Amanda Bowman confirms she is standing to become next Board president

Board of Deputies vice-president Amanda Bowman has confirmed she will run to succeed out-going president Marie van der Zyl at elections in May.

Bowman, who chairs the communal organisation’s Defence and Group Relations Division, becomes the second name to put themselves forward for the role, with Phil Rosenberg, Brondesbury Park Synagogue’s deputy, announcing his campaign to become president first last month.

Representing Hampstead Synagogue since 2012, Bowman said:”“Having spent the past two triennia as Vice President, I am keen to continue serving the UK’s Jewish communities to the best of my ability and hope to do so as President of the Board of Deputies.

“As Chair of the Defence & Group Relations Division over the last six years, I fully understand the devastating impact of antisemitism and have been working hard to challenge it wherever it occurs, be that from the far left or the far right, on the streets, in the media or online.

“I’m a strong believer that positive engagement can yield results. I’d point to my work with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police over the last three years following 2021’s convoy of hate through North West London.

“These efforts are clearly paying off given the number of charges authorised relating to potentially antisemitic hate crimes committed since 7th October.”

Bowman also pointed to her work with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police over the last three years following 2021’s convoy of hate through North West London.

“These efforts are clearly paying off given the number of charges authorised relating to potentially antisemitic hate crimes committed since 7th October,” she said.

A source close to Bowman said her manifesto will follow in due course.

Current president Marie van der Zyl was elected in May 2018, and was only the second female president in the 258-year history of the organisation.

She was re-elected in May 2021.