Refugee charity names new chair

The head of communications and PR at Jewish Care, Judith Flacks, has been named as the new chair of trustees of HIAS+JCORE.

She succeeds outgoing chair Adam Rose, who is standing down from HIAS+JCORE’s board, having served as a trustee since 2013, and as chair since 2016. Flacks takes on her new role from March 19.

Under Rose’s guidance, JCORE joined forces with the international refugee protection agency HIAS in March 2023. This move has secured the organisation’s place as the leading UK Jewish voice on race and asylum, and significantly expanded its capacity and impact.

Flacks was previously head of communications and campaigns at the Jewish Leadership Council and has also worked at the Union of Jewish Students, where she is now a trustee. She has served on the boards of Jewish Women’s Aid and the women’s interfaith charity, Nisa-Nashim.

She said: “At a time where social cohesion, racial equality and advocating for displaced people are needed most, I’m delighted to be the incoming chair of HIAS+JCORE. I look forward to working with the exceptional and dynamic staff team and board of trustees as the organisation moves into its next phase, ensuring we are the Jewish voice at the forefront of these issues.”

David Mason, HIAS+JCORE’s executive director, said: “HIAS+JCORE is at an exciting moment of growth, building from the steady and critical work of its previous chair, Adam Rose. I am delighted that Judith has agreed to be our new chair and take us forward. She comes with a passion for issues of racial equality and supporting displaced people as well as a knowledge of organisational change and strategic direction.”