BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board of Directors 2026 (L-R): Andrea Han, Daniel Lai, Simma Bakare, Heba Al Tabbaa, Ian Archambault, Aleksandra Puaca, Risha Sidhu, Mocha Shmigelsky, and Joseph Heald. Missing: Evan Sahmet.
Leaders in Our Community
The Roundhouse Society Board of Directors is comprised of individuals from Yaletown as well as various other Vancouver neighbourhoods. Their main task is to direct the implementation of the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre’s Strategic Plan. Board members are elected at the Annual General Meeting, which is held in November each year.
Read on for more on the talented team of volunteers that steward the Roundhouse:
Interested in joining our Board of Directors?
Email your interest to the recruitment committee.
Andrea Han
President
Andrea has lived in Yaletown since 2011 and initially joined the Roundhouse Board of Directors in 2013. Since joining the board, she has served on the programming, finance, facilities and human resources committees. Andrea is the Associate Director of Curriculum and Course Services at UBC’s Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology. She also serves on the board and the advocacy committee of the Association of Administrative and Professional Staff (AAPS) which represents management and professional staff at UBC.
Simma Bakare
1st Vice-President
Grateful to live and work on the unceded, ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəjˀəm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil Waututh) Nations. The Roundhouse, its staff, and neighbourhood collectively have been an essential part of Simma’s family for years – especially raising four children in Yaletown. She is grateful to be in a position to now contribute to its betterment. Amongst other artistic pursuits, Simma is an inclusive educator, counsellor, and DEI advocate, specializing in creative, equitable approaches to learning and mental health. Her masters studies focussed on practical ways to integrate culturally sensitive, trauma informed pedagogy, with a specialization in Indigenous Peoples worldviews.
Mocha Shmigelsky
2nd Vice-President
Mocha has lived in Yaletown since 2009, where she and her husband have raised their three children with the Roundhouse as a cornerstone of their neighbourhood life. She joined the Roundhouse Board of Directors in 2023 and serves as 2nd Vice-President, contributing to the centre’s financial oversight through the Finance Committee.
A founder and community leader, Mocha brings extensive experience in fundraising, governance, and the arts. She has helped raise millions of dollars for mission-driven organizations and stays active in her community through her local school Parent Advisory Councils and as a volunteer with Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. She is glad to give back to the Yaletown community that has meant so much to her family.
Ian Archambault
Treasurer
An active and invested member of the Yaletown community since 2006, Ian joined the Roundhouse Board of Directors in 2023 and assumed the role of Treasurer. Ian brings past non-profit board experience to the table, having served as an elected director for the Vancouver Society of Children’s Centers, where he held roles including Chair, Chair of Governance, and Chair of Nominations. Holding an MBA from UBC, Ian’s work experience spans Business Development, Partnerships, Product, and Operations in the FinTech sector. He is excited to play a role on the Roundhouse board, collaborating with other devoted neighbours to oversee an important institution for the Yaletown community.
Joseph Heald
Director
After five years as the set and lighting designer for the Portland Bureau of Parks and Recreation and the Portland Opera Association, Joseph moved to Vancouver where he became a co-partner in a small company that wrote and produced public informational media for government agencies and corporations. In 1994, he moved to Yaletown, and also joined AVA, a non-profit society that produced community art exhibitions at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre and other venues. He contributed paintings to group art shows, frequently served on the board of directors, and was the lead designer for most AVA exhibitions. Joseph became a volunteer at the Roundhouse in 2014, mainly as an usher for the Performance Centre, and joined the Facilities Committee in 2017.
Aleksandra Puaca
Director
Aleksandra and her family have been part of Yaletown neighborhood since 2007. The Roundhouse has been a great place for her kids to spend time with their friends engaging in fun activities and different sports. With her professional background in project management, construction, and engineering, as well as previous volunteering involvements, such as organizing events and teaching kids in a local community, and taking part in school building projects abroad through Free the Children, Aleksandra was happy to give back to the Yaletown community by joining the the Roundhouse Board of Directors and the Facilities Committee in summer of 2022.
Heba Al Tabbaa
Director
Heba has lived in Yaletown since 2011, and is grateful to have been so close to the Roundhouse where her kids grew up playing after school, joining activities, and taking lessons. She is pleased to bring her expertise in computer science and customer service to the Roundhouse Board and programming committee.
Evan Sahmet
Director
Risha Sidhu
Director
Risha has been a Yaletown resident since 2023 and joined the Roundhouse Board of Directors in 2025. As a work injury lawyer, she advocates for mental health in the workplace and established a monthly wellness program at her firm. Prior to law school, Risha earned her undergraduate degree in Criminology from Simon Fraser University and volunteered with B.C. Children’s Hospital and the Richmond Youth Soccer Association. Risha is passionate about community involvement, having served as a board director for the Richmond Community Foundation and participating annually in the ALS Society of BC’s MOVE to Cure ALS event. Outside of work, Risha stays active through yoga, pilates, hiking, and enjoys connecting with her Yaletown community.
Daniel Lai
Director
Daniel grew up in Vancouver and has lived in Yaletown for the past five years. He joined the Roundhouse Board of Directors in 2026 and is passionate about supporting community spaces that bring people together through arts, culture, recreation, and local engagement.
With over 15 years of experience across infrastructure, energy, mining, public policy, communications, and governance, Daniel has worked with organizations across Canada and the United States on community, sustainability, and public engagement initiatives.
Outside of his professional work, Daniel is actively involved in the Vancouver community through volunteering, mentorship, and local initiatives. He is passionate about building strong, connected neighbourhoods and supporting accessible community spaces where residents can gather, learn, and participate in arts, culture, recreation, and public life. He is excited to contribute to the Roundhouse’s continued role as a vibrant community hub for Yaletown and Vancouver residents.
Roundhouse Advisory Council
.