(Jewish Chronicle Leader November 2014)
Laura was a planning director of the country’s largest ad agency AMV.BBDO building strong brands for her clients, before deciding to work full time in the Jewish community.
Laura was elected Senior Vice President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews www.bod.org.uk in 2012 and held the position until May 2015.
Laura set up Mitzvah Day in 2005 www.mitzvahday.org.uk and it became a charity in 2008. Mitzvah Day, a global day of Jewish led, inter faith social action, is based on the premise that we can all give some time to help others and that together, we can really make a difference to our world. It leads the way in faith based social action and is proudly and visibly Jewish.
Laura chaired the government’s inter faith project – A Year of Service and is now Advisor to the new Sedaqa Day, the Muslim’s own Mitzvah Day.
After co-chairing a JLC commission in 2011, Laura set up Women in Jewish Leadership (now at the Board), to implement real change to gender equality through a systemic and consistent approach
Laura is the vice chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. She has three young adult children, a dog and lives in North London with her husband Dan Patterson.
Laura was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Years’ Honours list for her work building inter faith relationships.