Our Team
World Jewish Relief would not be able to carry out its work without a terrific team of hardworking people. Meet the team who make it happen:
Paul Anticoni
Chief ExecutivePaul Anticoni trained as an agriculturalist and forester prior to living and working in the 80s and 90s in Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Cambodia and Bosnia. Paul then led the Red Cross in their disaster response operations for 12 years before joining World Jewish Relief as CEO in 2006.
Stacey Swimer
Director of International Programmes and PartnershipsStacey has worked with partners in Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia, as well as living and working in Zambia. Stacey has been at World Jewish Relief since June 2010 and is responsible for managing and growing our international humanitarian and development programmes.
Alisa Avigdor
Director of PhilanthropyAlisa has led fundraising teams within internationally renowned educational, arts and cultural heritage organisations for over 20 years, including the Jewish Museum London and the Royal College of Music, London. Alisa joined World Jewish Relief in September 2014.
Isobel Collinge
Director of FinanceIsobel qualified as an accountant in 2002 and has significant experience in the not for profit sector. Firstly for the NHS and more recently at the Royal College of Nursing where she led on budget setting, forecasting, financial strategy, statutory accounts and financial training.
Janice Lopatkin
Programme Director, UKJanice has over 20 years’ experience working for a range of charities and social businesses, developing, and managing large scale projects. She was was awarded an MBE for services to refugees in the June 2019 honours list. Janice started working for World Jewish Relief in January 2016.
Cathy Berman
Director of Marketing & CommunicationsCathy is an expert in ecommerce, marketing and general business with over 30 years of experience working across a wide range of direct-to-customer businesses, building an in depth knowledge of understanding and engaging supporters. She joined World Jewish Relief in November, 2021.
Abelia Leskin
Senior UK Refugees Programmes Officer
Adina Birnbaum
Fundraising Administrator
Alex Brookes
Director of Development
Alice Greider
Older Peoples Programmes Officer
Amanda Kyte
Office Manager
Annie Levy
Campaigns and Communications Manager
Cosmo Robertson Charlton
Communications and Marketing Officer
Debbie Cantor
Homes for Ukraine Programme Manager
Ekaterina Mitiaev
Head of Impact and Livelihoods
Elysia Polin
Events Coordinator
Gill Bland
Head of Income and Supporter Services
Hilary Chaplin
Income Manager
John Kanerick
Telephone Reception and Supporter Care Assistant
Judith Fagelson
Head of Older People Programmes
Kai Hopkins
Head of Humanitarian Programmes
Laura Hendy
Climate and Resilience Programmes Manager
Madison Jansen
Humanitarian Programmes Officer
Maria Gonzalez
Income and Finance Support Manager
Mimi Smus
Donor Care Officer
Monika Kosinska
Finance Manager
Richard Budden
Head of Individual Giving & Legacies
Sam Pearl
Head of Events
Shelley Lief
HR Advisor
Simon Cook
Refugee Programme Manager
Simone Colp
Senior Trust Fundraiser
Spencer Leland
Senior Livelihoods Programme Officer
Tom Edwards
Head of Major Giving
Vicki Russell
Fundraising and Income Manager
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