Our People & Governance

Trustees

Union Romani Voice is led by a committed group of Roma and Romanian community leaders, professionals and activists. Together, they bring lived experience, expertise and passion to ensure Roma voices are heard, respected and represented in UK society.

Our leadership is grounded in human rights, dignity and community-rooted practice, and works at the intersection of direct support, empowerment and systemic change.

Governance, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Our Governance

Union Romani Voice is a registered charity in England and Wales (Charity number 1193506). The charity is governed by an independent Trustee Board, which has collective responsibility for the organisation’s strategic direction, legal compliance, financial oversight, and accountability.

Trustee Board Members

• Vasile Macovei – Chair

• Niculina-Londra Pompas – Trustee

• Nicolae Lazăr – Trustee

• Maria Dolea – Trustee

• Ciprian Avram – Trustee

Trustees act in accordance with charity law and the Charity Commission’s guidance “The Essential Trustee” (CC3), ensuring that the charity is well-run, transparent, and delivers public benefit.

The list of trustees is publicly available on the Charity Commission Register and is updated in line with official records.

Responsibilities of the Trustee Board

The Trustee Board has collective responsibility for the governance and leadership of Union Romani Voice. This includes:

• ensuring the charity delivers its charitable purposes for the public benefit;

• complying with the governing document and all relevant laws and regulations;

• acting solely in the best interests of the charity and managing conflicts of interest appropriately;

• overseeing the charity’s finances, assets, and risk management;

• ensuring appropriate safeguarding, equality, and data protection practices are in place;

• promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership.

In practice, the Board:

• sets the strategic direction and approves annual plans and priorities;

• monitors performance, impact, and organisational learning;

• approves and reviews key policies, including safeguarding, equality, conflicts of interest, and financial controls;

• supports senior leadership while maintaining appropriate independence and oversight.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

Union Romani Voice is fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion across all areas of its work. We recognise that structural inequality and discrimination disproportionately affect Roma, migrant, and minoritised communities, and we actively work to challenge these barriers.

Community-Led and Lived Experience Governance

Union Romani Voice is a community-led organisation governed by a Trustee Board made up entirely of individuals who share the same ethnic background and lived experience as the communities we serve. All trustees have direct experience of migration, marginalisation, and systemic inequality.

This lived-experience leadership model ensures that governance decisions are informed by cultural understanding, trust, and first-hand knowledge of community realities. We believe that meaningful representation at leadership level is essential to achieving long-term, sustainable change.

Inclusive and Accountable Governance

While our Trustee Board reflects shared lived experience, we are committed to inclusive, ethical, and accountable governance. Trustees actively engage with:

• external partners and stakeholders;

• professional advisors and funders;

• learning, training, and best practice guidance.

This approach helps ensure robust decision-making, compliance with charity law, and continuous improvement.

Our EDI Commitments

Union Romani Voice is committed to:

• promoting equality of opportunity and challenging discrimination in all its forms;

• embedding lived experience and community voice into decision-making and service design;

• ensuring services, policies, and programmes are inclusive, accessible, and culturally appropriate;

• upholding dignity, respect, and human rights in all our work;

• regularly reviewing our practices to strengthen equity, transparency, and impact.

We view equality, diversity and inclusion not as standalone principles, but as fundamental to good governance and effective community leadership.

Transparency and Accountability

Union Romani Voice is accountable to its beneficiaries, funders, partners, and the wider public. We maintain clear governance structures, publish required statutory information, and ensure that trustee and organisational information is accessible in line with Charity Commission requirements.

Executive Leadership

Simona Lazăr

- Executive Leadership

Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Simona Lazăr is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Union Romani Voice, providing strategic and operational leadership for the organisation. She leads the charity’s day-to-day management, strategic delivery, partnerships, staff and volunteer leadership, and the implementation of its mission and objectives.

With lived experience of migration and social exclusion, Simona brings strong community insight and cultural understanding to her leadership. She has extensive experience across the voluntary sector, public institutions and community organisations in the UK and internationally, with a professional focus on Roma inclusion, equality, education and human rights.

Simona holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Master’s degree in Community Development and Project Writing, grounding her leadership in evidence-based practice, ethical standards and community development approaches. She has also completed a traineeship with the Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, gaining valuable experience in human rights mechanisms, advocacy and institutional engagement at European level.

Simona has significant experience in community support, policy engagement and strategic planning, and has represented Roma perspectives at local, national and European forums. She works closely with the Trustee Board and is accountable to the Board, while trustees retain ultimate responsibility for governance, oversight and strategic direction.

Her leadership ensures that Union Romani Voice remains community-led, values-driven and fully compliant with charity law and good governance standards.

About

Relieving Poverty in Roma Communities in Suffolk & Essex

Policies

Safeguarding