Email Ellen

Ellen, who joined the New Israel Fund UK in February 2007, was formerly Associate Director of New Israel Fund, Israel.

Ellen was responsible for Resource Development and International Relations in Israel, and directed several field programs in active citizenship education, the environment, and social entrepreneurship. She brings with her a wealth of experience and understanding of both the Israeli and UK scenes, having acted as a key contact with our grantees and colleagues in Israel over the years.

She has been with New Israel Fund family since 2001, and prior to that has held senior positions with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Israel. She has worked in government in both Israel and the US, and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University.

Email Cherry

Graduating from Oxford a while ago in modern languages, Cherry indulged in a very belated gap year in France. Back in the UK, she felt keen to work again for Israel.

Her fundraising experience ranges from J.I.A where she was the first Director of the Women's Division, to the Tel Aviv University Trust and Friends of Bar Ilan University. Her principal interest lay in major project development and creating scholarship funds.

"New Israel Fund is the challenge I had hoped for with its progressive solutions to many of Israel's problems. It tackles poverty, injustice and discrimination with courage and in line with Israel's enduring values, both democratic and Jewish."

Development Director

Email Claire

Claire graduated with an MSc in Development Economics from the University of Manchester in 2006. Before joining the New Israel Fund in January 2008 , Claire worked for the Productive Safety Nets Programme and UN-OCHA in Ethiopia, where she was involved in research and in emergency response programmes.

“I am passionately committed to the New Israel Fund’s approach to strengthening Israel’s democracy and to promoting social justice and equality for all Israel’s citizens. The strength and commitment of Israel’s civil society, is sometimes a hidden truth of Israel’s make-up, and I am proud to work for an organization committed to the continued strengthening and support of Israel’s civil society”.

Email Susie

Susie was born and educated in London. She is the daughter of a Holocaust Survivor. From a young age she was involved in Hashomer Hazair and Dror youth movements. In 1979, after a few extended visits to a Kibbutz in the North of Israel, her love of Israel took over, and she made Aliyah.

Before her Aliyah, her work experience in the Travel Industry was also related to Israel. For 24 years she continued to work in the Travel and Airline Industry. In 2003 Susie returned to London where she worked part time with the JNF, taught Hebrew privately, and worked for a film company translating short Israeli film documentaries.

Her constant love of Israeli dance from her childhood brought her into contact with the IDI (Israeli Dance Institute). Her work at IDI covered organising Dance events, Festivals, and also fundraising. In her spare time Susie enjoyed ‘Simcha Dance Calling’ at weddings and Bar-Mitzvah’s.

Susie started working at New Israel Fund in May 2006 as Office Manager.

“Having lived half of my life in Israel, and feeling away from home, I naturally felt I would like to share my knowledge of Israel and Israeli life with others, Since I have been working at the New Israel fund, it became apparent that all the issues I had known existed in Israel, were also of deep concern to the outside world. An organisation such as the New Israel Fund, cannot only enhance life for all citizens of Israel, but also educates the citizens of the UK.”

Sarah Chesler
Head of Marketing & Communications

Email Sarah

Sarah graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1994 majoring in both Economics and Accountancy. She then joined the AAA School of Advertising and completed her postgraduate diploma specialising in Client Service.

Sarah has 10 years experience in the communications & advertising industry and over the years has worked in both the UK and South Africa in Global Advertising Agencies. Her experience has been across a wide range of industries including Charity. 

She has extensive Marketing knowledge and always strives to work with both passion and integrity.