
Meet the Team
Jnetics Staff
Nicole Gordon
CEO
Ruthie Abenson
Finance Officer
Gaby Baigel
Head of Operations & Programme Delivery
Emma Bergen
Head of Fundraising & Marketing
Rachael Citron
Programmes Coordinator
Josh Forman
Head of Science, Education & Outreach
Lara Jeffrey
Digital Marketing & Fundraising Executive
Gidon Schwartz
Education & Outreach Executive
Samantha Wilder
Programmes Coordinator – Maternity Leave
Board of Trustees
Jnetics is managed by a board of trustees responsible for ensuring that the charity meets its objectives whilst complying with legal obligations under charity and company law. The board provides guidance for the strategic development of the charity and reviews work as it develops.
Our trustees have experience across charity management, finance and fundraising, marketing and PR, and healthcare.
Anthony Angel (Chairman)
Leon Blitz
Juliette Harris
Anthony Leon
Emma May
Monica Ziff
Honorary Patrons
Lord David Pannick
Lord Leslie Turnberg
Science and Medical Advisory Committee (SMAC)
Our expert scientific and medical advisors include scientists, clinicians, researchers, and a genetic counsellor who are all specialists in fields relating to Jewish genetic disorders.
Our advisors guide us on medical and scientific issues relating to Jewish genetic disorders; help us ensure that our information is accurate and disseminated responsibly; advise us in relation to testing; and help facilitate collaborative work that supports our objectives.
Professor Nick Lench
Co-founder and COO of Congenica Ltd, a genomic medicine company based at the Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge
Professor Rosalind Eeles
MA FCRP FRCR PhD
Professor of Oncogenetics and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Oncology and Cancer Genetics, The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden Hospital
Dr Ian Ellis
FRCP, BSc
Consultant Clinical Geneticist, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
Sara Levene
RGC, MSc, BSc
Consultant Genetic Counsellor & PGD Lead, The Centre for Reproductive & Genetic Health
Educational Experts
Our educational experts are all specialists in fields relating to medical and Jewish education.
Our advisors guide us on development of the Jnetics in Schools programme.
Emma Cravitz
OBE
Emma is an educational psychologist who has worked with children in a number of London schools. She is the co-founder of Eden Primary school, Yeladenu pre-school, and is a governor of JCoSS.
Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum
MD DRCOG FRCP
Rabbi Zarum is a leading Jewish educator and theoretical physicist. He teaches at conferences and seminars, synagogues and Jewish community centres around the world.
Shelley Marsh
MA
Shelley is the Executive Director of Reshet, The Network for Jewish Youth Provision. She is also an advisor to the Paediatric Intensive Care Units Network, training and supporting healthcare professionals in both paediatric and neonatal intensive care units across the UK.
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.
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.
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.
Anthony Leon
Anthony is Finance Director at Brandpath Group. Anthony is involved with several charitable and communal organisations.
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.
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.
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.
Ruthie Abenson
Finance Officer
Our Finance Officer Ruthie Abenson is responsible the day today management of the charity’s finances.
Gaby Baigel
Head of Operations & Programme Delivery (Universities & Schools)
Gaby is our Head of Operations & Programme delivery in schools and at universities. 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
Head of Fundraising & Marketing
Emma is our Head of Fundraising & Marketing, 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.
Rachael Citron
Programmes Coordinator - Maternity Cover
Rachael is our Programmes Coordinator for the Jnetics in Schools and Jnetics on Campus Programmes. With a Medical Sciences background and experience working for University Jewish Chaplaincy she is well equipped to help our students and volunteers.
Josh Forman
Head of Science, Education & Outreach
Lara Jeffrey
Digital Marketing & Fundraising Executive
Lara is our Digital Marketing & Campaign Fundraising Executive.
Gidon Schwartz
Education & Outreach Executive
Gidon is responsible for our education and outreach, raising awareness of JGDs and our work in schools, universities, and the wider Jewish community. Gidon has a degree in Medical Genetics and was previously National Director of Bnei Akiva bringing a wealth of knowledge of the Jewish community.
Samantha Wilder
Programmes Coordinator - Currently on Maternity Leave
Samantha is our Programmes Coordinator and is responsible for coordinating all of our recessive screening services.