Welcome to our new trustees: Sara Segneri and Murhaf Assaf

Murhaf Assaf, Trustee

BC Co-Founder and Executive Director, Edna Fernandes said:

“We are honoured to have Sara and Murhaf join us. Both have decades of experience working in conflict zones and have witnessed first hand the impact of war and the resultant mental health impact upon civilians and frontline workers. As a result, our new trustees will bring valuable insight and expertise to our Board, helping to guide us on how to serve these vulnerable people on the ground. Their international networks in the field of human rights law and humanitarian medical assistance are essential as Beyond Conflict takes its mission to the next level.”

Sara said: “Thank you for this opportunity. Beyond Conflict’s mission to transform understanding of the psychological and societal drivers of conflict aligns closely with my own professional journey working at the intersection of law, human rights, and security, particularly for survivors. Over the past two decades, I have worked directly with affected populations as a trial lawyer, policy adviser, and trainer, representing survivors of trafficking and abuse, defending vulnerable communities in criminal and immigration cases, and supporting victims in war crimes prosecutions.

“My work has consistently combined direct engagement with those most impacted by violence and displacement, with structural-level policy reform and training of judges, prosecutors, military officials, and NGOs in conflict and post-conflict environments, recognising the importance of mental health, trauma informed reconciliation and rehabilitation, and fighting against stigma.”

Murhaf said: “Thank you very much for the trust that the Board has placed in me. I am truly honoured by the invitation to join Beyond Conflict as a trustee. I am a general and war surgeon from Syria. I now live in Wales, where I work as a Clinical Fellow in General Surgery at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Wales.

I trained and worked in Aleppo during the war, providing surgical care in field hospitals under siege and in constant danger. For years, I operated on men, women, and children injured in bombings and attacks, often with limited equipment and under threat myself. I witnessed hospitals destroyed and colleagues and patients harmed in chemical attacks, experiences that left a lasting mark on me both personally and professionally. Those years shaped my lifelong commitment to humanitarian medicine and mental health advocacy for frontline healthcare workers.”

In addition to these appointments, we are delighted to announce a number of new volunteers to our team: Richard Owens will be helping with events, Jaime Stewart joins us on policy and Catherine Crabtree is our coordinator. You can read their profiles here: https://beyond-conflict.co.uk/who-we-are/

Thank you all for your knowledge and passion for our mission.