Project officer hired to champion Jewish history and culture
Foundation for Jewish Heritage new hire Katherine Findlay says she's looking forward to conserving and revitalising historic synagogues and Jewish cemeteries
An international Jewish heritage charity has appointed a new project officer as part of the recommendations of its five year strategic review.
In an important development for the Foundation for Jewish Heritage, Katherine Findlay will work alongside chief executive Michael Mail.
With a wealth of experience in the heritage sector, Findlay is an experienced project manager with a particular interest in historic buildings, landscapes and archives.
She has run engagement and conservation projects at sites ranging from Bronze Age hillforts to Second World War airfields. During the First World War centenary, she was responsible for Devon Remembers, one of largest and most successful county-level research and commemoration initiatives in the UK.
This included building relations with Plymouth Synagogue and she has worked on a number of historic places of worship including the 12th century St Nicholas Priory in Exeter.
She is also a researcher and writer, and is the author of The Icelandic Adventures of Pike Ward.
Before joining the Foundation, Findlay led a specialist team planning the £54 million restoration of Oldway Mansion, the magnificent estate built for sewing machine entrepreneur Isaac Singer. In her spare time, she is also chair of Devon History Society.
Katherine Findlay said:: ‘I’m delighted to join the Foundation for Jewish Heritage team. Historic synagogues and Jewish cemeteries give us tangible connections to a hugely important aspect of European history, culture and memories, but many are at risk of disappearing. I’m very much looking forward to contributing to the vital work the Foundation does to conserve and revitalise these special places.’
Dame Helen Hyde, Chair of the Foundation for Jewish Heritage, said: “We welcome Katherine to the team and feel sure that, given her experience and expertise, she will make an important contribution to our work.”
Michael Mail, chief executive of the Foundation for Jewish Heritage, added: ‘This is an important step forward for the Foundation as we seek to build our organisational abilities and improve our support to the Jewish heritage sector. I am looking forward to working with Katherine as we develop our agenda of work.’
Click here to find out more about the Foundation for Jewish Heritage.
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