Luke Akehurst
Luke Akehurst has been Director of We Believe in Israel since its foundation in 2011.
Luke is not Jewish but has been a committed Zionist all his life.
His work career before We Believe in Israel included being a Director at global PR company Weber Shandwick, where he worked for 11 years and was named as Public Affairs News UK Consultant of the Year 2008. He has also worked for Hackney and Lewisham Councils, the Labour Party and the BBC Political Research Unit. He was National Secretary of Labour Students from 1995-1996.
Outside of work he was a Hackney Councillor from 2002-2014, including 7 years as Chief Whip, and stood for Parliament in 2001 in Aldershot and 2005 in Castle Point. He topped the poll in the 2020 and 2022 elections to the Labour Party National Executive Committee, having also previously served on it from 2010-2012.
Luke is married with two sons. He graduated with a BSc in Politics from Bristol University.
Rosie Benny
Rosie joined We Believe in Israel in July 2022 as the Social Media Officer and is based in Edinburgh.
Her career has previously involved working in Holyrood and local politics.
Rosie graduated with MA from the University of Aberdeen in Politics and International Relations.
Outside of work Rosie enjoys powerlifting, horse riding and is out on her motorbike come rain or shine.