Jewish Women’s Aid chief executive leaves charity after one month

The newly-installed chief executive of a Jewish charity supporting women affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence has left after just one month in post.

Alison Rosen, the former head of WIZO, was announced as the successor to Jewish Women’s Aid (JWA) predecessor, Naomi Dickson in January.

Rosen officially began work in the role in March, taking over from Dickson, who was asked to lead the Jewish charity Norwood late last year.

She said: “I joined JWA because I was very much aligned with the values of the organisation and the tremendous work that the charity does with women, to prevent abuse.With that in mind, I was shocked, to be asked to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement about my departure.”

Rosen refused to do so.

A spokesperson for JWA told Jewish News: “Last week, Jewish Women’s Aid and Alison Rosen parted ways. She leaves with our thanks and very best wishes for the future.”

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.

At the time of her appointment, she said: “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”.