We are delighted to announce that our very own Ruth-Anne Lenga has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for services to Holocaust education, in King’s New Year’s honours list. As one of the longest serving members of staff at the UCL Institute of Education, Ruth-Anne has over 30 years’ experience in teacher training. She played a key role in the establishment of the Centre in 2008 and has made important contributions to its work ever since.
Ruth-Anne has worked in the field of Holocaust education for 35 years, beginning when it was in its infancy, and has worked closely with Holocaust survivors, supporting them to open up and share their testimonies with young people. She has also helped educators and learners to understand the complex nature of the silent trauma endured by survivors long after their initial suffering and has informed the delicate process of understanding their experiences. In particular, the rare insights Ruth-Anne has gained from working closely with Auschwitz survivor, Leon Greenman, has featured prominently in the Centre’s programmes.
Ruth-Anne is recognised as an expert in antisemitism prevention, working with international organisations such as UNESCO, ODIHR and International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Ruth-Anne has represented the Centre on the UK delegation to the IHRA for many years, and in 2024 served as the Deputy Head of Delegation during the UK’s presidency.
She said: “I am honoured to receive the OBE for Services to Holocaust Education. I would like to extend my appreciation and admiration to UK Holocaust survivors who taught me so much over many years. I continue to be humbled by their courage. They are truly remarkable.”
