Our Team

Roger has lived in Romford since 2002. He represented the boroughs of Havering and Redbridge at the London Assembly from 2000 to 2016 and served two terms as a Member of Havering Council. At City Hall, he chaired the London Assembly and was the Deputy Mayor of London, leading on transport, policing and culture.
Since leaving politics in 2016, Roger has worked internationally advising local government members in countries including Iraq and Jordan. He has also supported councillors in the UK in their work towards devolution of power and improving the environment. As a public speaking coach he has helped dozens of candidates to realise their potential as elected politicians.
Roger was Called to The Bar in 1997 and he is a Member of the Middle Temple.

Sonja is an experienced fundraiser, having worked in the arts and culture sector for 10 years, and is passionate about securing transformational funding for innovative organisations. She has been at English Heritage since 2015 and in that time has raised significant donations for projects around the country. Before that she worked across marketing and fundraising at Polka Theatre. From a young age, theatre was a passion – visiting local and regional theatres regularly, where the Queen’s Theatre was always a favourite destination, as well as taking on voluntary roles at the Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford for many years. Now residing in Hornchurch, in her spare time Sonja is a keen performer with local amateur dramatics groups.

Dominic is a theatremaker from East Ham, with over ten years’ experience creating work with children and young people.  His focus is on combining excellence and accessibility in the arts and the boundaries of what youth can say on stage.  He has worked with theatres and schools across the country, including Polka and Angel Shed.  He was a member of the Royal Court Young Writers Programme and is a PhD candidate at the University of Kent.

Neha has over 15 years of experience across the medical research, strategy, governance and policy sectors, operating at Senior Executive level and advising senior most members of the scientific, academic and political communities. A long time Havering resident, Neha has lived and worked in four countries across two continents and sees creative and performing arts as foundations of a holistically healthy society. Neha is currently Chair of the NHS Integrated Care Board for Mid and South Essex, Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors for one of UK’s largest educational trusts and an external advisor to the  Government’s Global Talent Visa route. She Chairs the QTH Inclusivity and relevance sub-committee and her voluntary work extends her broader commitment to diversity, inclusion and fair access – to innovation, technology, services, skills and opportunities.

Lauren is an experienced placemaking and regeneration professional, with an LLB Law degree and over 20 years’ experience supporting communities across the UK and Europe to understand the spaces and places they live, work and play in; the ways they can influence positive change; and the importance of culture, creativity, sustainability, and stability in creating an inclusive, welcoming and thriving area. Her work has included a role as regeneration officer and strategic lead for Social Value for the London Borough of Havering, and community sustainability planning for the Olympics Athletes Village. She is also Volunteer Managing Director for a social enterprise based in Havering which uses tabletop gaming, gamification, art and creativity to promote social inclusion. Living and working in East London and Essex since 2008, Lauren has been involved in performing arts and musical theatre from a young age, and now as an ambulant wheelchair user in adulthood has changed her focus and passion from performing herself, to supporting others to access and participate in cultural activity.

Seema grew up in Belfast and moved to Hornchurch in 2010. She was a primary school teacher for twelve years before moving to the council and joining the Virtual School for two years, supporting children in care in primary schools across the borough. Seema is currently an Advisory Teacher for Havering, specialising in supporting young children with social, emotional and mental health needs. She is a passionate advocate for mental health; alongside her role, she is a Mental Health First Aider, a volunteer for SHOUT charity and undertaking a diploma in Counselling. Seema has enjoyed many productions at QTH and looks forward to bringing her passion and knowledge of diversity, inclusion and special needs into supporting the theatre’s future. 

Richard is a passionate advocate for inclusive arts and education in South Essex and East London. He is an award-winning playwright and leads the member-led ELE Group writers’ network based at the Queen’s Theatre. He brings a wealth of experience with a career in journalism, public relations, and public policy, working in Westminster and Brussels. He was appointed to the Board of Anglia Ruskin University in 2017, and the new University of Peterborough in 2022.

Paul is a Councillor for St Andrews Ward in Havering, which covers Hornchurch Town Centre and surrounding streets.
He has lived in Hornchurch most of his life and has been a regular visitor to the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch for many years. He has worked and lived in several countries, all connected to jobs in IT and more latterly in project management.
Alongside being a Councillor and Cabinet member, he runs his own business repairing IT equipment. This as you might imagine requires a reasonable amount of juggling to get a balance.
He looks forward to working with the Board in the hope he can help shape what he considers to be a Jewel in the Crown of Havering.

Carlotta has several years of international experience in parliamentary strengthening and democracy support, leading international programmes across Africa and MENA. She is passionate about helping democracies to grow stronger, so that freedom and prosperity can flourish. She holds a PhD in Constitutional Law and, after working in Italian and UK Universities, she recently joined the civil service. She lives in Hornchurch and has had a lifelong passion for theatre and the performing arts, enjoying with her family many productions at QTH.

James grew up in Hornchurch and is a passionate advocate for the arts. Having performed many times at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch (via Queen’s Youth Theatre, Havering Music School, and Abbs Cross Dance Band), James values the important role of arts in society and is committed to ensuring the sustainable growth of the Queen’s Theatre for future generations. James has a PhD in early Soviet Music History (University of Bristol) with a research Masters (MRes) in Politics and Economics (UCL). He is currently a Senior Risk Manager at the London Stock Exchange. 

Jeanette has a lifelong passion for the theatre and the performing arts and is a passionate advocate for inclusive arts and education. Jeanette is a post graduate – MA in Leading Innovation and Change – who wishes to add value to the Queen’s Theatre.
She is a highly motivated and results driven individual who also has a passion for innovation, engagement and strategic leadership. Jeanette has many years Private and NHS experience comprising legal, governance, HR, community and specialised healthcare within commissioning, contracts, finance, operational and provisioning. Jeanette is also involved in additional charity work as a Chair for a Local Authority Board working with children as well as a Non-Executive Director for Parents 1st Essex. Jeanette works full time within the NHS and thus recognises the synergy of the arts with individual and collective wellbeing.

Melvin Wallace left school at the age of 16 and took up employment with Messrs Cazenove & Co, the City Stockbrokers. He worked in most departments of the company until he became Chief Cashier and subsequently became Partnership Secretary and Company Secretary to various companies attached to the Partnership for the last 6 years of his employment.
Melvin retired from Cazenove in 2002 after 41 years employment. In 2006 Melvin was elected as a Councillor for the London Borough of Havering and served until May 2022. 

Lisa is an experienced theatre-maker from Romford, with over 10 years of experience as an Actor/Musician and a Creative Producer. Alongside her creative career, she has an extensive background in marketing and administration and is incredibly passionate about arts inclusivity and community engagement. 
She is a longstanding advocate for the Queen’s Theatre having worked and performed here herself, as well as her Nan being one of the first staff members when the Queen’s opened in 1975. 

Helen has been a production accountant for a leading West End Producer for many years, having just recently left in order to spend more time travelling and with her family. Helen trained as a Certified Accountant whilst working for Breckman & Company, “theatrical accountants”, in London.  She has also worked with Cirque Berserk and Shine TV.
Helen has lived in Havering all her life and has been a regular at the Queens Theatre over the years.
She is an avid theatre goer and equally enjoys an evening in an upstairs pub theatre alongside the big West End Productions.