*Qudsia lives and works in a complex environment. To protect her identity and safety, we have withheld personal images and identifying visuals.
For Qudsia Sultani, every security measure must be rooted in compassion and care – because behind each measure is a person who deserves to feel safe and supported.
As a Safety and Security Officer for CTG, she manages risks and protects people every day. The way she executes her duties with ceaseless Care, however, is what makes Qudsia stand out as an EPIC ambassador.
Nominated by a colleague – who applauded her for always doing her best to take care of other staff while at work – Qudsia knows that security is not just about being safe, it’s also about feeling safe. And this only happens when people like her create a safe and secure environment where teams feel protected, heard, and supported.
In security, it’s easy to focus on systems and protocols, but at the core, our work is about people.
As part of CTG’s EPIC Ambassador initiative, we spoke to Qudsia about how the value of Care shapes her work and why, in her field, putting people first is non-negotiable.
A mission grounded in compassion
Since entering the humanitarian in sector in 2007, Qudsia’s motivation has remained the same: to protect and support vulnerable communities. “I earned my bachelor’s degree in business administration (BBA), which equipped me with essential skills in management, planning, and organisational strategy,” she shares.
“Over the years, I’ve taken on various roles in the field, primarily focused on safety, coordination, and operational support. These experiences deepened my commitment to humanitarian work and eventually led me to join CTG.”
Today, her focus is on ensuring that every CTG staff member feels a sense of security.
A work day with Qudsia
Qudsia’s role centres on monitoring and assessing security risks while safeguarding the wellbeing of staff across Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and the Maldives. She ensures that robust systems and protocols are in place to anticipate, respond to, and manage potential threats.
Qudsia reflects the Care value in her day-to-day operations, and especially in situations of crisis: “During one of our operations in a high-risk province, a serious security incident occurred near the location of several deployed consultants. The Risk Management Team swiftly activated the incident protocol, personally contacted all staff to provide reassurance, and ensured the safe relocation of those at risk. But what truly reflected the Care value was our follow up,” she says.
“We conducted psychosocial debriefs, provided optional rest days, and held one-on-one check-ins to ensure everyone felt safe and supported before resuming work. The consultants later expressed that the rapid response and personal care reinforced their trust in the organisation and their willingness to continue their mission.”
Living the EPIC values
Each of the EPIC values are deeply interconnected and essential to how she approaches her work: “Engage means actively connecting with people – it’s about listening genuinely, communicating transparently, and involving others in decisions that affect them. The Pioneer value inspires me to look for creative, practical solutions to challenges, even when the way forward isn’t clear, and Improve is not about striving for perfection, but about consistent progress and learning from both success and failure.”
“Care is the foundation of humanitarian work,” explains Qudsia. “In my role, caring means looking out for the well-being of staff, ensuring safe working conditions, and responding quickly when someone is in danger or distress. It also means creating a culture where people feel valued, protected, and supported – especially during crises.”
Care is at the heart of why I do this work: to ensure people are safe, respected, and supported.
Security with a caring touch
“In security, it’s easy to focus on systems and protocols, but at the core, our work is about people. Whether responding to a crisis or planning risk mitigation, approaching everything with empathy and compassion ensures that our responses are not just effective but also humane.”
How does Qudsia act on the Care value at work? “I show care by being responsive, supportive, and approachable,” she says. “This means regularly checking in with staff, being available to answer their concerns, offering reassurance in high-stress situations, and tailoring security advice to individuals’ specific needs. It’s also about being proactive – thinking ahead to prevent harm and ensuring staff feel valued and heard in the process.”
For her fellow humanitarian staff, she encourages everyone to listen actively, treat each other with kindness and respect, and recognise that even small gestures – like checking in with a colleague, offering support, or being patient – can have a big impact.
“Care is not just a value we speak about, but one we demonstrate through our daily actions, especially in challenging environments.”
Would you like to know more about our EPIC culture? Click here.