Freedom from Torture announces new CEO

Susan Munroe has been selected for appointment as the new Chief Executive Officer of Freedom from Torture. It is expected that she will take up the role on 1st September 2014.

Freedom from Torture has been the UK's leading treatment and rehabilitation charity for torture survivors since 1985. It provides clinical services throughout the UK to more than a 1,000 survivors of torture, as well as legal and welfare advice, and works to hold states that perpetrate torture accountable internationally.

For example its latest report Rape as Torture in the DRC: Sexual Violence Beyond the Conflict Zone uses Freedom from Torture's doctors' evidence to expose the use of rape and sexual violence to punish women political activists in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Previously Ms Munroe was Director at the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust and Director of Nursing and Patient Services at Marie Curie Cancer Care, and has worked as a nurse with VSO in Uganda. She has also served as a Trustee of Freedom from Torture.

Ms Munroe said:

"I am excited to be joining Freedom from Torture as CEO. I am very impressed by the work the charity does and am looking forward to joining the organisation in this capacity in September to lead it through its next stage of development."

Chair of the Freedom from Torture Trustees, Dr Frank Margison said:

"This is a very challenging period for all charities and our organisation will be fortunate to have the services of Susan Munroe.

"We want to offer torture survivors the best rehabilitation possible. Susan offers us a superb combination of NGO, humanitarian, clinical and management experience coming from a background as a nurse, and working successfully in demanding clinical and managerial posts in the charitable sector for some years.

"Susan brings a wide range of skills and enormous personal integrity to this role and I am delighted that she is coming to lead us."

Ms Munroe was until recently a Trustee for the charity. She applied in an open competition for the post and was successful after an appointment process that involved meeting service users, and two interviews. She replaces Keith Best who retired from the post of Freedom from Torture CEO in June. Andy Keefe, Director of National Clinical Services, is the Responsible Director pending Ms Munroe's start in post in September.