GDST Alumnae Event

GDST welcomed back alumna and CEO of the Holocaust Educational Trust, Karen Pollock CBE.

Karen works continually to motivate future generations to speak out against intolerance and has been praised by politicians across the spectrum for her work in Holocaust education and remembrance. Her Lessons from Auschwitz initiative has attracted particular acclaim – a programme that has enabled thousands of students from every background to visit the Auschwitz concentration and death camp – while her Ambassador Programme has provided unique opportunities and mentorship for young people.

Karen spoke online to Headmistress Vicky Bingham as part of GDST’s In Conversation series, a programme of online events featuring the eight shortlisted alumnae from the 2021 Alumna of the Year Awards. During the talk, Karen spoke about how to stand up and speak out about prejudices, how the Holocaust should be taught in schools today, the perils of social media and what is driving antisemitism in the 21st century.

She spoke with optimism and hope about the future and reminded us that: “People are generally good, but it’s important to be vigilant and call out inappropriate behaviour.  Social media can be a reflection of what is going on in the world, but it is not life itself. It’s important to know what matters, and what doesn’t.”

Thank you Karen for sharing your views with the GDST Alumnae community. A recording of her talk is available here.

Karen attended South Hampstead High School from 1985 until 1992 and went on to study modern languages at Leeds University. Karen was awarded an MBE in the 2012 New Year Honours and a CBE in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to Holocaust education. She has spoken to the whole school at assembly and to students at our Jewish Society.