Meet The Board

Roger Quince, Chair

Roger has considerable chairing experience and is a long standing supporter of Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds. As well as the Theatre Board he is currently chair of a large multi-academy schools trust based in Suffolk. Previously he was chair of West Suffolk Hospital for ten years and for eight years he chaired the Cambridge Music Festival’.

Marcus Codrington Fernandez

Marcus is a coach to leaders in business, arts and sport. He has grown some of the biggest brands in the world, been Global Creative Director and Worldwide Executive Committee member at Ogilvy, founded international agencies and produced Hollywood films. He works with local authorities in social work and is the trustee of a cross-party policy lobbying group in the Houses of Parliament promoting the importance of the first three years to children’s development and life outcomes. Marcus is an avid supporter of the arts and is honoured to be on the board of Theatre Royal.

Bal Kaur Howard

Founder of BKH Training, Bal advocates on the issues of honour-based violence. Bal herself was forced into a child marriage. Escaping after 9 years and disowned by her family, she uses her experience to raise awareness and reduce victim isolation. She was employed by Suffolk Constabulary, training police officers and partner agencies to enhance the service to victims. She was twice nominated at the IKWRO True Honour Awards for her dedication to ending honour-based violence in the UK. In 2018, she was recognised by the East Anglian Daily Times as one of Suffolk’s 100 most inspirational women.

Emma Fisher (Stamper)

Emma Fisher, ARSM had a successful career in the Insurance sector with her own Lloyds Underwriting Agency for 20 years, insuring animals in 40 countries. She now concentrates on her family, her passion for performance, piano, sport, Barnardo’s, and Theatre Royal. Her involvement with Barnardo’s has allowed her to instigate concerts at the theatre, involving schools in the area, raising funds and awareness for the children that Barnardo’s supports. Her aim on the board is to help increase awareness of the many projects that the theatre does for our community.

Jo Howlett

Jo Howlett FCCA had a diverse career leading Finance Teams in the international private sector ranging from Insurance to Defence Systems, including Publishing and Vehicle Finance, followed by a UK wide Charity before joining the NHS and latterly Local Government. Now retired her interests are painting, writing, badminton, cycling, and supporting local Charities with her financial expertise. She currently holds a Trusteeship with St Nicholas Hospice in addition to the Non-Executive Directorship for Theatre Royal and her two passions in the workplace are promoting Team Building and Business Acumen.

Graeme Kirk

Graeme has practised as a Solicitor in Bury St Edmunds for nearly 36 years, currently as a Partner in Ellisons Solicitors incorporating Gross & Co, having previously been the Senior Partner of Gross & Co from 1996 – 2019. His firm have been long term sponsors of the theatre, which is a passion of his, as well as opera, cricket and golf. During his legal career, where he has specialised in UK immigration law, he has acted for a number of high profile figures in the entertainment world.

Bryan Littlefair

Bryan is the CEO of Cambridge Cyber Advisers and advises FTSE 100 organisations on their information and cyber security strategy, he has several board advisory positions and non-executive director roles across multiple sectors. Previously Bryan was the Global Chief Information Security Officer at Vodafone Group and Aviva. Bryan and his family have sponsored a box at the theatre for several years. Bryan sits on the board and resources committee at the theatre and assists with policy and compliance, financial governance and the wider board agenda.

Matt Piccaver

Dr Matt Piccaver is a GP based in West Suffolk. He has a long standing interest in the performing arts and is a fan of musical theatre. He has written for a number of local and national publications, and has been called upon on countless occasions by the media for comment on all matter’s health. He has written for the New Statesman and the Independent, and locally for Suffolk Magazine, Norfolk Magazine, and Bury and West Suffolk Magazine. He has producer credits for two acclaimed short films, “The Riot Act” starring Jovian Wade & Ben Cartwright, and “Dead Air” featuring David Schaal.

Liz Michie, HR Consultant

Liz studied Environmental Biology & Geography at The University of Hull and in her early career spent time in recruitment before moving into HR. A commercial, driven HR Director with a proven track record of delivering across a range of environments, Liz has spent over 15 years operating at a senior level within manufacturing and logistics. Liz believes passionately in the value people bring at all levels in organisations and in addition to her primary role also holds voluntary board positions in both Education and Theatre.

Sara Whybrew

Sara Whybrew is the Director of Skills and Workforce Development at the British Film Institute, leading their UK-wide multi-million-pound National Lottery skills and careers funding programmes and skills policy and strategy work. Sara has held senior roles at ScreenSkills and Creative & Cultural Skills and previously worked for Arts Council England. Sara is responsible for creating and delivering essential sector programmes including the award-winning Discover Creative Careers Week and the £15 million Creative Employment Programme, supporting thousands of diverse young people to learn about and progress into careers in the cultural sector. Sara is passionate about supporting a diversity of talent across all corners of the UK to gain fair and equal access to work regardless of prior educational achievement or personal circumstances. Sara is regularly consulted by and works closely with, the UK Government on skills policy priorities for the cultural industries.

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