Meet the Team

Anthony Angel (Chairman)

Anthony was the former Worldwide Managing Partner at Linklaters, Executive Managing Director EMEA at Standard & Poor’, Global Co-Chairman at DLA Piper and Trustee and Treasurer of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust before becoming chairman of Jnetics’ board of trustees. Anthony’s son Benjamin died aged 26 from Cystic Fibrosis. He is committed to preventing the suffering and pain of other Jewish families from the death of a child from what are now avoidable genetic diseases.

Anthony Leon

Anthony is Finance Director at Brandpath Group. Anthony is involved with several charitable and communal organisations.

Aviva Lewis

BRCA Programme Development Manager

Aviva is responsible for co-ordinating all BRCA related issues, working closely with NHS England and other community stakeholders to ensure the effective and responsible rollout of the BRCA screening programme.

Emma May

Emma is Director of Operations and Employment at Work Avenue. Emma is a law graduate from Manchester University and qualified HR professional. Emma has a background in HR management, psychometric assessment, outplacement and careers guidance and has held roles in the public, private and not for profit sectors.

Gaby Baigel

Services & Database Manager

Gaby is our Services & Database Manager. Gaby’s experience in Project & Service Management and IT puts her in an ideal position to over see many of our projects and services. Gaby is also responsible for the charity’s database and analysis of much of Jnetics’ data.

Emma Bergen

Major Donor Manager

Emma is our Major Gifts manager, responsible for growing and looking after our patrons and major donors. Emma has a wealth of experience of fundraising within the Jewish community and cultivating partnerships and donor relationships.

Guila Vaz Mouyal

Education, Research & Development Manager (Currently on Maternity Leave)

Our Interim Education, Research & Development Manager, Guila Vaz Mouyal is responsible for assisting with the research, development, and delivery of our programmes, developing the organisation’s outreach and education activities throughout the UK and ongoing genetic research projects. Guila has an extensive background and knowledge in human reproductive science and assisted reproductive technologies. Her academic background covered biomedical science, reproductive science and women’s health and Reproductive sociology.

Juliette Harris PhD, MSc - Genetic Counsellor

Juliette is a specialist Genetic Counsellor at North West Thames Regional Genetics Service. She was the dedicated NHS Genetic Counsellor for Jnetics from 2018-2020 and has volunteered as a screening advisor with Jnetics for over 6 years and helped set up the first ever Jnetics community screen in 2014. She has a PhD in Human Genetics from Imperial College School of Medicine and qualified as a Genetic Counsellor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City. She is passionate about the role that public involvement and community engagement has in increasing awareness, acceptance, and uptake of genetic screening programmes.

Laura Birnbaum

Laura is the head of Property and Technical Services for the London Fire Brigade. Laura is involved with several charitable and communal organisations.

Leon Blitz

Leon is the co-founder of Grovepoint, a London-based private equity and investment management firm. Prior to this, Leon held senior roles at Investec for over 21 years after having qualified and trained as a chartered accountant in South Africa.

Leon has served as a non-executive Director and Chairman of several companies in the UK, Europe, Israel and Australia. He is the Life President and former Chairman of UK Israel Business (Bilateral Chamber of Commerce) driving initiatives to connect those in the UK to innovative and cutting-edge Israeli technologies and their ecosystem and was involved in the establishment of the UK Israel HealthTech forum.

Leon is also committed and involved with several charitable and communal organisations where he serves in various capacities. In addition, Leon has had personal knowledge and experience with certain genetic conditions.

Married to Cara and has three adult children.

Lord David Pannick

Lord Pannick KC is one of the UK’s most highly regarded advocates, practising in a broad range of areas with a particular emphasis on Public law & Human Rights. In November 2009 he became a crossbench peer and sits in the House of Lords.

Lord Leslie Turnberg

Lord Turnberg is a British medical professional and an author of many publications and books related to the medical and health services fields. His experience extends to areas of research in these fields and maintaining a clinical practice. He has published four books and some 150 articles on medical and scientific research. He is a Labour Life peer and sits in the House of Lords.

Monica Ziff

Monica is a Specialist Registrar in Clinical Genetics at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. She qualified from University College London Medical School and has a BSc in Human Genetics. She has volunteered as a screening advisor for Jnetics since 2017 and published their screening carrier rates in a peer-reviewed journal. She is passionate about increasing awareness of genetic conditions and providing an informed and supportive genetic testing service.

Neville Goldschneider

Neville is the Chief Executive of Camp Simcha. With substantial experience gained over 20 years working with children and young people in a variety of Jewish communal settings, he has guided Camp Simcha from its founders’ kitchen table to where it is today, a national charity making a vital difference to thousands of seriously ill children and their families throughout the UK. Neville’s whole family is dedicated to Jewish communal service: presently his son Adam and daughter-in-law Tammy learn and teach in Jerusalem and his daughter Leah teaches in a Jewish primary school in North West London.

Nicole Gordon

CEO

Our Chief Executive Officer, Nicole Gordon, is responsible for our strategic direction, delivery of our services, as well as running the day-to-day aspects of the charity.

Nicole has extensive experience in growing charities and together with her scientific background has been instrumental in the expansion of Jnetics.

Nicole Levy

Marketing & Events Executive

Nicole is responsible for designing and implementing Jnetics marketing and social media campaigns. Nicole plans and organises fundraising events including the challenges programmes. Nicole co-ordinates and manages our volunteers including our young professionals committee and work experience students.

Ruthie Abenson

Finance Officer

Our Finance Officer Ruthie Abenson is responsible the day today management of the charity’s finances.

Samantha Wilder

Services & Database Coordinator

Samantha is our Services & Database Coordinator and is responsible for the admin for our screening services.

Ana Sajoo

Genetic Counsellor for Jnetics at NHS NW Thames Regional Genetics Service

Ana is an NHS genetic counsellor, funded by Jnetics. Ana studied human cell and molecular genetics at McGill in Canada, followed by a MSc in genetic counselling. Ana met women in fetal medicine units, spent time at chemotherapy suite recruiting Jewish women into BRCA research and visiting Jewish schools in Montreal to arrange Tay Sachs carrier testing.  As a new genetic counsellor in 1994, her work comprised prenatal diagnosis decision-support, liaising with assisted reproduction clinics, and assessing cancer risks for families with bowel and ovarian cancer. She advocates for access to genetic services and is a person-centred counsellor.

Wendy Ornadel

Senior BRCA Programme Manager

Wendy is responsible for project managing the NHS England Jewish Community BRCA programme, working closely with NHS England, Institute of Cancer Research, other national cancer charities, and community stakeholders to ensure the effective and responsible rollout of the programme.