Directors & Supporters

Uri has been a director of University Jewish Chaplaincy for more than 15 years and became chairman in 2015, he is actively involved in all areas of the charity and is passionate about Jewish identity, security and welfare on campus. Uri is also an active trustee of Chana Charitable Trust and is involved in a number of other local organisations.

Uri is married to Rebecca and father of 14 year old twins, a boy and a girl and a 6 year old daughter which keeps him young and tired.

Uri owns and runs a property development company which specialises in the residential, student and hotel sectors.

Neville is a Chartered Accountant, who has spent time in General Practice and also Industry, and currently works in Forensic VAT Recovery.

Married with four children, he has seen tremendous benefit in the campus work Chaplaincy has delivered to his children, both at Manchester University and Leeds University.  Neville’s youngest daughter will be starting a four year degree this September, also at Leeds University, in International Relations with Spanish.

Neville is excited to be joining the team and to supporting the very valuable work carried out by Chaplaincy.  He looks forward to joining the Governing Body as Treasurer.

Previously he has served as the Financial Representative at Borehamwood & Elstree United Synagogue and also as a Foundation Governor at Yavneh College.  Neville believes that his understanding of the Charitable sector and the challenges faced, together with his professional experience and skills, will be an asset to UJC.

My name is Julian Lewis and am an FCA. I live in Barnet with my wife Karen and we are active members of Woodside Park Synagogue. We have been married for 46 years and have 2 children and 2 grandsons who live near Bath. Both of our children went to Leeds University. I studied to be a Chartered Accountant and qualified in 1973. I remained in the same firm for 45 years starting on the bottom rung of the ladder and finishing as a senior partner. I am now virtually retired although still undertake some consultancy work in particular in the charity sector. I commenced assisting UJC over 10 years ago formerly as the honorary treasurer and now a director.

Catherine works in Venture Capital at London’s leading seed stage venture firm. She was the first female Managing Partner at the SoftBank Vision Fund, the world’s largest technology investment firm, and began her career at UBS AG, Switzerland’s leading financial services firm.

A qualified Executive Coach, Catherine studied Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge University and has previously served as an Honorary Officer at her local United Synagogue.

Since retiring from a long career in Social Work, former co-president of Glasgow Jewish Representative Council and current secretary of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities Nicola is also a Trustee of Cosgrove Care, which provides support services for people with social care needs.

Nicola became involved in Chaplaincy as a student representative, then joined the Board of Jewish Student Chaplaincy in Scotland as a graduate in the early 1980s holding various positions until taking over the chair in the mid-1990s. Nicola has enjoyed being part of the Chaplaincy team covering all the universities and colleges in Scotland, working closely with various Chaplaincy Couples over the years to assist with everything ranging from student welfare to antisemitism, Shabbat meals and Yom Tov events, to anti-Israel protests and leadership training for JSoc committees. Having stepped down from JSCS, Nicola was delighted to join the Board of UJC last year and work on strategic planning across the UK.

Jemma Levene is Deputy Director at HOPE not hate, the UK’s leading organisation working to challenge the far right. She leads on faith community engagement as part of her role. Previously, she has worked for non-profits in the UK and USA including the Board of Deputies, seed and the Orthodox Union.  She studied Social Anthropology at the University of Edinburgh and as a student was Northern Region Chair of UJS. She is a graduate of the Susie Bradfield Educational Leadership Programme and the Senior Faith Leadership Programme.