Executive Director

Anthea Jackson

Anthea joined Jewish Child’s Day in August 2019 as Executive Director. She has 20 years’ experience in senior level positions, within both the not-for-profit and corporate sectors. Anthea brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to oversee and develop Jewish Child’s Day’s fundraising strategy and long-term goals.

Anthea’s prior involvement within the Jewish and wider communities has given her an exceptional blend of life and work experience. This has included a large portfolio of events and initiatives of all sizes ranging from educational programmes, interfaith dialogue to large-scale fundraisers, award ceremonies and international speaker events.

Working for the leading UK Jewish grant-giving charity for children, Anthea strives to bring this knowledge, compassion and vision, to work closely with organisations, schools and partners, dedicated to improving the lives of thousands of deserving children.

Anthea was born in Glasgow where she lived for many years, before moving to London with her husband and three children.

Head of Income Generation

Russell Brody

Russell joined Jewish Child’s Day in July 2021 as Head of Income Generation. 

His primary role is to develop Jewish Child’s Day’s fundraising strategy to ensure that our donors, who entrust us with their money, understand the impact that they have on the lives of thousands of children each year. The strategy will reinforce the fact that we are the UKs leading Jewish grant-giving charity, exclusively supporting Jewish children.

Before entering the not-for-profit sector 4 years ago, Russell worked in financial services in the City for over thirty years. 

Russell has not ventured far from where he was born in north London and is married with two daughters.

Grants Manager

Adele Busse

Adele joined Jewish Child’s Day in September 2020 as Grants Manager. With over 16 years’ experience in senior voluntary sector roles, Adele has an excellent understanding of the problems facing today’s children and young people. 

Leading the grant making process, Adele works collaboratively with organisations in the UK, Israel and around the world to ascertain where financial support is most needed and to ensure Jewish Child’s Day grants make a positive impact.  Adele has been integral in launching the Jewish Child’s Day Heritage Grant programme in 2022, to distribute special grants in honour of the organisation’s 75-year anniversary.

Adele grew up in Newcastle and now lives in Edgware with husband Jonny, and their three children, Rebecca, Benjamin and Gavriel.

Marketing and Communications Relationship Manager

Shachaf Vainer Eytan

Shachaf joined Jewish Child’s Day in March 2020 as Marketing & Communications Relationship Manager. After years of working in the corporate environment as Marketing and Communications Director for organisations such as Microsoft and Matrix (the biggest IT company in Israel), she founded her own business and helped hundreds of small businesses achieve more through strong and impactful marketing business plans.

Shachaf has been involved with many different charities and loves their commitment, drive and compassion.
In 2016, she relocated with her husband and three children to the UK. When Shachaf joined, she quickly realised that they were ‘doing charity’ the right way, by making a huge and significant impact to thousands of children in need.

You can always chat with Shachaf about travelling, tennis, reading and how dogs are the most adorable creatures!

Fundraiser

Shelley Lopez-Salzedo

Shelley’s relationship with Jewish Child’s Day stems back over eight years when she firstly embarked on volunteering for the charity. In 2014, Shelley joined the fundraising team, helping to drive, manage and implement the event’s portfolio over the years.

Having worked in sales and new business development in the City for over 15 years, Shelley has been able to bring this experience to the forefront of Jewish Child’s Day, which has benefited from her commercial acumen and ability to build long-term relationships with sponsors and donors.

“Jewish Child’s Day is a very special charity with a proud history and heritage.  The work we do and differences we make to so many children in need, is just incredible and I am proud to be part of such a worthwhile organisation.”

Shelley’s vibrancy and passion for life is obvious to all that meet her.

Fundraising and schools outreach coordinator

Sarah Maurice

Sarah works with the fundraising team, looking after the Bar/Bat Mitzvah twinning programme, Blue-ish Jewish as well as other community outreach events. These activities raise vital funds for Jewish Child’s Day projects in the UK, Israel and other communities around the world. 

Sarah was lucky enough to be involved with Jewish Child’s Day in the past and it was then she saw the incredibly important work they do and the impact it makes on children’s lives. 

Prior to Jewish Child’s Day, Sarah worked for many years in the corporate world.

Sarah lives in Bushey with her husband Adam and two children Sophie and Josh.

Finance Officer

Jill Gould

Jill joined Jewish Child’s Day in June 2021 as Finance Officer.  She has over 15 years’ experience working in the educational finance field, having worked previously in primary schools and an educational charity.  She brings an array of understanding in overseeing the finances of a not-for-profit organisation and is always looking at ways to improve best value and procedures.

Jill’s previous work experience enables her to ensure the smooth running of funds for the charity and together with the team, she wholeheartedly engages in supporting thousands of children, making the world a better place for them to live in. 

Originally from Dublin, her grandmother was Chair of Jewish Child’s Day in Ireland for many years and Jill remembers travelling around with her grandmother distributing the Collection Boxes and organising many Tzedakah collections. 

Jill moved to London where she has lived for several years with her husband and two daughters.  When not working, she enjoys being with her beloved dog, Teddy, walking, reading, and watching Netflix.  She is also a keen theatre goer.

Database/Office Manager

Shlomit Schmidt

Shlomit joined the Jewish Child’s Day team in January 2022 as the Database & Office Manager.

Shlomit lived and worked in Israel for many years as a Customer Care Manager, Software Trainer and implementer. Her extensive technical and analytical background will ensure that the database is maintained and developed to the highest of standards, whilst her interpersonal and organisational skills will support the team and the operation of the office.

Shlomit moved to the UK in 2018 with her husband and four children and has had several office roles as well as setting up her own consultancy business as a parental advisor.

“It’s  a real privilege working for Jewish Child’s Day as there is a genuine desire to change the lives of children and I’m so fortunate to be a part of that.”

Israel Grants Officer

Dalit Boutboul

Dalit joined Jewish Child’s Day in January 2023 as Grants Officer in Israel. In her position, Dalit visits projects in Israel who are requesting and receiving funds from Jewish Child’s Day, with the goal of getting a more personal and in-depth look at both the organisation requesting support and the project for which they have applied. With a background as marketing director in the Israeli high-tech industry, Dalit joyfully transferred her experience to the Israeli charity sector over 12 years ago and has never looked back.  

Dalit lives in Raanana, with her husband and 3 boys: Alon (student in the Bezalel Academy of Design); Elad (lieutenant in the Israeli army) and Ilai (11^th grader and complete adolescent!). 

Chairman

Charles Spungin

Charles became Chairman of Jewish Child’s Day in 2017 having served as Honorary Treasurer since 2014, joining the National Council in 2008. He has worked in banking and finance and is currently Managing Director with Allspring Global Investments.  Charles grew up in Nottingham and remembers fundraising for Jewish Child’s Day with his cheder and with BBYO in the early 1980s. After moving to London after university, he completed the Adam Science Leadership Course in 1995 and was later re-introduced to Jewish Childs Day through their alumni network. He is an active political supporter and follower and is a member of Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue.  He lives in Finchley with wife Lucie and daughters Emily and Natasha.

Vice Chairman

Virginia Campus

Virginia has been involved with Jewish Child’s Day for many years. Her late mother was Vice Chairman, which inspired her to continue the family involvement.  Virginia notes personal highlights of her time as Vice Chairman being visits to Israel and parts of the United Kingdom where she was able to experience first-hand the difference Jewish Child’s Day can make to the lives of Jewish children.  She is a senior community nurse team leader in west London. In her spare time, she plays a variety of sports as well as volunteering for other charities. She is very passionate about travel, cooking, and her grandchildren which keeps her busy too!

Treasurer

Gary Cohen

Gary is a Chartered Accountant and is currently the Finance Director of a charity. Prior to his time in the charity sector, Gary worked in the commercial field ranging from a bar/restaurant company to a global business providing outsourced catering and facilities management and to a high-end wallpaper company. After spending a few years as Treasurer of the very active parent’s group at his children’s’ primary school, Gary became interested in taking a more active involvement in a Jewish charity. He grabbed the opportunity to join Jewish Child’s Day in 2016 as a council member and has since become a Trustee and the Honorary Treasurer. Gary grew up in Manchester and now lives in Bushey with wife Caroline and children Josh, Ellie and Libby.

Honorary Secretary

David Collins

David qualified as a Mathematics teacher, working in various Secondary Schools (including JFS, as Head of Department) before he was appointed Head Teacher of North West London Jewish Day School. He was in post for 24 years and latterly was also a lecturer at the University of London for teachers studying for the National Professional Qualification for Head Teachers.

Whilst Head of North West, he was invited to join the Board of Jewish Child’s Day. David’s last post before he retired was as Acting Head Teacher of Matilda Marks Kennedy School for two terms in 2008. 

Apart from being Honorary Secretary and a Trustee of Jewish Child’s Day, he is also a Trustee of the Phyllis Nathan Charitable Trust; volunteer assistant administrator at Finchley Federation Synagogue; reader/editor for Jewish Care‘s ‘Talking Books’ (for the blind), as well as supporting and assisting Jewish Care Zoom sessions for the house-bound.

David has two married daughters–one who lives in Israel, the other in the UK – and six grandchildren! He divides his time equally between Tel Aviv and Finchley, where he is an active member of the Minyan at Kinloss United Synagogue.

Life President

Joy Moss MBE

Joy’s charitable career began in the 1960’s when she became a founder member and Chairman of the Desert Dons, raising funds for David ben Gurion’s university in the Negev. In 1976 Joy ‘married into’ the Jewish Child’s Day charity, where her mother-in-law was Vice Chairman. She joined the National Council soon afterwards and has devoted her charitable endeavours to Jewish Child’s Day since then. Joy chaired Jewish Child’s Day for over thirty years during which time, she worked with six successive Executive Directors to grow the charity and the increase the number of projects it supports to its current level. She was awarded an MBE for services to charity in 2012. Joy is married to Jewish Child’s Day Trustee, Stephen Moss CBE, and has two adult children. Joy was made Life President in November 2017 and continues to be a fantastic influence on the Charity.

Stephen Moss CBE

Stephen read law at King’s College London and continues to combine a business career in the property, hospitality and leisure industries with an active involvement in the charity sector where he has been a trustee of Jewish Child’s Day for many years, including a period serving as its Treasurer, working alongside his wife Joy as its long-serving Chairman.

Stephen has been a lifelong member, past Warden, Chairman, President and now Life President of West London Synagogue. He joined the Board of the Movement for Reform Judaism in 2005 as Joint Treasurer, before serving as Chairman for three years from 2008, during which time he served on the board of the Leo Baeck College and on the Jewish Leadership Council. Stephen joined the Institute for Jewish Policy Research as a Trustee in 2010, becoming Chairman in 2015. He is also Chair of Trustees at JCoSS, the Jewish cross-communal state secondary school in Barnet, where he has been on the Board since 2011.

In addition to his work within the Jewish community, Stephen served as a Trustee of the Hospitality Training Foundation and its successor Sector Skills Council, People 1^st. Stephen founded, Chaired and is now Hon President of The Springboard Charity, which helps the young, disadvantaged and unemployed find life changing opportunities in hospitality. In 1992 he was awarded an MBE for services to the restaurant industry and, in 2002, a CBE for his contribution towards education and training. Stephen’s most recent role, which he took on just as the pandemic started, is Chair of London Youth which represents and supports over 600 youth clubs across Greater London.

Melvyn Orton

Melvyn read law at University College London and qualified as a solicitor in 1971.

He practised law for 45 years, primarily specialising in the real estate and associated sectors. He was Head of Real estate at Finers Stephens Innocent for ten years and was elected as Senior Partner in 2006. 

Melvyn retired from that role in 2010 becoming a Consultant, which role he continued after the firm’s merger with Howard Kennedy in 2013.

He left practice in 2016, but continues to represent a number of clients as a strategic consultant.

He became a Trustee of Jewish Child’s Day in 2016 and assists the charity on legal related matters and was heavily involved in the recent conversion of the charity into a CIO.

Melvyn has a particular interest in Modern Jewish History and studies at the Sir Martin Gilbert Learning Centre.

His wife Eva, was born and grew up in Morocco. Their son Oliver works for the World Bank and currently lives in Johannesburg. Their daughter, Natalie lives in London and is a freelance HR Consultant. 

They have three granddaughters aged between 4 months and 11 years of age.