Orit is an independent artistic director, theatre maker and facilitator with a passion for creating performances, projects and events, often large-scale and outdoors in public spaces, that bring together artists, specialists and communities on an equal basis to share new experiences and conversations. Contexts for her work include cultural, community and corporate settings nationally and internationally; themes include bridging divides / connecting across difference and creative approaches to climate change. 

 Sarah Pierce is an emerging activist and community builder working at the intersections of gender-based violence, youth empowerment, and Jewish identity. With a background in law and psychology, she draws on personal experience to advocate for structural change and healing justice. She has volunteered and collaborated with youth networks, student movements, and women’s rights initiatives across Europe. Deeply committed to creating inclusive, survivor-led spaces, she works through education, community organizing, and digital advocacy. Her work centers on elevating marginalized voices, fostering resilience, and building a future rooted in dignity, equity, and collective strength. 

I am the co-founder of GPS Network - The Grassroots Power of Support, supporting those who advocate for Israel and against antisemitism https://www.gpsnet.org/.

Born from our powerful She's One of Our Own campaign at Tottenham Hotspur FC (with over 400M views), our growing network now includes over 440 unaffiliated independent groups, organisations and small communities; that’s between 150,000 to 200,000 Jewish people and trusted allies all across the UK.

We unite and amplify grassroots efforts, enabling agile ad hoc collaborations for Jews and allies alike. Together they can make a collective impact for the greater good. GPS is the facilitator.

My name is Ruth Finkel and I am a regular volunteer at the JW3 food bank because, as a Jew, I believe that we have an obligation to make the world a better place for everyone. The inclusive ethos of the food bank particularly appeals to me as I really believe that you need to take everyone as you find them and not make generalisations according to race, creed or any other type of discriminatory formula. I was the interfaith lead at the school where I worked and my mantra is: children are not born hating, we teach them to hate so everything we can do to encourage dialogue between people of different faiths and none, is to be valued. 

Katie is the CEO of Mavar and the UK Director of the Abraham Initiatives. 

Katie comes from a background working in higher education and the charitable sector. For over 10 years Katie worked at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London where she ran the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation. Whilst at King’s College, Katie ran successful programmes for Arab-Israeli dialogue, this involved bringing young leaders to study together to learn more about themselves, the other and their narratives. 

Katie has a strong background in fundraising, project management and events production. In recent years she has worked with a number of new charities and organisations to start up, achieve their early objectives, host international summits and brand themselves. 

Anna is a student rabbi and social entrepreneur based in Leeds, passionate about exploring and fostering peace through creativity and innovation.  

With a deep commitment to interfaith dialogue and community building, she explores new approaches to peacemaking rooted in spiritual practice and social justice. Her work blends traditional wisdom with forward-thinking solutions, aiming to inspire meaningful change within and beyond faith communities. Driven by a belief in the power of collaboration and compassion, Anna is dedicated to cultivating spaces where people from all backgrounds can connect, heal, and grow together. She continues to study and serve with humility and hope.

Dr Sharon Raymond, is a highly experienced, award- winning NHS GP, healthcare leader, safeguarding professional, medical appraiser, author, lecturer and mentor. She is founder and director of the not-for-profit Crisis Rescue Foundation, delivering nationally and internationally recognised novel health- related services tackling inequalities. Services include the Vaxi Taxi Health and Wellbeing Pop Ups running in areas of deprivation across London since 2021, and backed by government, NHS England, and other key stakeholders, and the Crisis Rescue Foundation Medical School U.K. Elective Programme, providing medical education and peer support to medics globally including refugee doctors in the U.K., impacted by war.   

A left hander who has needed flexibility to make sense of a right' handed world.  An owner of three rescue cats who in a member of two progressive synagogues and lives in north west london.    

I am motivated by my life-long  desire for continuous improvement and to make a practical difference to society.  My work-life was working in and with NHS. 

Now ‘retired’ I am developing a portfolio of voluntary activity in the human and animal arena.  I am particularly interested in social action initiatives that bring people from different backgrounds together to address common societal concerns.  

I look forward to meeting participants  and to a productive day in the Social Action Hackathon on 6th July. 

Matthew is the London Communities Programmes Coordinator at the Faith & Belief Forum. He works with communities across London of all faiths and none on large-scale events to bring people together, celebrating and advocating for the role of faith in civic life in the capital. He is currently leading on the Interfaith Wellbeing Festival (25 Aug) & London Dangoor Awards, which small grants to unsung community heroes.  

He has been with F&BF for three years, previously studying politics and economics at Manchester before completing a master's in public policy at King's. 

Hila is the Community worker for Oxford Synagogue, which is a very special community where there are Orthodox, Masorti and Progressive forms of prayer, often simultaneously; there are students, residents and visitors all together, and religious, cultural and social Jews all in the one community.

Hila is also a founder of the charity Meketa which supports Ethiopian Jews in Northern Ethiopia, and volunteers as the project coordinator for activities in Gondar as well as sponsorship, merchandise and volunteering in the UK.

David Lazarus 63 years of age, live in Bushey, work for a large TV company in sales.

Prior to that was living in Israel on a kibbutz, married with 2 kids.

Big fan of horse racing have a massive connection to Israel.

Board member of Herzog hospital and inside the middle east.

Rabbi David Mason is the Executive Director of HIAS+JCORE. He previously served as rabbi of Muswell Hill Synagogue for over 14 years, and at Kingston Synagogue in South West London prior to that. Born in Edinburgh, he studied at George Watsons College before receiving a BSc and MSc in Econometrics from the London School of Economics. He attended yeshivot in Israel for 7 years before joining the Rabbinate. David also has a Masters in Conflict Resolution in Divided Society from King’s College London. He has built up expertise in inter faith work and social cohesion work as well as in strategic leadership, and was a Trustee at the Council of Christians and Jews and EcoJudaism. Rabbi Mason has developed thinking that connects Jewish ideas and scholarship to social responsibility. 

Rachelle Lazarus began her career at the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, building a large volunteer programme and supporting Holocaust survivors, particularly within the Charedi community, in sharing their testimonies. Then developing the volunteer team and deliver diversity training at the Museum of Tolerance. On returning to the UK, she worked at Jewish Care predominantly with Holocaust survivors and their families. Rachelle is now Community Engagement and Volunteer Manager at the Jewish Volunteering Network (JVN), where she supports volunteer managers across sectors and develops training, events, and programmes to strengthen volunteering. 

Lisa Zeital is a passionate and innovative social impact professional with over 25 years of experience in communications and social responsibility. Her career spans political consultancy, internal communications and social engagement across organisations such as Powergen, Linklaters, Dresdner Kleinwort and central government. Lisa has received awards for pioneering social action programmes and has worked with politicians and senior executives to drive meaningful change. She has held numerous voluntary and consultancy roles in the Jewish community including with Seed, UJIA, United Synagogue, Israel 50, and Project ImpACT. Lisa is a strategic thinker, committed team player and proud FZY and Machon alumna. 

Daniella Neifeld serves as the Community Participation Manager at the United Synagogue, where she leads on inclusion, lay-leader volunteering, and community partnerships. Originally from Florida and with a background in Jewish education, Daniella brings a thoughtful, people-centered approach to her work. She has led initiatives to improve physical accessibility and explored innovative ways to re-engage volunteers in a post-COVID world. Her role supports communities to thrive—ensuring they are welcoming, inclusive, and empowered to lead. Daniella is passionate about creating spaces where everyone feels they belong and can contribute meaningfully to Jewish communal life. 

Deborah Goodman’s name is synonymous with arts and entertainment PR. DGPR has an outstanding track record in providing highly successful publicity campaigns.

DGPR consistently works with high-profile clients in film, television, venues, publishing, design, music, theatre and live events - covering the full arts spectrum. 

Deborah is proud to have JW3 as one of her clients. 

Hannah Gaventa has worked in the humanitarian sector responding to climate emergencies across 12 countries living and working in West Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Hannah works on climate adaptation, economic growth and international education systems, ensuring marginalised groups are included. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Global Politics of Environment and Resources, with a research focus on environmental policy and the impact of whale conservation on indigenous fishing communities in the Caribbean. 

I'm Greg, Head of Production at JW3.

I have worked at JW3 for the past 3 years firstly within the programming team and now in production. Prior to that I worked at Jnetics creating and running up their student education and testing programme which is now fully established in the community.

My background is in the creative industries having worked in theatre, film and tv then moving into digital content.

I have a keen interest in the area of social action and firmly believe in and have aimed to live the Jewish value of leading by example.

I believe that the biggest issue affecting all our lives is climate change and that as a Jewish community we should be leading in how we combat and make real change for ourselves and future generations.

Naomi left a 15 yr. career in the city as a management consultant to work as an environmental activist within the Jewish community.  She is the former Chair of Golders Green Synagogue where she put environmental responsibility at the top of the shul's agenda. She then partnered with the Jewish charity Sadeh, to conceptualise, design and run Europe's first kosher eco-hotel. Naomi then went on to become Head of Environmental Policy for the United Synagogue, running the Dorot programme, the United Synagogue and Office of the Chief Rabbi’s ambitious environmental initiative to reduce the charity’s environmental impact.  

She is now CEO of EcoJudaism where her role is to deliver the charity's vison; a world where environmental responsibility is core to Jewish identity and Judaism brings a unique inspiration to the global environmental movement.   

Jessica is Education Lead for the charity EcoJudaism. She has degrees in Environmental Science and Sustainable Development and has managed projects for environmental charities and local authorities for over 10 years. She is a CELTA trained TEFL teacher and has extensive experience of designing and delivering education, both formal and informal, to all ages. She is a Trustee for the Jewish Charity Sadeh which practices land based Judaism and delivers environmental education.

Originally from France, I have been living in London for 5+ years, and I have been on the JW3 young advisory board since last year. I work in sustainable finance for a bank, helping private and public organisations to fund their climate strategy and related projects. 

Aside from my job, I do yoga and play the French horn in orchestras. I am also passionate about Israel and its history. I look forward to connecting with many of you and build a Jewish perspective on addressing climate change.

Resa runs 88 Keys Consulting, working with start-ups and charities supporting them with all aspects of people strategy, operations and growth. Prior to this, she ran the Recruitment, Coaching and Consultancy teams at Timewise, supporting women returners back into the workplace. She also enjoys a socially purposeful side-hussle; in Covid, she set up a DWP Kickstart gateway that found 150+ young people on benefits their first role; she has mentored a range of start-ups in the mental health space via the Zinc investment programme and was previously a Trustee at Resource. 

She is particularly interested in projects that address social isolation and disconnection, and build links between generations and communities. 

With a background in law and a passion for community-driven change, I bring a unique blend of legal expertise and social innovation to my work. As Projects and Partnerships Manager at Mitzvah Day and Co-Founder of Mama Flo (a Cape Town-based charity focused on alleviating period poverty), I remain committed to leading initiatives that promote dignity, justice, and equality, especially for women. A committed advocate and pioneer in women’s empowerment, I work to ensure that women’s voices are heard, valued, and taken seriously. I am driven and motivated by a desire to be a change-maker, creating sustainable solutions that uplift communities and foster inclusive, impactful partnerships. 

Dr Edie Friedman was born in Chicago. A student in the 1960s, she was heavily influenced by the civil rights and peace movements. She came to England to study in Leeds and subsequently worked for Oxfam and the Community Relations Council in Ealing, West London. 

She founded the Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE) in 1976 with the aim of providing a Jewish voice on race and asylum in the UK, and has led the organisation since. Over the 45 years, JCORE has campaigned together with the UK’s Black and Asian communities, taken race-equality education into Jewish schools, and supported refugees and asylum seekers through innovative projects.  

In 2008 she co-authored Reluctant Refuge – The Story of Asylum in Britain. She has also authored and co-authored a series of race equality education resources covering the primary school to adult age ranges. 

Amy is the Foodbank Co-ordinator for the JW3 Foodbank and manages the logistics and communications for JW3’s weekly Foodbank. Prior to this, Amy worked in PR consultancy for 10 years, specialising in healthcare communications. Over the years, she’s been a befriender for people living with dementia and a bus leader for March of the Living. She knows that her role now is a far cry from the Politics and Parliamentary Studies degree she did at the University of Leeds, but has a good knowledge of how the UK government works, partly from this and working in Parliament. 

Prior to retiring two years ago, Andy was a Partner in a management consultancy with a focus on new service innovation and entrepreneurship, built over 25 years, with experience across a diverse range of industries and countries. Since retiring, Andy has been an active volunteer in Israel (and will be leading a volunteering initiative in Israel for the UJIA in November). Andy is also currently a Warden at Radlett United Synagogue (having been the Chairman c. 12 years ago). Andy also undertakes volunteering roles outside of the Jewish Community, including having recently been a Trustee of one of Save the Children’s subsidiaries. Andy brings energy and enthusiasm with a passion for making a difference. 

Judy's journey with Goods For Good began as a dedicated volunteer, running our eBay store. Over time, she has grown to become an invaluable asset, contributing her expertise in business, marketing, and logistics to support the charity's operations. With a background in business and marketing, Judy's journey includes a significant six-year break working for a charity that aided the vulnerable in Ukraine during the late 90s. Following this, she managed her own successful removals business, which led her to live in Crete for five years.

Her diverse experiences and passion for making a positive impact make her an invaluable asset to the success of Goods For Good.

Adam Kendler is the Volunteer Coordinator at JW3, where he plays a key role in developing and improving the centre’s volunteer-led initiatives. Since 2023, he has worked closely with the JW3 Foodbank, helping to optimise weekly operations and create new, meaningful ways for people to get involved in the centre’s diverse social action programmes. 

Beyond his work at JW3, Adam is passionate about supporting small food businesses. He founded his own artisan fudge company in 2016 and now mentors early-stage food and craft entrepreneurs, combining his industry knowledge with a commitment to community and creativity. 

Mia Hasenson-Gross is the Executive Director of René Cassin, the Jewish voice for human rights, with over 25 years of experience in human rights campaigning and leadership development. 

Mia oversees René Cassin’s Jewish Everyday Rights Forum, bringing together Jewish organisations across the UK to champion socio-economic rights, focusing on housing, health and food security, while ensuring these critical issues are addressed inclusively and effectively. 

Mia is a trustee of the Coalition for Genocide Response,  co-founder of Stop Uyghur Genocide UK, and is on the Executive Committee of the Alliance of Jewish Women and their Organisations. 

Josh Dresner is from Pinner, Middlesex.  He currently works as a design researcher at the Ministry of Justice, working on new features to improve government digital services. Previously he lived in Barcelona for four years consulting on research and design projects across the world, with diverse topics as teen online culture in Brazil and car ownership in Australia. The common thread has been helping small and large organisations improve their user experience and culture. Outside of work Josh has volunteered in the Jewish community at EcoSynagogue and at Limmud 

Steven Phillips is an activist and community builder born and raised in London. Steven built a career in technology, focusing on IT and Cyber Security. While at Amazon, he founded the Jewish Employee Group, sparking his passion for Jewish community building and identity education. In response to the challenges he faced, Steven founded JewishERGs— now the world’s largest network of Jewish ERG leaders—supporting the growth of Jewish ERGs globally and improving workplace experiences for Jewish employees. In 2024, he left tech to become Executive Director of JewishERGs full-time. He has since led two Israel trips, conducted groundbreaking research, and grown a global network across 190+ workplaces. 

Diana Shaw Clark led the effort to establish West London Synagogue’s now long-running drop in centre for asylum seekers. Subsequently, with funding from Westminster Synagogue and facilties offered by JW3, she co-created and managed Our Open Kitchen, which offered asylum seekers housed in hotels an opportunity to cook once each week. She is a frequent volunteer at The Felix Project’s kitchen in Poplar and helps serve breakfast at The Connection, a day centre for rough sleepers at the Church of St. Martin In The Fields. 
For 25 years, Diana raised funds among American citizens in the UK in support of candidates for office in the US. She is currently a trainee chaplain with the NHS Trust. Her interests are nutritional security/healthy cities, civic justice,  and faith-in-action predicated on an understanding of foundational Jewish values, ethics and belief. 

Asher is a PhD Researcher at the London School of Economics who is writing an intellectual history of ‘Big Tech’. His research focuses specifically upon Facebook/Meta, examining how high-level actors in and around the company came to think and speak about time, space, and their ability to change the world around them. Other than this, Asher has worked on questions of how Jewish thought might be used to navigate contemporary technological transformations.  

Julia Vogl is American & British with an international practice centred around printmaking and public art. She describes her community engagement works as social sculptures; they engage individuals to share data about themselves that are collectively reflected in colourful large scale installations, fostering greater conversation. Her work primarily focuses on what things do we, as humans, share and what makes us distinct. Vogl has Tackled subjects from home, economics, death to snack preferences. Commissioned by the likes of Tate, ITV, Facebook, Greater London Authority, Jewish Arts Collaborative to Hull City of Culture. She currently is a Lecturer in BA fine art at Winchester School of Art, Southampton University.  

www.JULIAVOGL.com

Rafi Addlestone is a JW3 trustee with two decades of experience working at the intersection of strategy and social impact. Beginning his career as a civil servant focused on education and children's services, Rafi joined Deloitte in 2015 as a strategy consultant. He led the firm's social impact strategy work, eventually becoming global lead for sustainability in the Tech, Media, and Telco sectors. He then joined Amazon Web Services as Global Lead for Sustainability Innovation. Now, Rafi co-leads Pineapple Partnerships, a consultancy promoting partnerships for a sustainable future. A JW3 trustee for the past five years, Rafi is also vice-chair of Golders Green Shul, a trustee of EcoJudaism, and founder of the Jewish Climate Professionals Network.

Jonathan Simmons has 25 years’ experience delivering purpose driven projects, and is a trustee of JW3 and the PRiSM The Gift Fund, on top of being CEO of NPC. Founder of leading independent digital agency Zone, which he sold in 2018 to become an accomplished consultant. He has led teams delivering digital transformation, organisational redesign, large scale participatory design projects, brand redevelopment, and impact investment strategies for many global charities like UNICEF, community focused projects like Barking and Dagenham Giving, global brands like Nike, and UK companies like Tesco.

I’m a journalist from Jewish News where I cover a mix of politics, culture, identity and community stories. I love writing features that make people feel something - or see things in a new way. I’m always up for projects that bring people together or spark proper debate. I’ve previously volunteered with charities - I’m especially passionate about social action and projects that bring people together. Outside of work, I’m usually travelling, watching films, seeing friends, or reading a book.