History

I’ve been blessed to work with an amazing array of organisations as an executive leader, contractor or pro bono throughout my career. Much of my work has been with charities and projects that seek to build bridges and tear down barriers between diverse communities.

I came to the third sector from the world of business and public affairs. I spent more than half a decade as Finance and Human Resources Director for a South African fashion firm and served two terms on Cape Town City Council, where I held leadership and project management roles in finance portfolios managing budgets worth several million pounds.

In 2021 I moved with my young family to the UK, where I’ve held a number of senior fundraising and executive leadership roles with major charities.

Work Experience

Jewish Small Communities Network | April 2025 – current | Head of Community Engagement

Community Development and Engagement: Lead initiatives to support and strengthen Jewish life in small and remote communities across the UK, fostering resilience, identity, and inclusion.
Stakeholder Relationships: Build and sustain trusted relationships with local and national leaders, volunteers, and partner organisations.
Strategic Planning: Develop and implement strategies to expand the network’s reach and effectiveness, aligning activities with organisational goals and community needs.
Event and Programme Delivery: Design and coordinate community events, and engagement programmes that promote cohesion, learning, and intergenerational connection.
Communications and Outreach: Represent the organisation at public forums and within national networks, strengthening visibility and articulating the value of small community engagement.

Mitzvah Day | June 2022 – April 2025 | CEO

Leadership in Mission-Driven Programmes: Spearheaded Mitzvah Day’s initiatives to unite diverse communities through social action projects
Strategic Oversight: Developed and managed the charity’s overall direction, ensuring its mission aligns with impactful community and interfaith objectives
Administrative Excellence: Oversaw financial management, compliance, and operational efficiency to ensure the charity’s sustainability and adherence to regulations
Stakeholder Engagement: Built and maintained strong relationships with trustees, funders, staff, and volunteers to support Mitzvah Day’s goals. Developed strong relationships with MPs, civil servants, interfaith leaders, and diplomatic representatives, advancing the organisation’s public affairs objectives.
Volunteer Mobilisation: Coordinated efforts that engaged tens of thousands of volunteers globally, fostering community impact and collaboration
Growth and Innovation: Expanded Mitzvah Day’s reach as the UK’s largest multi-faith day of social action, promoting compassion and collaboration
Global Leadership: Led Mitzvah Day’s expansion into South America, Australasia and Western Europe, fostering a global network of volunteers and partners
Fundraising and Donor Development: Successfully secured funding from donors and foundations to support Mitzvah Day’s initiatives
Strategic Planning: Developed and implemented a comprehensive strategic plan to achieve Mitzvah Day’s mission and vision
Communications and Media: Served as a spokesperson in national and international media, shaping public discourse on key issues.

United Synagogue | January 2022 – June 2022 (contract) | Fundraising Appeals Manager

Financial Reporting and Analysis: Prepared detailed financial reports and conducted in-depth analyses to evaluate the performance of fundraising campaigns, ensuring alignment with revenue goals
Research and Development: Identified potential new donor bases, explored innovative fundraising opportunities and analysed market trends to expand funding sources
ThankQ Database Management and Administration: Managed and optimised the ThankQ CRM system to track donor interactions, campaign performance and appeals data, ensuring accuracy and efficiency
Campaign and Appeals Management: Planned, executed, and oversaw fundraising campaigns and appeals, tailoring strategies to engage donors and maximise contributions
Client Liaison: Served as the primary point of contact for donors and stakeholders, fostering strong relationships and ensuring a positive donor experience
Legacy Campaign Development: Designed and implemented targeted Legacy Giving Campaigns to secure long-term funding, emphasising donor stewardship and meaningful engagement

Moishe House | April 2021 – June 2022 | International Grants Manager

Grants and Reports Writing: Prepared detailed and persuasive grant applications and reports to secure funding from existing and potential donors, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and donor requirements
Proposals for Donors: Developed customised proposals tailored to donor priorities, articulating the impact of Moishe House’s programmes and initiatives on its global community
Financial Reporting and Budgets: Oversaw the preparation and management of accurate financial reports and budgets for grant-funded projects, ensuring accountability and transparency
Salesforce Data Management and Administration: Managed donor and grants data using Salesforce, maintained accurate records, and optimised the system for grant tracking and reporting
Research and Development: Identified new funding opportunities, conducted market research, and explored innovative approaches to strengthen and expand Moishe House’s financial support base
Collaboration Across Teams: Partnered with internal teams and stakeholders to align grant objectives with programme goals, ensuring cohesive communication and effective project execution

Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies | October 2018 – May 2021 | Executive Director

Strategic and Project Management: Developed and oversaw strategic initiatives and projects, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and the successful delivery of objectives
Fundraising and Donor Management: Created and managed fundraising strategies, cultivated relationships with donors, and ensured effective stewardship to drive sustainable financial support
Stakeholder Management: Built and maintained strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, fostering collaboration and mutual understanding
Projects and Events: Planned and executed impactful events and projects, managed resources and teams to ensure smooth implementation and measurable outcomes
Finance and Administration: Oversaw financial processes, including budget preparation, financial reporting, and administrative tasks, ensuring organisational efficiency and accountability
Advocacy and Lobbying: Led high-level advocacy efforts, engaging with policymakers and media on issues affecting the Jewish community.
Interfaith/Intergroup Work: Led efforts to promote interfaith and intergroup collaboration, building bridges and fostering understanding among diverse communities
Crisis Management: Managed press and crisis communications, ensuring effective messaging and media strategy.

City of Cape Town | June 2011 – February 2019 | City Councillor and Mayoral Committee Member for Assets and Facilities Management

Oversaw asset and fleet management for the City, ensuring transparency and accountability
Portfolio Chairperson for Finance from 2014 to 2016 (Oversight of Corporate Finance)
Served on the Finance Portfolio, Grants Committee, and Strategic Assets Committee
Served on the Municipal Public Accounts and uncovered an outstanding ANC account to the CTICC, leading to coverage in the local and national press
Represented the City on multiple boards, contributed to policy-making and strategic initiatives

Ritewear Footwear (Pty) Ltd & Shoreline Data CC | April 2009 – June 2014 | Finance and Human Resources Director

Managed recruitment, training, and HR policies, fostering a positive organisational culture
Directed financial operations, including statutory returns, audits, tax compliance and budgets