Top women to be recognised in leadership search

A project to honour the most successful Jewish women has been launched, with two dames and a lady among the early nominees.

The Women in Jewish Leadership (WJL) initiative heralded the search for the community’s foremost female role models, saying a generation of Jewish women would be inspired to follow in their footsteps.

Early nominees include JW3 philanthropist Dame Vivien Duffield, Holocaust survivor and trailblazing businesswoman Dame Stephanie Shirley, and Lady Ruth Morris of Kenwood, the president of youth movement Habonim.

“We want to start talking about our women,” said co-founder Laura Marks.“Those who have succeeded, those we look to for inspiration, women we admire.”

Marks nominated her own mother, saying: “She was a doctor who trained when Jewish women just didn’t, a JP who gave up her time to make the world a fairer place, a creative embroiderer… a great cook… and a listener with endless patience …”

Meanwhile, Luciana Berger MP, Shadow Minister for Public Health (pictured), nominated her friend and communications expert Kate Bearman, describing her as “a multitasker extraordinaire”.

Karen Mattison MBE, co-founder of Timewise, nominated Dame Shirley, with JLC and UJIA trustee Ruth Green choosing Lady Morris.

The campaign will raise funds for WJL’s leadership development programme.