Weizmann UK
Weizmann UK is the trading name of the Weizmann Institute Foundation (Charity number 232666; company number, 00483123, Incorporation Date: 08 Jun 1950) a UK charity that exists to raise funds for the Weizmann Institute of Science, a higher education institution in Israel. The John and Isabel Ritblat Education Trust became a linked charity with The Weizmann Institute Foundation on 20 December 2007.[1]
Contents
UCU boycott and defence of Israel
The advent of 'the threat of an academic boycott by the AUT' seems to have politicised Weizmann UK. In its 2007 annual report it noted that 'The Foundation's strategic goals have evolved' to include fostering 'closer collaboration' between UK scientists and the Weizmann Institute.[2]
- TheFoundation is in the process of strengthening its relationship with Imperial College London, and Unlversity College London(UCL), as well as building on the ongoing relationships with Cambridge, Oxford and Manchester Universities. In March 2007, the new president of the Institute, Professor Daniel Zajfman, made a brief visit to London. This included a private dinner hosted by the Rector of Imperial College London and a private dinner for him to meet key UK donors and friends. The Foundation continued to see a steady stream of visits to the Institute,including a high profile visit from Professor Stephen Hawking in December 2006.[2]
In its 2008 Annual Report the Foundation noted:
- Against the backdrop of the UCU boycott of Israeli academics, Weizmann UK took a bold and positive approach. We took a unanimous decision to focus our fundraising and public relations efforts to stimulate closer collaboration between UK scientists and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.[3]
This involved adding to the main fundraising effort of the Foundation by giving grants to foster connections between the Weizmann Institute and UK scientists. In its 2009 report the foundation added a passage to its mission:
- Although our primary goal is to raise funds, Weizmann UK aims to communicate the Institute’s scientific discoveries and breakthroughs to its UK friends, supporters and the public. We also actively promote greater scientific collaboration between the Weizmann Institute and leading UK scientific institutions.[4]
It also reported the following activities
- In association with the UK’s Zionist Federation and other UK Academic Friends of Israeli Universities, Weizmann UK participated in a day of Science event that took place in March. This two day event was held at the Museum of Science in Manchester and London’s Science Museum in Kensington.[5]
In 2010 for the first time in its regular 'comunication and PR' section the foundation mentioned targetting science journalists: 'to promote scientific achievements to the broadsheet science correspondents' and its plan to 'continue to develop our relationships with leading science journalists.'[6] This has remained part of the Weizmann strategy in the years since.
People
President
The Hon. Sir David Sieff[7]
Vice Presidents
The Lord Rothschild GBE | Barry Townsley CBE | Lord Alliance CBE | Sir John Ritblat | Lord Mitchell[7]
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Dame Vivien Duffield DBE | Jonathan Kropman (Honorary Secretary) | Maxwell Nisner (Honorary Treasurer)[7]
Trustees circa 2012
The following Trustees are formally registered with the Charity Commission: Martin Paisner | Professor Benny Chain | Michael Sandler | Daniel Shapiro | Vivien Duffield | Jeremy Smouha | Howard Stanton FCCA | Barry Townsley CBE | Lord Turnberg | Myra Waiman | Jonathan Kropman | Maxwell Nisner[8]
The following Trustees are listed on the Weizmann UK website in Sepember 2012 in addition to those above:
Lord David Alliance CBE,[9] | Dr Arabella Duffield | Mr Daniel Gestetner | Lady Lowy-Mitchell | Mr Jonathan Metliss | Mr Robert Ohrenstein, Mr Robert Perlman | Ms Myra Waiman[7]
Ambassadors
Ann Berger Janet Bloch Judy & David Dangoor The Hon. Deborah Wolfson Davis The Hon. Janet de Botton Fiona Fattal Daniel & Amanda Gestetner Jonathan Gestetner David Grunberg Professor Herbert Huppert FRS Joan Jacobs Philip Joseph Allyson Kaye Peter Kleeman Oliver Levy Dr Hilda Lewis Lady Lowy-Mitchell Selina & David Marks Martin Mendoza Jonathan Metliss Lady Michels Paul Morris OBE The Hon. Elizabeth Peltz Robert Perlman Arlene & Roger Seaton Lady Sieff The Hon. Amanda Sieff The Hon. Daniela Sieff Cathy Wills The Hon. Laura Wolfson Townsley[7]
Officers
Ms Sheridan Gould (Executive Director) Nicole Barnett Events & Fundraising Manager | Natasha Stoller Events & Marketing Executive | Zila Golbert Executive Assistant | Ysabella Hawkings Scientific | Saul Konviser Communications Consultant[10]
Notes
- ↑ 'John And Isabel Ritblat Education Trust', Charity Commission, last accessed on 19 July 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Weizmann UK Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 30 September 2007, p. 3
- ↑ Weizmann UK Trustees' Report and Accounts For the year ended 30 September 2008, p. 3
- ↑ Weizmann UK Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 30 September 2009, p. 3
- ↑ Weizmann UK Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 30 September 2009, p. 5
- ↑ Weizmann UK Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 30 September 2010, p. 13
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Weizmann UK Board of Trustees and our Ambassadors, accessed 4 September 2012
- ↑ Charity commission Weizmann Institute Foundation: Contact and Trustees, accessed 4 September 2012.
- ↑ Also listed here: Parliament UK Lord Alliance, accessed 31 August 2012
- ↑ Weizmann UK The Team, accessed 4 September 2012
