Meet the teamProfessor Shirli GilbertDirectorShirli Gilbert (no relation to Sir Martin!) is Professor of Modern Jewish History at University College London. She has previously held positions at the University of Southampton, the University of Michigan, and the University of Cape Town. Her publications include Music in the Holocaust (2005), From Things Lost: Forgotten Letters and the Legacy of the Holocaust (2017), and, with Avril Alba, Holocaust Memory and Racism in the Postwar World (2019).Dr Bethany MarstonHead of EducationBethany is Honorary Lecturer in Jewish History at University College London. She studied English and Italian at Cambridge University, before being awarded AHRC studentships to pursue an MA and PhD on Italian Holocaust poetry at University College London. Alongside her research she worked in academic publishing for Cambridge University Press and Forum for Modern Language Studies, and has over a decade’s experience as a translator specialising in modern Jewish history.Reanna BowenSchool Partnerships ManagerReanna has a background in access and outreach, specialising in widening participation and building sustained engagement with schools. A graduate of History with a Master’s degree in Women’s, Gender and Queer History from the University of Oxford, she is passionate about making history accessible and meaningful for young people. Her work focuses on developing partnerships with schools, creating engaging educational opportunities, and supporting teachers and students to explore history through research-informed approaches.Natasha JenmanEducatorNatasha is an AHRC-funded PhD student researching the social connections of Jews in medieval England at the University of Oxford. She studied History at the University of Cambridge, before completing her MA in Medieval Studies at Durham University. In between her studies, she has taught Religious Studies, English and Politics in secondary schools, and has worked as a private tutor for eight yearsDr Daniel AdamsonHistory Prize JudgeDr. Daniel Adamson is a teacher of History and Politics, currently based in South-East London. He studied History at the University of Cambridge, before completing a MA in History Education at University College London. His PhD, at Durham University, explored portrayals in educational settings of Britain’s response to the Holocaust. Daniel acts as a judge for the Sir Martin Gilbert Learning Centre essay competition, and has contributed to consultations on the Centre’s development of educational resources.Miranda RawlinsonSecondary Schools ConsultantMiranda has studied History with German and attended the Universities of Exeter, Bielefeld, Bristol and Gloucestershire. She has taught History in secondary schools for 25 years and is currently Head of History at a grammar school in the South West. She has been Lead Holocaust Beacon School teacher at her school and is currently completing the Rolf Schild and Holocaust Educational Trust Professional Recognition Award. She contributes to consultations on the Centre‘s development of educational resources.Professor Tony KushnerHistory Prize JudgeTony Kushner is James Parkes Professor in the Parkes Institute for the Study of Jewish/non-Jewish Relations and History Department at the University of Southampton. His recent books include The Battle of Britishness: Migrant Journeys since 1685 (Manchester University Press, 2012), Journeys from the Abyss: The Holocaust and Forced Migration from the 1880s to the Present (Liverpool University Press, 2017) and Southampton’s Migrant Past and Present (Parkes Institute, 2021). His most recent study of an eighteenth-century Jewish triple murderer was published in May 2025 by Manchester University Press entitled The Jewish Pedlar: A Criminal History. Kelly PeakeImpact and Evaluation ConsultantKelly is an educational development and social impact consultant with over 20 years’ experience in higher education and organisational learning, including leading the Learning Development unit at Queen Mary University of London. She is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and is undertaking a PhD at Imperial College London exploring how people who work across multiple sectors draw on their professional experience as they become teachers. She now works with universities and charities to develop educational programmes, strengthen evaluation and impact practices, and support change. Kelly has worked with the Centre since 2020 and contributes to the Centre’s impact and evaluation programme.Sam CastledineAdministrative assistantSam is a virtual executive assistant with a background in consultancy, bringing both strategic thinking and hands-on organisational expertise to the organisations and founders she supports. A graduate of English Literature and Creative Writing, she combines a sharp eye for detail with a talent for planning and strategy. She has worked with founders and organisations across a range of industries and makes everything run smoothly behind the scenes.