Shavanah Taj is Wales TUC’s first BME General Secretary. She joined Wales TUC in February 2019 from the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), where she had been the Welsh Secretary since 2013. Shavanah is a passionate campaigner and can often be found contributing speeches at round table debates and protest marches on issues such as anti-racism, human rights, women’s rights, fair pay and fair work.

Prior to joining PCS as a full-time officer in 2002, Shavanah worked in retail, call centres and the third sector. 

Cardiff born and raised, Shavanah grew up steeped in the trade union movement. Her father was a Health and Safety representative in the steel works.

“He always encouraged us to stand up for ourselves and stand with others in their time of need” Shavanah says.

Shavanah is passionate about equality, social justice and human rights. She is a patron of Show Racism the Red Card Wales, and a trustee for the Henna Foundation which supports victims and survivors of domestic abuse and honour-based violence. She’s also a trustee for Fio, a grassroots theatre group that encourages young working-class people to engage with arts and culture.