Founders, President, Trustees, Patrons

Michael is President of the Faith & Belief Forum. He was Chair of the Board of Trustees of 3FF and later F&BF from 2009 until 2022. He was educated at Jewish schools and then at Cambridge University, where he obtained degrees in English and Law. He was called to the Bar in 1975 practising as a Barrister specialising in family law. He became a QC in 2008. He is a Master of the Bench of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn and Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.   Michael has been active in interfaith work for over 30 years. His work has been recognised: In 1990, he received a Benemerenza Medal from the (Catholic) Sacred Constantinian Order of St George; in 2013, he was made a Knight of the Royal Order of Francis I (Italy) and in 2018, he was promoted to be a Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Francis I. Michael was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2019, in recognition of his contribution to interfaith work. Michael is a member of the United Synagogue and the Liberal Jewish Synagogue.

Ali is Solutions Not Sides’ Youth and Partnerships Director, leading on youth empowerment, strategic partnership development and community collaborations. He is an experienced networker who is responsible for developing new partnerships for SNS across civil society, the education sector, academia, local authorities and communities. He has over 20 years’ experience working with communities, the public and private sector. He has worked as a researcher, educator, practitioner, activist and executive coach to empower communities to create social innovation and change.

His specialisations are in creating safe spaces for difficult dialogue, leadership development, think spaces, strategic development, knowledge exchange and delivering inclusion and diversity training. He is regularly invited as a guest lecturer on peace leadership, active citizenship, cohesion, interfaith, religion, Islamophobia, the far right, media and community empowerment. Ali is an alumni of the IVLP, Clore Fellow, and the founder of Christian Muslim Encounters, which aims to foster good relations and build bridges across communities, academia, policy and civil society. He is currently writing a book on interfaith.

Bibi Rabbiyah Khan is the first female President of the London Islamic Cultural Society (LICS), a prominent Mosque and Cultural Centre in Haringey. She has led the community for over 40 years. Her dedication to Haringey and the wider London community has led to her appointments as Chairperson of North London Council of Mosques comprising of 20 Mosques located in four London Boroughs (NLCoM) and the Chair of the Haringey Multi-Faith Forum which includes the recently launched Haringey Multi Faith Youths. Both groups bring together faith leaders, the Youths and communities to address shared concerns, promote unity, and celebrate diversity.

Bibi is a firm believer that the future of our community rests in the hands of our youths, they need guidance and support to understand and shape the future. She is committed to working for peace, safety and harmony with all communities and she feels very privileged to lead on this.

Bibi feels that the work of F&BF is representative of all that she is committed to; and firmly believes that we are stronger together, when we unite, our voices will rise above those who seek to divide us.

I am an employment lawyer and previously served as President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews from 2018 to 2024. I joined The Faith & Belief Forum as a trustee because of its strong commitment to dialogue, inclusion, and bringing people together across faith and belief.”

Noam is a Governor of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Trustee of the New Israel Fund UK. He is an active member on the Worshipful Company of IT, a contributing member of the Health & Medical Panel and a Freeman of the City of London. He is a Member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, a Fellow of the RSA and is active on various Charities as well as being a Trustee of the Sternberg Foundation and other trusts. His first management skills were acquired as an officer in the Israeli army, where he achieved top honours. He was the youngest officer in the operation to free 12 Air France Air Crew and 94 passengers who were being held hostage in Entebbe, Uganda and threatened with death. He attained the rank of Captain. 1999 – Present Founder and CEO, the Healthcare Learning Ltd

As CEO he established HLC and its subsidiary, Smile-on Ltd as the leading provider of commercial, internet-based training services for the European healthcare professionals’ Community with the help of a broadly experienced team.

Michael Ziff is Vice-President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews serving as Treasurer. Michael was born in 1953 and was raised in Leeds. He was educated at Clifton College in Bristol and hen at University of Leeds. In 1978, he joined the family Bradford-based footwear business, Stylo as Director and in 1990 he joined the Stylo Board as Chief Executive Officer. In 2004, Michael became a Director of Town Centre Securities Plc.

He received an Honorary Degree from the University of Bradford for his work in the City on regeneration and charitable causes. Having played cricket for Maccabi club in Leeds, London and Hertfordshire for many years, he continues to support sporting in the community. He became Chairman of the Yorkshire Country Cricket Club Members Committee. Together with his family they have dedicated their lives to philanthropy and the long-term future of British communities’ needs in various areas including education, health, sport, and welfare.