Lawyer Simon Jackson is to be the new president of Leeds Jewish Representative Council, replacing Hilton Lorie who ended his three year tenure at the organisation’s AGM at Leeds Civic Hall on Sunday.

Mr Jackson, who has given 15 years of service to the council, told the 50 delegates that he followed in the footsteps of many respected presidents and had worked closely with Mr Lorie. “Mr Lorie has worked tirelessly for the community both in Leeds and beyond; he has done this with style and aplomb.”

Mr Jackson, who is married and has three children, said he intends to use his networking and presentational skills to spread knowledge and “engender greater appreciation and support for what we as a council do, both within the community and outside”.

Keynote speaker was Lorna Fitzsimons, former Bicom chief executive, who spoke about President Obama’s second term of office and the Middle East.