Who we are

Donald Franklin is a Founder Trustee and Chair of The Jerusalem Interest-free Microfinance Fund Limited. Donald has worked as a Senior Economic Adviser in the UK’s Government Economic Service for the last fifteen years, both at H M Treasury, and latterly at the Department of Health. He is Treasurer of the Middle East and North Africa Health Policy Forum (a regional network of health policy experts sponsored by the UK and by the World Bank). Prior to joining H M Treasury, Donald served as Chief Economist to Schroders PLC for a number of years. He was educated at King’s College Cambridge and the London School of Economics, and received his PhD from University College London in 2000. In 2008 University of Wales Press published his philosophical monograph Groups in Conflict: Equality versus Community. Donald is a longstanding member and occasional lecturer at Golders Green United Synagogue, a modern orthodox community in North London.

Fiyaz Mughal is a Founder Trustee and Treasurer of the Jerusalem Interest-free Microfinance Fund Limited. Fiyaz Mughal is also the Founder and Director of Faith Matters, a not for profit organization that works on interfaith, community cohesion, conflict resolution and reducing extremism and developing platforms for discourse and interaction between Muslim and Jewish communities right across the UK. Fiyaz has been a Councilor in Haringey (2006-2010) and was previously a Councilor in Oxford (2002-2004). He was Deputy President of the Liberal Democratic Party in the UK (2008-2009) and he has campaigned heavily on Black and Minority Ethnic (group) inclusion within political parties and discourses. He was appointed to be on the Working Group for Communities that was linked to the Extremism Task Force developed in 2005 after the 7/7 bombings in London. Fiyaz Mughal was awarded the OBE in June 2009 for services to the voluntary and community sector.

Michael Pollak is a Founder Trustee of JIMF and serves as Honorary Secretary. He is responsible for establishing and building the JIMF network in the Charedi community in Jerusalem. Michael is currently running an MSc and ordination programme in Rabbinics, based in Birkbeck College London, with oversight from the rabbinic leadership in Jerusalem. He teaches a number of adult education classes within the thriving Ner Yisroel independent orthodox community in Hendon. He also teaches Talmud to sixth form students at Hasmonean day school. He was educated at City of London School, the London School of Economics and Hebron Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

Reham Jaber is Palestinian Liaison Officer for JIMF. She is qualified as a lawyer in East Jerusalem.

Katie Highet is a former Executive Officer for JIMF and continues to advise JIMF. Katie graduated from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, where she read Middle Eastern Politics. She spent four years working as a corporate banking strategist in the City of London. She is currently working on various international development projects.