Wednesday, 21st May 2025 – St John’s Wood Synagogue, London
Nearly 200 women came together for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, empowerment, and impact at the Jnetics Ladies Night: Knowledge is Power Dinner, hosted at St John’s Wood Shul. The venue was transformed into a vibrant hub of community spirit as guests rallied in support of Jnetics and its life-saving mission to prevent Jewish genetic disorders.
The evening was opened by Nicole Gordon, CEO of Jnetics, who delivered a heartfelt welcome and a powerful overview of the organisation’s achievements over the past year. Nicole highlighted Jnetics’ central role as the engagement partner—alongside Chai Cancer Care—for NHS England’s Jewish BRCA Testing Programme, which is helping to identify individuals at increased risk of developing BRCA-related cancers. Over 30,000 people have signed up for testing to date—a remarkable milestone in this ground-breaking initiative.
Following a three-course dinner by Eat Me Events, guests were treated to an inspiring conversation between Vanessa Gold, Chair of Ann Summers and Co-Chair of West Ham United Football Club, and Deborah Joseph, editor and media personality.
In her first public address on the subject, Vanessa Gold shared her deeply personal journey—reflecting on her decades of leadership at Ann Summers, her transition into the role of CEO in 2022, and her appointment as Chair in 2023 following the passing of her sister, Jacqueline Gold. Under Vanessa’s leadership, Ann Summers has continued its transformation into a dynamic, customer-focused, multi-channel business.
Vanessa also spoke of her role at West Ham United, a position that honours her family’s long-standing dedication to the club. She uses her platform to drive both business growth and meaningful community engagement.
In one of the evening’s most moving moments, Vanessa shared the emotional story of losing both her father and sister to cancer—an experience that prompted her to undergo genetic testing. Upon discovering she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, she made the courageous decision to undergo preventative surgery.
“Sharing this story publicly for the first time is part of my mission to empower women—not just in business, but in life,” said Vanessa. “Awareness, early intervention, and community support can be life changing.”
She added “Every individual has to make their own decision, but what I would say is that knowledge is power. And please remember—genetics don’t discriminate. I don’t consider myself Jewish, I don’t mix in Jewish circles, but having a Jewish father put me at high risk of carrying a faulty BRCA gene. I urge anyone with even one Jewish grandparent who hasn’t been tested to sign up for the NHS Jewish BRCA testing programme. It’s an incredible initiative for the Jewish community.”
Nicole Gordon closed the evening by emphasising the vital importance of community support for Jnetics’ mission:
“The evening was hugely successful in raising awareness of Jnetics’ life-saving work. The funds raised will directly support our efforts to educate and screen young adults for 47 recessive Jewish genetic disorders, in addition to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations that disproportionately affect the Jewish population. With virtually no government funding, we are entirely reliant on the generosity of our community to sustain and expand our work.”
For further information about Jnetics and how you can support our work, please visit www.jnetics.org
Media or event enquiries: emma@jnetics.org
