The Lotus Flower Board of Trustees
Chair – Ruth Szabo-Khalastchi
Ruth is an international lawyer who spent a considerable part of her career working for the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and other international organizations. She now mediates workplace disputes, advises on harassment and discrimination claims and the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
Born in Baghdad, Ruth and her family fled Saddam Hussein’s persecution of Iraq’sancient Jewish community in 1971, smuggled out to safety with the help of the Kurds.
Ruth is involved in several charities. She is a member of Giving Women’s advisory committee, and a trustee of the UK Board of Womanity.
She says: “When I met Taban through her collaboration with Giving Women, I was immediately taken by her life story, her courage, her passion and drive for change. I felt a connection because of my personal circumstances and gratitude to the Kurdish people for their role in our escape. I am honoured to Chair the Board of Trustees and to be part of an organization that is doing incredible work for a beautiful community of people.”
Treasurer – Pegah Manteghi
Pegah is Global Head of Digital Business Strategy & Programme Management at HSBC. Her expertise lies in organisational development, leadership, people management, digital transformation and business strategy.
Secretary – Hannah Wheatley
Hannah is a development and partnerships specialist with over 12 years of experience within the social impact sector, developing strategic partnerships with HNWI philanthropists, governments, and foundations to deliver positive change in low and middle- income countries.
Today, Hannah is an Associate Director at Acumen, heading up the the partnerships team for Europe, leveraging innovative finance and moral leadership to create a world based on dignity.
Trustee – Peri-Khan Aqrawi-Whitcomb
Peri-Khan specializes in sustainable development policies and international affairs, focusing on the Middle East and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Since 2011, she has been running PXConsultancy providing services in international affairs, socio-economic development, policy liaison, humanitarian crisis management, sustainable energy, climate action, security, and business development.
In 2018, she was selected as Non-Resident Fellow by one of the world"s top 100 energy Think Tanks, US-based Payne Institute for Public Policy, to be part of a diverse global network of full policy, energy, environmental, and natural resource experts. In 2014, she contributed to establishing Iraq's first crisis coordination and disaster preparedness center, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Joint Crisis and Coordination Center (JCC), as director of information management and head of the 24h operations center. During that time, she met Taban, who also was working on tackling Iraq's level 3 humanitarian crisis triggered by the regional rise of the terrorist group ISIS, leading to a sudden influx of 2 million IDPs into the Kurdistan Region.
Ever since, she witnessed Taban's commitment and dedication, including her vision of creating her charity organization to set different standards in the local humanitarian sector. Since the start of the Lotus Flower, Peri-Khan has been supporting the mission and vision of the organization, providing advice on regional developments and current affairs, and establishing various high-level networks. Since 2011 she has mentored groups of young professionals and college students in Kurdistan-Iraq and abroad. Occasionally, she
publishes opinion pieces on youth empowerment, climate change, history, and good governance in Kurdish media outlets. Meanwhile, giving talks and lectures to university students, school children, and several TEDx events on climate change, citizen participation, and empowerment.
Trustee – Sayran Barzani
Sayran is a Kurdish American jewellery designer and artist. Community-building through art and design is very important in her work, specifically highlighting Kurdish beauty, culture and history. Her mission is to weave her educational background into international studies, development and humanitarian work with art, creation and sustainability.
With every new collection her goal is to create at least one piece that is a 100% give-back item to an organization she feels is doing impactful and necessary work within their community. Groups she has worked with in the past include the Lotus Flower, Beit El Baraka in Lebanon, Kooyrigs in Armenia, Heyvasor/The Kurdish Red Crescent in Rojava, The Umoja Center in Crenshaw (Los Angeles), The PCRF in Palestine, Hand to Hand Sadaqah Group and the Enabled Children Initiative both in Afghanistan, The Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Fund, among many others. Sayran believes that community care and global solidarity are essential for a better planet and better future for its inhabitants.