The Future is Bright: The new generation of young trustees taking the community by storm!
Communal Speaker Biographies
Guest Speaker Biography
Edward Isaacs
Edward Isaacs is a law student and a trustee of the United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA). Last year, he was President of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), leading UJS’ response post October 7th. Edward was also previously a student trustee of UJS. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol, studying Politics and International Relations, where he was also involved in Jewish life as President of Bristol’s Jewish society.
Annabel Mahgerefteh
Annabel Mahgerefteh has been a Trustee for World Jewish Relief since 2022. Day-to-day, she is a Sustainable Finance Senior Associate at Systemiq, where she works on solutions to mobilize finance for sustainable and resilient growth in emerging markets and developing countries.
Previously, she was Deputy Chief of Staff to the UN High-Level Champion for COP26, supporting a key diplomat in the UN multilateral climate process and contributing to the delivery of the UK's largest-ever international summit. She began her career in the UK Government’s Cabinet Office, working on public service leadership. Annabel holds a BA in Human, Social, and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge.
Osaro Otobo
Osaro is a strategic transformation consultant and speaker who helps organisations and individuals embrace both the power of effective governance and the value of diversity and inclusion to unlock their full potential, driving positive change and cultivating high-performance cultures.
From lived experiences, she created Make Diversity Count, which started as a campaign calling for all organisations to have transparent and effective anti-discrimination policies, procedures & action plans for long-term change. Now Make Diversity Count is a social impact organisation that carries on that same mission through working with organisations and individuals to build a more sustainable, inclusive and innovate future in the places we live, work and learn. Clients include the Young Trustees Movement, who brings together current and aspiring young trustees, employers, and allies to increase the representation of trustees aged 30 and under on charity boards, enhancing the quality of their experience.
Osaro is a Senior Consultant at Huron where she has conducted over 40 governance effectiveness reviews for universities across the UK.
Previously, Osaro served as a Trustee & Deputy Chair at British Youth Council, working alongside trustees and staff to help young people make social and political change.
Osaro studied at the University of Hull for her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. She was elected for 3 successive years to work in the best interest of students at Hull; she was a postgraduate student trustee and a two-term President at Hull University Students’ Union (HUSU). She was their first ever Black woman president and the first Black two-term president at HUSU.
Judith Flacks-Leigh
Judith Flacks-Leigh works and volunteers in the charity sector and Jewish community, specialising in crisis and change communications with extensive experience in strategic national, political and community based campaigns. She is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Kisharon Langdon, Chair of HIAS+JCORE, and a trustee of the Union of Jewish Students. She has also volunteered with a number of Jewish advocacy organisations in the UK, Europe, and United States, and perviously served as a trustee of Jewish Women’s Aid and women’s interfaith charity, Nisa-Nashim. Judith is passionate about community, equality, and progress.