Samantha was delighted to be co-opted to the Executive in January 2018 and remains passionate about serving as the Link person to Theatre/Arts & Health, and Inclusion and Visibility, Subcommittees. As a freelance Dramatherapist she works in the education and charity sector with children who have been excluded from mainstream education, and women at risk of the criminal justice system. She is also a Visiting Lecturer at Roehampton, where she trained. Samantha’s current focus within the Executive is to support and ensure the voice and experiences of Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority Dramatherapists are heard, represented, and researched. Her own ongoing research is related to inter and transgenerational trauma, and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, with performance and Heritage Object work.

Jane Lester Bourne is an HCPC Dramatherapist She has worked for Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust for over 12 years and has a private practice. Jane specialises in adults with learning disabilities and holds a Master’s in clinical research. She is committed to sharing evidence-based practice to show the benefits of dramatherapy. Jane has several publications including peer reviewed journals and a Systematic Review on Dramatherapy group work.

Sarah joined the executive in early 2021. She trained at the University of Roehampton and qualified in 2017, She previously stood as the link person for dramatherapists in Scotland. Sarah works across Glasgow and Dundee in schools and community settings and she co-runs a young person's dramatherapy service at Dundee REP theatre. Sarah is passionate about working with children and young people who are care experienced and with those with learning disabilities and additional support needs.

Sarah is an experienced bookkeeper with many years’ experience working with statutory agencies, charities, small to medium size businesses and individuals. Sarah specialises in Xero and Sage accounting software and has qualified as a Certified Xero Advisor. She is currently undertaking her AAT Accountants course with the aim that one day she can offer clients Bookkeeping and Accountancy services.

Fran joined BADth in November 2019 and has a background in events and office management. She worked for a membership organisation for eight years in Nottingham organising CPD training, conferences, exhibitions and corporate events. She spent a year working on large International Skills show and then spent five years organising fundraising events for a hospice charity. Fran is Secretary of a local charity and organises community events and initiatives in her hometown. She obtained a drama degree from Aberystwyth and is enjoying learning about the power of healing through drama.

Sienna Forrester joined the Executive Committee in January 2022. After successfully completing her thesis on her second attempt, graduating later than her cohort, Sienna qualified as a dramatherapist in 2019. Sienna is passionate about breaking generational curses/trauma patterns, encouraging young people to find healthy ways of expressing themselves, self-care and providing a path for voices of Black men and women to be heard, without feeling underqualified. Sienna uses her skills in dramatherapy, drama, massage and beauty to support positive mental health, self-love and self-care. Sienna is excited to support BADth's Executive Committee's Team and provide a model for other dramatherapist's who struggle with feeling 'not good enough'. Sienna works across a range of SEN colleges and schools and works for charities across the UK. She co-host's a podcast 'Dtherapyspace' and runs a holistic beauty suite.

Amy is a HCPC registered dramatherapist who qualified from Roehampton in 2018 and was co-opted onto the Executive in March 2020. Since joining the executive, Amy has helped to write a number of policies (Covid-19, distance therapy, newly qualified guidance and conversion therapy), helped to establish a graduate support group and helped to arrange the Association’s first online AGM & conference. As a dramatherapist, Amy focuses primarily on trauma informed approaches to dramatherapy through her work with Khulisa and through her private practice, Play It Through. Before training as a Dramatherapist, Amy studied Drama, Applied Theatre and Education at RCSSD and worked as a youth worker, mentor, trainer and community interfaith ambassador. Amy is a member of the groups “Christians in Arts Therapy” and “DVT South East & Ireland”.

Liz Merrick joined the executive in 2020. She qualified as a Dramatherapist in 2003 from Manchester University, and has combined her role as Specialist Teacher and Dramatherapist on Social Emotional Mental Health Teams in North Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire and Bradford County Councils. She supervised and supported Dramatherapy students on placements, in schools, for many years. With over 30 years in education, she brings a wide field of expertise in communication, assessment, evaluation and training. Most recently she has been involved in a wide range of work undertaken with refugees and asylum seekers, including Moria Camp in Lesbos. Currently in private practice she also manages a Community Healing Centre in West Yorkshire.

Natalie joined BADth in June 2021 and has has over 8 years bookkeeping and admin experience. Natalie has many skills, namely, honesty, excellent time management, and great communication skills. Natalie is assisting both Fran (Administrator) and Sarah (Bookkeeper) with their roles and is excited about working with BADth and its members.

Debbie Oyewole is the intern for the executive committee. She is married and a mother of 2 little girls. Debbie is the Team Leader for the Mental Health support team in Hertsmere (Hertfordshire) merging the gap between NHS and Education for Mental Health. Debbie has a special interest and experience working with children and young people in Mental Health. She is a member of ‘Christians in Arts therapy’ and advisory committee member for ‘Bennu’. Debbie is a content creator on YouTube providing content about Mental health, titled ‘LOVEHEALS’.

Genevieve qualified in 1991, becoming Northern Ireland’s first theatre-in-education dramatherapist. She established the first theatre based dramatherapy service with Dundee Rep becoming a Head IV dramatherapist for a regional adult mental health service. She formed Dramatherapy Scotland, co-founded The Scottish Arts Therapies Forum and lectured on arts therapies training courses. She served twice on BADth’s Executive, while Link Person for Northern Ireland, then Scotland, and created and chaired BADth’s International Sub Committee. She delivered a lecture tour of North America’s dramatherapy training courses and annual conference, publishing a comparative study of the history of dramatherapy's development in the UK and North America. Genevieve was a Hub Manager for Place2Be in primary education, managing arts therapists. Her international dramatherapy practice has taken her to 17 countries. She has promoted dramatherapy in Scottish government publications and features in several key dramatherapy texts. Genevieve has been awarded BADth’s Outstanding Contribution award for Scotland and International work. Currently she works in the NHS in mental health and public health, lectures on dramatherapy, is BADth’s representative on the Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland and is piloting in Scotland BADth’s first Policy Officer.

Suzanne was co-opted to the Executive in March 2022 and is looking forward to finding ways to further the cause of Dramatherapy and share skills. Suzanne trained as an actor, holds a degree in Drama and Dance and graduated in Dramatherapy in 1995. Suzanne has been drawn to work in many community settings and enjoys grass roots work, supporting adults, teens and children who are experiencing different types of transition, challenges, mental health issues, or special needs. She designed a Dramatherapy course that was taught in a college, after training as a teacher and her most recent work has been in primary schools. She is currently building a private practice in child and adult work and also provides TRE sessions.

Heather joined the executive in October 2021. She is a dramatherapist based in County Armagh in Northern Ireland, having graduated from Maynooth University in Kildare in 2018. She works full-time as a dramatherapist in an adult male mental health residential and nursing facility. Heather is passionate about promoting dramatherapy within the NI NHS Trusts, as well as working towards creating a dramatherapy Masters' course in Northern Irish universities. Heather is the NI rep for dramatherapy in AHPFNI (Allied Health Professionals Federation Northern Ireland), and is also a Council member of IACAT (Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapists). She has a specific interest in mental health and specialises in one-to-one sessions.