John was a member for the BADth Executive from 2011 and Chair from 2013 to 2016 and re-elected as Chair in September 2019. John is a practicing Dramatherapist. He trained initially at Rose Bruford in Community Theatre Arts and has a Masters in Drama and Movement Therapy (Sesame) from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Currently he is Programme Coordinator in Performing Arts at UCW, in partnership with Bath Spa University. In addition, he has a private Dramatherapy practice. He was a member of the core training team on the Exeter based MA in Dramatherapy for three years. He is a Graduate of The Institute of Developmental Transformations, an embodied encounter based improvisation method that originated in the United States and pioneered by Dramatherapists. It is now practiced as a therapy and art form throughout the world. John has worked in Belgium, Holland, Germany, Greece and Romania and is involved with training and developing the DvT community in the UK and abroad.

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.

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.

Sarah joined the executive in 2021. She trained at Roehampton and qualified in 2017, She previously stood as the link person for dramatherapists in Scotland. Sarah is based in Glasgow and works for several charities and organisations in schools and community settings. She recently set up her own company with an art therapist and an artist in order to expand therapeutic and creative projects across Glasgow.

Louise Combes joined the Executive in March 2020 with a passion to improve the way we dramatherapists demonstrate our impact. Previously Head of Communications at Comic Relief, she re-trained as a dramatherapist in 2003, having been deeply impressed by the difference one particular Comic Relief funded Dramatherapy project was making. Since qualifying she has worked in Education and for the last 9 years in the Leeds NHS Early Intervention in Psychosis team in Leeds. She is a systemic practitioner, part of the National Education Supervision Hub and works in private practice as a trauma informed supervisor/coach. Louise is currently leading the Covid 19 Arts Therapies Bereavement initiative as well as the BADth evaluation project and has been a member of the NHS subcommittee for 5 years.

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”.

Meabh is a Drama and Movement therapist based in Northern Ireland. She has been practicing for 16 years in the fields of trauma recovery and supporting people with Autism and learning disabilities. Meabh also has a private therapy and supervision practice. Meabh held the NI link role for BADth for several years and is motivated to support congress between different therapeutic practices and promote the specialisms of Dramatherapy. She has been on the executive since September 2019.

Kairo qualified from the University of Derby in 2017 and joined the Executive Committee in 2019. Her main interests are intergenerational trauma and attachment, racial injustice and health inequalities which she has spoken and written about on a number of occasions. Kairo is passionate about improving access to mental health services for Black and other marginalised communities. She continues to advocate for further inclusion and visibility of Black, Asian and ethnic minority therapists and trainees.

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.

David is based in Essex and has over thirty years’ experience in mental health. He started his career as a psychiatric nurse and currently works within a Crisis and Home Treatment Team. His experience as a Dramatherapist includes forensic adult and YOI, PTSD, a therapeutic community, visiting lecturer, supervisor and private therapist. His masters research explored the use of computer games in Dramatherapy. David has been a member of various subcommittees since his registration with BADth in 1995 and has been an |Executive Officer of BADth since 2015. He brings his knowledge of technology and research skills to the committee. He is passionate about Dramatherapy and finds every opportunity to promote it, including interviews on BBC Local radio, in the national press, trade fairs and shows.

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.

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.