Governor profiles
Chavi Abeles is responsible for legal governance and also serves as a trustee. She grew up in Temple Fortune and was an active member of Bnei Akiva. After school she spent a year studying at Midreshet Lindenbaum ("Brovenders") in Israel. On her return, Chavi read law at Cambridge University and was an active member of the university's Jewish and Israel Societies, holding various committee positions. In September 2006, Chavi qualified as a solicitor at Herbert Smith where she works in the Trusts and Charities group. Finally, Chavi and Daniel have a young son, called Elisha.
Daniel Abeles is chair of the Premises sub-committee. He grew up in Muswell Hill and was an active member of Bnei Akiva and also ran synagogue services at the local old age home. Daniel spent two years in Israel at Yeshivat Kibbutz Ha-Dati. On his return he continued his involvement in Bnei Akiva at residential camps as well as heading the local group in Hampstead Garden Suburb. Daniel qualified as a doctor from the Royal Free and University College Medical School in 2002 and holds a degree in psychology from University College London. At present he is a physician and intends to specialise in gastroenterology. He is currently pursuing a PhD in hepatology and immunology at King's College Hospital.
Rob Gershon is chair of the Finance sub-committee and also serves as a trustee. He has been involved in the community and with informal Jewish education from a young age, having spent many years as a participant and youth leader with B'nei Akiva, both before and after his gap year in yeshiva in Israel. He is also a graduate of the AJE's teacher training programme and the UJIA's Adam Science Programme for leadership in the Jewish community. Rob is a partner at Lyceum Capital Partners LLP, a private equity firm in Central London. He is a qualified chartered accountant, holds an MBA from the Cass Business School (City University) and is a member of the CFA Society of the UK.
Simone Gershon is Vice Chair of the governing body and chair of the logistics sub-committee. She has been involved in the Jewish Community from a young age. She was instrumental in setting up the youth centre at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue and, whilst at university, chaired the umbrella committee overseeing Jewish student activities in the Greater Manchester area. Simone subsequently served on the executive of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) as a fieldworker. She holds a Masters degree from the London School of Economics in Mathematics, Statistics and Operational Research and is currently working as the Head of Strategy for BT Operate, part of British Telecom plc.
Ian Kamiel is Chair of the governing body and also serves as a trustee. He grew up in the Finchley community and was warden of the Minyan service for 3 years. He was active in Bnei Akiva and spent his gap year on their Hachshara programme. Ian has an Economics degree from Manchester University and has spent most of his career working in Jewish education; he is currently Chief Executive of University Jewish Chaplaincy. Ian is married to Angela and they have three sons, Jay, Charlie & Abe.
Gillian Marantz is chair of the Education and Recruitment sub-committees. She was actively involved in Bnei Akiva both before and after her gap year in Midreshet Ha'Rova, having grown up in Manchester, and has also taught at cheder in Manchester and London. Gillian is a doctor who qualified from the Royal Free and University College Medical School in 2002. She holds a degree in Genetics and is currently working as an Oncology registrar at UCLH. Gillian has two children, Ellie and Ora.
Ben Morris is responsible for Limmudei Kodesh at Morasha as well as communications. He also grew up with a Bnei Akiva background, and spent a year learning at Ein Tzurim on the Hachshara Torani scheme. He has a law degree and a doctorate in regulation, and worked in a variety of public sector contexts, including the House of Commons and the National Audit Office, before joining KPMG Corporate Finance in October 2007. He spent 18 months as youth director of St John's Wood synagogue and regularly takes the services at several synagogues.
Talya Morris is responsible for admissions at the school. She has been active in Bnei Akiva, Leeds University Jewish Society and the European Union of Jewish Students. She holds a degree in French and Italian and a masters degree in Romance Languages and Literatures from Columbia University in New York. Talya works in a city law firm where she specialises in EU and Competition Law. Talya and Ben have two young daughters, Aviya and Daniella.
Adam Phillips is responsible for fundraising events and also serves as a trustee. He grew up in Stanmore and was an active member of Stanmore synagogue. He has organised Barmitzvahs, Weddings and Corporate events for many years and won Jewish Care's Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He studied Accounting and Finance at Birmingham University and qualified as an Accountant (ACA) with BDO Stoy Hayward in 2004. He left BDO in 2005 to expand his party planning business, Uptown Events. He is involved with organising the events for many Jewish charities. Adam also has a property business.
Anna Phillips is responsible for health and safety at Morasha. She was born in Manchester and attended Broughton Jewish and Yavneh schools. She was an active member of Bnei Akiva and spent a gap year in Jerusalem at Midreshet Lindenbaum ("Brovenders"). She studied Law at Birmingham University and after qualifying as a solicitor in 2006 Anna now practises Property Law at Rexton Law. Anna and Adam have a two young sons, Sami and Koby.
Leonie Sher is a core member of the education sub-committee with particular responsibility for educational standards. She coordinates the United Synagogue's AJE Initial Teacher Training programmes. Her main responsibility is managing the School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) Programme ,which is a Postgraduate Certificate in Education ( PGCE) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Leonie has had extensive experience in Jewish Primary Schools. She has held many posts of responsibility and has a particular interest in management and leadership. She has been a Deputy Head Teacher and an acting Head Teacher. Leonie is a trained OFSTED inspector as well as a Pikuach inspector. She holds an Institute of Education Master's degree in Educational Management and Administration. Her Master's dissertation included an extensive study of the relationship between Head Teachers and their Deputies and how this relationship impacts on the leadership of the school. Leonie has participated in the Tavistock Institute Conferences on ‘Leadership in Organisations'.