The Quiet Power of Trusteeship: Reflections from a Year with SIDCN
- izzyelton2
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By Ubbah Othman
Trustee Week is more than a celebration: it’s a moment to recognise the people quietly shaping impact behind the scenes. Trustees don’t always get the spotlight, but their guidance, decisions, and steady commitment keep charities moving forward. For me, it’s a time to reflect on what that responsibility truly means, and what I’ve learned from watching it in action through my time with SIDCN.
A Year of Observation and Inspiration
Spending the past year, shadowing the SIDCN board has given me a front-row view of what purpose-driven leadership looks like in practice. Every trustee I met carried something rare, a mix of conviction, wisdom, and quiet persistence. What stood out most was how differently they each lead, yet how deeply they share the same motivation: a genuine belief in small charities and the people behind them.
There’s something powerful about being part of a space that exists not for recognition, but for collective impact. SIDCN’s trustees show up with integrity, balancing governance, advocacy, and care in equal measure. Watching that balance taught me what good trusteeship really means: doing the work well, without losing heart in the process.
The Human Side of Governance
For me, the experience was more than professional exposure, it was personal growth. I’ve seen how a strong board holds space for difficult conversations, keeps the mission alive through change, and uplifts others in the process. Amber’s leadership as Chair has been especially inspiring, grounded, steady, and inclusive. It reminded me that governance can be human too.
Being part of SIDCN also deepened my understanding of what inclusion really looks like in practice. It’s not just about who is in the room, but how each voice shapes direction and decision-making. Watching the board weave together different experiences and perspectives reinforced how vital diversity of thought is to genuine progress. It showed that representation is only the first step combined with belonging and influence are what truly sustains it.
Inclusion in Action
I also gained a clearer sense of how much discipline and empathy it takes to lead well. Behind every agenda, there’s a deep commitment to people, members, partners, and beneficiaries that drives every decision. The board’s collaborative spirit stood out to me: each trustee brings something unique to the table, yet all are united by a shared purpose to strengthen small international development charities.
My time with SIDCN has reminded me that leadership isn’t about control; it’s about service, care, patience, and presence. Those qualities define real governance. It’s about knowing when to speak, when to listen, and how to hold space for others to lead too.
Lessons I’ll Carry Forward
What surprised me most was how transferable these lessons are beyond the boardroom. The mindset of trusteeship thinking long-term, weighing impact over ego, staying accountable to a collective vision is something I now apply in my professional life and creative work. It’s shown me that influence doesn’t always require a title: sometimes it’s the steady, behind the scenes effort that makes the biggest difference.
This experience confirmed what I already sensed: that I want to continue contributing at board level, especially in spaces that champion inclusion, international collaboration, and systemic change. My future aspiration is to bring my lived experience, strategic eye, and communications background to boards that are ready to evolve to make sure voices like ours are not just heard, but centred.
Trusteeship, for me, is about responsibility with purpose. It’s the steady, thoughtful work that shapes impact and policies from the inside out.
I’m deeply thankful for everything I’ve learned from SIDCN’s trustees, their patience, wisdom, passion, care and integrity and I’m excited to carry those lessons forward as I continue to grow, contribute, and one day serve as an active trustee myself.