatella believes in the importance of international collaboration to amplify the voices of those touched by Tourette Syndrome, combat stigma, and foster inclusivity. She is a member of ESSTS and a key contributor to the establishment of TTAG.
Board Member
Maria Belén Prieto
Spain
María Belén Prieto is an Argentinian clinical psychologist specializing in Tourette Syndrome and related neurodevelopmental conditions.
She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Buenos Aires, with postgraduate training in autism spectrum disorders, and is certified by the Behavior Therapy Institute (Los Angeles, USA) in behavioral therapy for tics and OCD. She is also trained in mindfulness-based approaches.
Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome herself at the age of 19, María Belén brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. She is the founder of Voces del Tourette, a platform that provides therapeutic guidance, psychoeducation, and community support for people with TS and their families. She is also the author of “Anxiety, OCD, and Problematic Behaviors in Autism.
Now based in Spain, she collaborates with ACOVASTTA (Tourette Syndrome Association of Valencia) as part of the clinical team offering evidence-based treatment for tic disorders.
Board Member
Emma Henderson
New Zealand
Emma Henderson is the General Manager and a Board Member of Tourette’s Association New Zealand (TANZ).
With a diverse background in management, communications, and public relations across sectors including technology, retail, hospitality, and nonprofit organizations, Emma brings a wealth of experience to the role.
She joined the TANZ Board before being appointed General Manager in 2023. In this role, she leads the association’s advocacy and awareness efforts, working to strengthen connections across the Tourette Syndrome (TS) community both nationally and internationally.
Emma is deeply committed to building inclusive networks and using her expertise in association management to amplify the voice of people with TS.Syndrome and Neurology a global health priority.