Pension Board member profiles
Jonathan Bunt – Independent Chair
Jonathan is a qualified accountant who worked in local government for seventeen years including six years as the chief finance officer for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
As well as overseeing the Barking and Dagenham Pension Fund, Jonathan also sat on the steering group for the London Collective Investment Vehicle when it was created.
In addition to pensions, his roles in local government have included overseeing finance, audit, treasury management, strategy development and property management.
He is an experienced non executive director who, as well as being the Independent Chair of the Havering Local Pension Board, holds the same role on behalf of the London Borough of Sutton.
Away from pensions, his main work is supporting the delivery of more social and affordable rented homes working predominantly with local authorities and housing associations.
He is also on the Boards of Barnsbury Housing Association, Golden Lane Housing and Christian Action Housing Association as well as being a Director of Broadway Living, the development company of the London Borough of Ealing.
Denise Broom – Employer Representative
Denise started her career at Marks and Spencer, joining the graduate trainee programme at their Head Office in London.
This led to an appointment as Procurement manager within the Food Division, securing contracts across all stores.
She was recruited by London Borough of Havering to set up the finance system and infrastructure at the Havering Sixth Form College, ready for its opening in 1991.
Staying within Havering she moved to a secondary school and as Bursar took them through the Academisation process as one of the first converters. During this time she studied for the certificate in School Business Management (CSBM).
Whilst here Denise was seconded to another secondary school , for one year , to review financial systems, processes and procedures , reporting directly to London Borough of Havering.
Denise is currently the Business Development Manager for the LIFE Education Trust which comprises of 5 schools in Havering and Essex.
She joined the Havering Local Pensions Board in November 2018 as an employer representative.
Andrew Frater – Employer Representative
Andrew is the Chief Operating Officer at Empower Learning Academy Trust, a local group of four schools, Hacton Primary, Bower Park Academy, The Brittons Academy and Hall Mead School.
Having worked previously as an Assistant Principal at Havering Sixth Form College for a number of years, Andrew has a lifelong passion for education and the benefit that brings our young people.
Prior to the above, Andrew held various senior HR positions at Harrow Green Group, HSBC, M&G Investments and International Financial Data Services.
Working in the HR arena, Andrew is keenly aware of the importance of good pension provision and has knowledge of many different schemes from SIPPS to GPP’s and Defined Benefits.
Andrew joined the board as an employer representative in 2020.
Joanne Sladden – Employer Representative
Joanne began her career in operations and finance working for the BBC World Service, progressing to having responsibility for the English news departmental budgets.
Joanne has also had experience in the commercial business sector having started her own company, selling goods and design services via a retail outlet and the online platform.
Following on from this she moved to working in school settings with over 15 years of experience, progressing from School Business Manager to her current position as Chief Finance and Operations Officer.
During her time working in schools she has achieved the CSBM, CIPFA Diploma in Financial Skills, and CIPFA Cert FRA. Joanne was previously a school governor for five years.
Joanne is currently employed by Hornchurch Academy Trust, which comprises six schools across Havering and Kent. She joined the board as an employer representative in 2022.
Mark Holder – Member Representative
Mark has had a keen interest in occupational pension schemes since joining the Royal Mail scheme in 1984. He has worked in Local Government since June 2009 focussing on improving council policy and performance.
He has no formal pension qualifications but a keen and analytical mind willing to challenge existing practices and looking to improve pension’s administration.
He is a former member of the Institute of Management services specialising in work study and organisational improvement.
He has a Higher National Certificate in Electro-Mechanical Engineering and is PRINCE 2 trained.
He has been an employee representative of the Havering local pension board since August 2015 and held the position as Chair of the board from June 2017 to August 2019.
He currently works as a Senior Public Health Analyst for the London Borough of Havering.
Yasmin Ramjohn – Member Represntative
Since 2015 Yasmin has worked for the London Borough of Redbridge in various performance-related roles within Planning and Regeneration and latterly, Housing services.
Prior to that, she had over fifteen years project management experience within local government spanning Children and Family services, Housing, Building Control, Planning, Development and Leisure services.
Yasmin is Prince 2 trained and has both graduate and masters degrees.
She is interested in utilising her skills to contribute in the role as a Member of the Havering Pension Board whilst developing an understanding of the broader local authority pensions framework.
Dionne Weekes – Member Representative
Dionne has served as a Senior Management Accountant in several local boroughs.
Drawn to systems thinking, Dionne completed her BSc (Hons) in Systems and Management to gain deeper insights to better address complex problem solving.
Dionne later took up several Senior School Leadership roles completing her Advanced Diploma in School Business Management (ADSDM) and MSc in School Leadership Management, where she developed a growing interest in pensions.
As a community volunteer, Dionne empowers holistic life style choices in out of school enrichment, youth leadership programmes. She currently serves as a school Governor and is a member of the Care City Community Board.
Driving transformation in People Capability and Assurance, as a HR Consultant, Dionne inspires a learner-centric culture that empowers individuals and leaders to take ownership of their own, tailored learning pathways.