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 OfficerAdina Birnbaum
Fundraising AdministratorAlex Brookes
Director of DevelopmentAlice Greider
Older Peoples Programmes OfficerAmanda Kyte
Office ManagerAnnie Levy
Campaigns and Communications ManagerCosmo Robertson Charlton
Communications and Marketing OfficerDebbie Cantor
Homes for Ukraine Programme ManagerEkaterina Mitiaev
Head of Impact and LivelihoodsElysia Polin
Events CoordinatorGill Bland
Head of Income and Supporter ServicesHilary Chaplin
Income ManagerJohn Kanerick
Telephone Reception and Supporter Care AssistantJudith Fagelson
Head of Older People ProgrammesKai Hopkins
Head of Humanitarian ProgrammesLaura Hendy
Climate and Resilience Programmes ManagerMadison Jansen
Humanitarian Programmes OfficerMaria Gonzalez
Income and Finance Support ManagerMimi Smus
Donor Care OfficerMonika Kosinska
Finance ManagerRichard Budden
Head of Individual Giving & LegaciesSam Pearl
Head of EventsShelley Lief
HR AdvisorSimon Cook
Refugee Programme ManagerSimone Colp
Senior Trust FundraiserSpencer Leland
Senior Livelihoods Programme OfficerTom Edwards
Head of Major GivingVicki Russell
Fundraising and Income Manager
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