Karen Newman, a Deputy for The Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London, is an observer member of the Board’s Executive Committee by virtue of having been appointed in September 2024 as one of two Independent Chairs of the Board’s Plenary meetings, which bring together more than 300 Deputies.
Karen is currently Chair of Liberal Judaism, and a key architect of the new Movement for Progressive Judaism, of which she will be a founding trustee. Karen joined the Board of National Officers of Liberal Judaism in 2017, and represents LJ on the Jewish Leadership Council. She has also been on the Board of Governors of Leo Baeck College since the beginning of 2022. Karen joined the Liberal Jewish Synagogue (LJS) in 2003, having grown up in the orthodox tradition, and was its Chair of Education from 2006-12, an Honorary Officer from 2016-22, and currently chairs its Avodah Committee.
Karen has also served as a committee member of the Jewish LGBT+ Group. Professionally, Karen works in the field of international sexual and reproductive health and rights, specializing in the extent to which family planning programmes respect and protect human rights, and the links between population dynamics, sustainable development and climate change.
