Our Board - New Israel Fund Australia

Our board is a diverse and experienced group, tasked with driving the strategy and growth of NIF Australia. Some have served on Jewish community and other non-profit boards, worked for organisations we support in Israel, graduated from Jewish day schools and Zionist youth movements, and all bring unique perspectives which maximise our effectiveness and impact.

We also acknowledge the important role that Steven Glass z"l played as a founding board member, and later vice-president, of NIF Australia. Without his leadership, guidance and expertise we wouldn't have achieved the successes we have.

Meet our supporters →

Ric Benjamin (chairperson) After 25 years in business Ric transitioned from the corporate to the NGO sector in 2010. Since then has has held roles including CEO of Foodbank Victoria and leader of government engagement for technology charity Infoxchange. Other voluntary work Ric has done in the NFP sector includes as a past board member (1998-2009) and president (2000-09) of Stand Up (previously called Jewish Aid Australia) and as a mentor to various NFP boards and executive officers who are looking to transition business models and/or improve mission outcomes. Ric holds an MBA (RMIT), BA and Dip Ed (Monash University).

Michael Hershan (treasurer) Michael is a lawyer based in Sydney. After a decade working at a global law firm in Melbourne, Sydney and London, Michael joined the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, working in ASIC's chief legal office. Michael was previously a director of New Israel Fund Australia in 2013-2014 and for the past five years has been a member of the international advisory committee of EcoPeace Middle East, a unique organisation that brings together Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli environmental activists.
Lyndall Katz Lyndall is dedicated to social justice and peace building. Now retired, her professional life was in social housing for over 30 years. Initially she worked in direct housing provision in the not-for-profit community housing sector. Then later, with the then Centre for Training in Social Housing, as a trainer and facilitator with the social housing and community services industries in Australia. Lyndall is an active member of the Jewish community in Sydney. She cares deeply about building connections and alliances across different communities through listening, relationships and dialogue.
Gideon Kowadlo Gideon is passionate about building things that matter from algorithms to organisations for positive social impact. He has spent more than 20 years bringing emerging technologies to life in Australia and overseas, in areas from robotics to human motor control and from mobile to bio-inspired AI. He was a founding board member of Engineers Without Borders and was a madrich at Netzer. Gideon is CEO of Project AGI and a director/advisor of other deep-tech focussed startups. He holds a PhD in Robotics (Monash Uni).
Karen Loblay AM Karen is a businesswoman, founder and director of the Matana Foundation for Young People, Sapphire Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, Specialist Consultant for Chain Reaction Foundation, catalyst member of The Ethics Centre and on the leadership council of the Documentary Australia Foundation.
Ralph Pliner Ralph was a partner for over 20 years of international law firm Baker McKenzie in Sydney, before retiring in 2004. Since then he has taken up a number of board positions of public listed and private companies, including a large life insurance company, TAL Life, as well as not-for-profits including the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, where he served as chairman for four years, and the Board of Jewish Education in Sydney. Ralph was also a lecturer in law at Melbourne University Law School and prior to that a financial journalist at the weekly financial magazine, the Financial Mail, in Johannesburg.
Ilana Snyder AM Ilana became president of NIF Australia in 2015. An emeritus professor in the Faculty of Education, Monash University, her research and teaching have focused on critical literacy education in the digital age. She is currently involved in a mentoring program for early career researchers and the supervision of some doctoral students. Ilana is a board member of the literary magazine, the Australian Book Review.
Alisa Wicks Alisa is a solicitor at Legal Aid NSW. She worked for several years in Tel Aviv at the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI). Alisa holds a bachelor of social work and bachelor of laws from the University of New South Wales.

Our Impact

Fighting the Occupation

Combating Racism

Gender Equality

Protecting Human and Civil Rights for All

Safety for Refugees and People Seeking Asylum

Strengthening Palestinian Israeli Society

Promoting Religious Pluralism and Fighting Extremism

Who We Are

NIF Around the World

Our Advisory Council

Upholding the Declaration of Independence

Frequently Asked Questions

Events & More

Upcoming Events

JIFF Screenings: Holding Liat

Naomi Chazan Fellowship

NewGen Advocacy & Leadership Summit

| Media Releases

NIF Australia Podcast

Contact Us

Follow us and get in touch:

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our offices stand and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. We also accept the invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart with gratitude. We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognise the resilience, strength and pride of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images or names of people who have since passed away.

New Israel Fund Australia (ABN 70 151 140 377) is registered as a public benevolent institution with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. We are an independent organisation that works with the New Israel Fund to further equality, inclusion and democracy in Israel. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.