Judith Flacks-Leigh
Judith Flacks-Leigh (born July 1989) (also known as Judith Flacks and Judith Leah Flacks) has worked with a dizzying collection of Zionist organisations, including being Head of Communications and Campaigns at the JLC (April 2016–July 2019) and a trustee of the Union of Jewish Students (since August 2020). Between December 2014 and January 2016, Flacks-Leigh served as Communications Officer at the UK’s main pro-Israel lobby group, the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM). Immediately afterwards, she was employed as parliamentary assistant to John Spellar MP, a vice chair of Labour Friends of Israel with strong connections to BICOM. Flacks-Leigh sat on the defence division of the BoD (2018–2021), was a on the National Executive Committee of the Jewish Labour Movement (July 2017–Oct 2018) and a volunteer with the pro-Israel American Jewish Committee (2014). She was also Trustee and Director (January 2017–December 2020) at Nisa-Nashim the women's interfaith initiative aiming to normalise Zionism in the UK Muslim community. [1]
Career
- HIAS+JCORE, Director
LinkedIn disclosures
- Jewish Care 2 yrs 8 mos
- Head Of Communications and PR Jul 2020 - Present · 1 yr 9 mos
- •Leading on key internal and external communications and PR for the organisation, including 10 care homes, 12 community centres, 1,300 staff, and a number of other services reaching 10,000 people each week.
- •Managing a team to deliver the PR, press, service marketing, social media and digital marketing to support service delivery, fundraising and events.
- •Leading on public affairs and key areas of reputation management.
- •Overseeing all printed and digital publications including Careline magazine, read by 14,000 people each year.
- •Devising communications plans for change management and leading on their implementation.
- •Anticipating, preparing and delivering crisis communications.
- PR and Communications Manager Aug 2019 - Jul 2020 · 1 yr
- Head of Communications and Campaigns The Jewish Leadership Council Apr 2016 - Jul 2019 · 3 yrs 4 mos London, United Kingdom
- •Led coordination of complex, high profile, national, cross-communal campaigns and projects, such as Balfour 100, Cable Street 80 and had integral involvement in Enough is Enough.
- •Managed all local, communal and national press (print, digital and broadcast), including media training of all staff.
- •Developed integrated communications strategies on a range of projects.
- •High profile stakeholder management.
- •Drafted comments and op-eds for media.
- •Commissioned and edited copy for regular and specialist campaign newsletters.
- •Co-director of London Jewish Forum.
- Parliamentary Assistant House of Commons Jan 2016 - Apr 2016 · 4 mos London, United Kingdom. Parliamentary researcher and assistant to John Spellar MP, researching key areas of public policy, drafting responses to public letters and supporting case work.
- BICOM: Britain Israel Communications & Research Centre Communications Officer Dec 2014 - Jan 2016 · 1 yr 2 mos London, United Kingdom
- •Recruited journalists for international fact-finding missions.
- •Maintained and developed relationships with key media personnel.
- •Developed and implemented communications plans around events, projects, and briefings.
- •Responsibility for press releases, press notices, and placing op-eds.
- •Organised briefings with high-profile political, diplomatic, military and activist guest speakers for journalists, stakeholders and interested parties.
- •Worked to further international fundraising capabilities.
- •Arranged events, political guests, meetings and presence at UK political party conferences.
- •Expanded the reach of the organisation through various media.
- Manager, Leadership Initiatives Jewish Federation & Family Services, Orange County Sep 2013 - Dec 2014 · 1 yr 4 mos Orange County, California Area
- •Developed, coordinated and facilitated ongoing leadership development programmes across university campuses in Orange County and Southern California.
- •Planned and facilitated regular political briefing events and debates.
- •Taught campaigning strategies and effective communication skills to young adults.
- •Conducted strategic review of partner organisation, Orange County Hillel.
- •Acted as organisational development consultant to the interim Orange County Hillel Director and assisted the implementation of the strategic review.
- •Built capacity for interfaith and civic engagement initiatives.
- •Organised national and international delegations to conferences across America and the Middle East.
- •Prepared strategies for crisis management.
- Union of Jewish Students (UK and Ireland) 2 yrs 1 mo, United Kingdom
- Campaigns Director Jun 2012 - Jul 2013 · 1 yr 2 mos
- • Devised and implemented the political strategy of the organisation.
- • Advanced the political welfare of Jewish students on university campuses across the UK.
- • Provided guidance on hate speech, extremism on campus, anti-Semitism and campus cohesion.
- • Worked with government and various charities on issues related to student welfare.
- • Ran educational events and seminars.
- • Facilitated the training, development and ongoing engagement of activists across the UK.
- • Created and implemented successful national political campaigns.
- • Ran successful national and local election campaigns.
- • Led international delegations to the Middle East for student leaders and activists.
- • Prepared and implemented crisis management strategies.
- • Promoted interfaith dialogue and activities.
- • Wrote press statements and comment for media.
- • Managed finances of department.
- Developing J-Socs fieldworker Jul 2011 - May 2012 · 11 mos
- • Ran training for Jewish Society committees on university campus all over the UK in event planning, finance management and leadership development.
- • Developed a new series of regional leadership development training programmes.
- • Running and assisting with national leadership projects and events.
- Communications Intern Penn State Hillel · Internship Sep 2009 - May 2010 · 9 mos, State College, Pennsylvania Area
- Designed and wrote leaflets, press releases, and newsletters.Designed and wrote leaflets, press releases, and newsletters.
- Government Relations Intern OneVoice Movement · Internship Dec 2009 - Jan 2010 · 2 mos Washington D.C. Metro Area
- • Met with office members of the House of Representatives, Senate, and the British Embassy in Washington DC to raise the profile of OneVoice.
- • Researched current funding opportunities for non-profit organisations from MEPI and USAID.
- • Put together briefings on recent UK coverage of events in Israel.
- Comment and Opinion Editor, The Badger Newspaper, Sep 2008 - May 2009 · 9 mos, Brighton, United Kingdom
- •Selecting, editing and formatting submitted articles to be published.
- •Contributing my own articles to the section.•Selecting, editing and formatting submitted articles to be published. •Contributing my own articles to the section.
- Street Fundraiser Direct Dialogue Fundraising (DDF) · Contract Jul 2008 - Aug 2008 · 2 mos London, United Kingdom. Street charity fundraiser, registering members of the public to give regular charitable donations.[1]
Volunteering
- Trustee JEWISH WOMENS AID Sep 2017 - Present · 4 yrs 8 mos
- Trustee Union of Jewish Students (UK and Ireland) Aug 2020 - Present · 1 yr 9 mos Aug
- Trustee NISA-NASHIM Jan 2017 - Dec 2020 · 4 yrs
- Representative for Jewish Women's Aid The Board of Deputies of British Jews Jan 2018 - Jun 2021 · 3 yrs 6 mos
- Bus leader MARCH OF THE LIVING (UK) LIMITED Apr 2017 · 1 mo
- NEC Equalities Officer Jewish Labour Movement Jul 2017 - Oct 2018 · 1 yr 4 mos
- Chair of Steering Commmittee European Union of Jewish Students May 2015 - Aug 2015 · 4 mos
- American Jewish Committee (AJC) AJC Access Los Angeles Jan 2014 · 1 mo[1]
Education
- University of Sussex American Studies and English Literature, American History and PoliticsAmerican Studies and English Literature, American History and Politics
2007 - 2011, Grade: 2:1
- Activities and societies: The Badger (University Union paper) Brighton and Sussex Jewish Society Aegis Society
Extra Curricular:
- Sussex Centre for Language Studies- Achieved Level 1 Arabic
- The Badger (University Paper) Comment and Opinion Editor and Writer: 2008-09
- Brighton & Sussex Universities Jewish Society President/ Campaigns/ Events: 2007-2009
- Brighton and Sussex Universities J-Soc won the Union of Jewish Students Campus UK Award 2009 for ‘Developing J-Soc of the Year’.
- Penn State University American Studies and English Literature, Study Abroad 2009 - 2010
- Activities and societies: Hillel Communications Intern
- JFS School A Levels 2005 - 2007 A Levels: Politics, History, English Literature/Language; AS Level: French
- Goffs School GCSEs 2000 - 2005[1]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 LinkedIn Judith Flacks-Leigh Archived on 3 November 2021