Jewish Women’s Aid appoints new chief executive

A Jewish charity supporting women affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence has appointed the former head of WIZO as its new chief executive.

Jewish Women’s Aid (JWA) said interfaith activist Alison Rosen will begin in March, taking over from Naomi Dickson, who was asked to lead the Jewish charity Norwood late last year.

Dickson, who has grown JWA during her eight-year tenure, will now pass the mantle to Rosen, a former chief executive of The Griffin Institute, a surgical training and medical research charity.

Rosen is an ex-chief executive of the Women’s International Zionist Organisation (WIZO) who currently co-chairs Nisa-Nashim Bushey, the Jewish Muslim Women’s Network, and is a founding trustee of Polly for Women CIO, a charity offering free telephone support.

“Given the current financial crisis, it will be of great significance to me to contribute to where women across the breadth of the Jewish community really need help,” said Rosen.

“I am looking forward to working again within the Jewish community and getting to know the various organisations in the wider violence against women and girl’s sector.

“I aim to help grow the charity’s income so that the ever-increasing need for services can be met, ensuring that no Jewish woman needs to face domestic abuse and sexual violence alone.”

JWA co-chairs Madeleine Abramson and Caroline Ratner said Rosen “has a passion” for the charity’s work and “an understanding of what we need to do to drive the charity forward and meet the growing demands placed on us as awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence grows in our community”.