We are deeply saddened to share that Julius Weinberg, who served as Chair of the Public Interest News Foundation from February 2023, died unexpectedly on Wednesday 16 September. He was 72 years old.
Julius joined the board of PINF in June 2020 and became Chair three years later.
Driven by a commitment to public service, Julius was Chair of Ofsted, Vice Chancellor of Kingston University and Deputy Vice Chancellor of City University. He trained as an Infectious Disease Physician and worked in both Zimbabwe and Bosnia for the World Health Organisation.
Ever humble, Julius described himself as ‘a voice of ignorance’ when first taking over the Chair, however it’s no exaggeration to say that Julius’s leadership from its earliest days has shaped PINF into the organisation that it is today. We count ourselves very lucky to have benefitted from his wealth of expertise, generous support and gentle guidance.
The staff and trustees of PINF have shared the following tributes to Julius. We would be very happy to add further tributes from anyone who knew him.
Joe Mitchell, Deputy Director of PINF:
I feel very lucky to have had the chance to work alongside Julius. As PINF’s chair, he would carry meetings softly, informally, with little deference to the running order or timings, because the pursuit of practical, no-nonsense steps forward in relation to the thing that really needed attention was always the priority. In his calm, reassured manner, he inspired confidence among the team. He was quick to praise and I don’t remember criticism or blame; mistakes or failures were learnings, and experiments and learning were how we would make progress.
Over a PINF Christmas lunch a couple of years ago — unusually but not unpleasantly in a Greek restaurant — we got to talk less shop and I got more of his extraordinary life story. Over dolmades and pittas I learned of a man of many talents, and vast experience, which was worn lightly, with no hint of ego. One minute firmly advocating for the National Secular Society, the next minute sharing photos of his recent bamboo bike project, a hint at the creative, slightly mischievous side to a man who will be sorely missed.
Jo Adetunji, Trustee of PINF:
Julius was a really interesting and interested person who was hugely engaged with all the projects he was involved in. We were very fortunate to have him for the time we did as Chair of the Public Interest News Foundation and as a friend. He brought a wealth of knowledge and wisdom from a life well lived. He always spoke highly of his family and friends, from whom he clearly gained much love and support. He'll be missed by many across various walks of life, which speaks volumes about Julius' connection to people and his commitment to putting good into the world.
Louise Collingwood, Head of Operations and Governance at PINF:
Although I had the privilege of knowing and working with Julius for only a relatively short time, he made a lasting impression on me. He had a quiet gravitas that naturally drew people to him, coupled with an extraordinary depth of knowledge and a genuine humility about it. He was always keen to make people feel encouraged and valued, offering thoughtful and positive feedback. I am grateful I had the opportunity to know him, and he will be greatly missed by us all at PINF.
Polly Curtis, Trustee of PINF:
Julius was a kind colleague, a wise chair and a creative public servant. He led the PINF board with a generosity of spirit and a breadth of knowledge that comes from a career spanning academic, education and the arts. He brought heavyweight intellect combined with deep care for his colleagues and a pragmatism that made him such a great leader of our board. I loved the diverse hinterland he brought to all the conversations we had. He could draw on a cultural reference as soon as an educational experience in helping craft strategy and try new things at PINF. He clearly thrived on his curiosity for the world, his compassion for people and being part of a team. I loved being in his team at PINF and will miss his humour, curiosity and kindness.
Please do contact us if you would like to share your tribute to Julius.
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