Ms. Thea Furbert
Chairwoman & Co-Founder
Thea became Chairwoman of the Board of Directors in January 2012. Thea is the mother of one, Ciré, whom was diagnosed with autism in 2000. Feeling the need to form an organisation that would bring about awareness of Autism, Thea along with another mother, Tricia Simons, founded their first Autism Charity (BASE) in February 2001. Thea held the posts of Public Relations Officer for 6 years and then was nominated President during her last year of being on the board of BASE. Being an avid advocate for autism services in Bermuda for over 6 years, in 2006 with the help of Tricia and Thea’s sister Erica Smith, she co-founded the charity Tomorrow's Voices – Bermuda Autism Early Intervention Centre. Her dream of parents having quality, direct hands-on therapy for their children with autism became a reality with the opening of the Centre in October 2007. Apart from being co-founder of Tomorrow’s Voices, Thea has been on the Board of Directors since its inception. In January 2012 Thea was nominated as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and currently remains in that role. Since opening Tomorrow’s Voices, Thea has seen Bermuda benefit from expert therapists, quality trainings and direct support, which have directly benefited Bermuda’s children with Autism.
Thea graduated from Howard University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (Magna cum laude) in Graphic Design. In her professional career she has worked for the Bank of Bermuda as a Graphic Designer, the Bermuda College as their Graphic Designer and also held the post of Manager, Creative Services with the Bermuda Department of Tourism. Leaving the Department of Tourism in 2006 Thea fulfilled another one of her dreams by opening her own Graphic Design studio, TAF Designs. Having owned her own company for the past 14 years she has designed projects for hundreds of public and private sector clients as well as provided consulting graphic design services for the past 12 years for one of our local Banks.
As an advocate for autism Thea also wanted to strengthen her understanding and abilities in behavior analysis and in December 2010, she received her Graduate Academic Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from the University of North Texas. With this Certificate and the vast knowledge of ABA course work Thea has gained over the years, she continues to advocate for research based services for those with autism and developmental disabilities in the Bermuda community.
In October 2019, while attending the Autism Law Summit, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming Thea was awarded the 2019 International Advocacy Award for her advocacy work in improving the services and lives of those with autism and other developmental disabilities in Bermuda. show more...
Mrs. Erica Smith
Deputy Chair
Erica was involved with the development of Tomorrow's Voices from its beginnings. She was part of the project team responsible for bringing this dream into reality. She has been a member of the board of Tomorrow’s Voices since June 2007 and was Chair from March 2008 until December 2011. She has recently been elected as Deputy Chair. Erica is the Executive Director of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC). Former leadership roles include the Director of the Economic Empowerment Zones Agency; the Director of Sustainable Development; Assistant Director of Planning; and National Director of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Bermuda. She has also run her own consultancy firm ERF Designs. Having been educated at Boston University, Howard University, and the University of Pennsylvania, she currently holds a Bachelors Degree in Architecture, a Masters Degree in City Planning, a Certificate in Urban Design, a Diploma in Supervision and Management, and is a Certified Urban Planner. She is an International Exchange Alumni of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and an alumni mentor with the Cherie Blair Foundation mentoring entrepreneurs globally. When not working with the local business sector, Erica is very engaged in the community. She is passionate about giving back to her country and feels her work with Tomorrow’s Voices is necessary divine work that is needed. She is committed to her role of lobbying for services, resources, and funding for children with autism specifically, as well as generally for those with special needs and other disabilities. show more...
Mr. Andre Retief
Treasurer
Andre joined Tomorrow's Voices as Treasurer in August 2023. Andre gained his Bachelor of Accounting degree and Certificate in Theory of Accounting from the University of Stellenbosch. He began his career in public accounting with PwC South Africa and qualified as a chartered accountant in 2018. He moved to Bermuda with his wife in 2019, and is passionate about making a positive difference in his community.
Ms. Angela Tota-Francis
Secretary
Ms. Angela Tota-Francis joined Tomorrow's Voices as a Board Member in 2010. She is an experienced educator with over 25 years working with children aged 5 through 14. Ms. Tota-Francis has a demonstrated history of working in education and leadership with a commitment to student and school success. She is a strong education professional with a MA Organizational Management degree focused in Educational Leadership and Administration from Endicott College. She is an accomplished, innovative educator, facilitator and leader with a passion for education especially in the area of Mathematics.
Ms. Robyn Bardgett
Director
Robyn joined Tomorrow's Voices as a Board Member in April 2013. Robyn is a Media Communications Specialist with a fantastic eye for detail and a knack for and love of all things grammatical. She has risen from the fast-paced ranks of a busy news office to the challenging role as a sub editor at a lively publishing company. She currently works as a freelance writer and editor.
Mr. Larry Williams
Director
Larry joined Tomorrow's Voices as a Board Member in January 2014. Larry is currently the Assistant Director Development Management with the Bermuda Government’s Department of Planning having taken up this position for a second time when he returned to the department in September 2013. Larry oversees the Development Management Section of the Department of Planning which includes, Front Desk operation and Enforcement.
Mr. Raymond Jones
Director
Ray joined Tomorrow's Voices as a Board Member in January 2020. He is a graduate of The Berkeley Institute, The Bermuda College and a 1991 graduate of Longwood College, Virginia State, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration majoring in Accounting. He obtained his CPA designation in 1992 while training at Price Waterhouse/Gray & Kempe. Ray has over 25 years of work experience inclusive of Assistant Vice President of the Bank of Bermuda (Corporate Trust) and CFO for the HWP Group of Companies HWP. Currently Ray is the Finance Director at the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) having been there since 2013.
In addition, Ray is an entrepreneur in his own right, having started his own Accountancy consulting firm, Faro Management Solutions, where he supported several clients including BEDC. Ray is also an avid sportsman and in his spare time gives back to his community. He is the current President of Devonshire Colts, team Coach of the Under 20 National Football Team and an Assistant Coach to the Bermuda National team. show more...
Mrs. LaVonne Smith
Director
LaVonne joined Tomorrow's Voices as a Board Member in January 2020.
Dr. Cherita Rayner
Director
Dr. Rayner joined Tomorrow's Voices as a Board Member in January 2023. Dr. Rayner is a Registered Clinical Psychologist on the island of Bermuda. Born in Bermuda, Dr. Rayner completed her post secondary education in the United States, attending Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore Maryland, and Alliant International University in San Francisco, California.
Dr. Rayner is active in the psychological community, currently serving as President of the Bermuda Psychological Association, in addition to serving as a member of the Bermuda Parole Board. Dr. Rayner has previously held the role of Clinical Psychologist and Professional Practice Lead with the Bermuda Hospitals Board. Dr. Rayner has also served as a member of the Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Ethics Committee. Dr. Rayner is a co-developer of the Mental Health First Aid Bermuda programme and currently serves as a programme facilitator. Dr. Rayner additionally holds an ILM Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management.
Dr. Rayner is the founder of Chrysalis Bermuda, a private psychotherapy practice, serving a child, adult and older adult population. Dr. Rayner provides integrative psychological services to provide the best care for her clients, with specialized training in Prolonged Grief Therapy. show more...
Mr. Amir Mizrachy
Director
Amir joined Tomorrow's Voices as a Board Member in February 2023. Amir was born in Israel and grew up in Jerusalem. He has served in the canine special forces unit of the Israeli Defense Forces in OKETZ. He is a lawyer by profession receiving his LLB in Israel in 2010 and remains a good standing member of the Israel Bar Association since 2012. He is also a good standing member of the New York State Bar Association and the American Bar Association since 2019. Since 2016 he has lived in Bermuda with his wife and three children.
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Mrs. Vernette DeShield
Director
Vernette joined Tomorrow’s Voices as a Board Member in January 2025. She is a mother of two boys aged 19 and 14, of which her 19 year old is on the Autism Spectrum. Vernette became connected with Tomorrow's Voices following her son's diagnosis at the age of 3 and a half. This journey has been quite significant for her. She prides herself on being a good listener, trustworthy, and empathetic towards others. Vernette is eager to support other parents navigating their own Autism journeys.
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Mrs. Sophie Simons
Director
Sophie joined Tomorrow’s Voices as a Board Member in January 2025. As a Marketing, Social Media, and Events Management Specialist, Sophie honed her skills in building impactful campaigns and engaging audiences across diverse industries for over a decade. With expertise in brand development, digital strategy, and event execution, she brings creativity and precision to every project. Sophie is passionate about connecting people through meaningful experiences and is an advocate for leveraging social media to drive positive change.