Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the Union for Progressive Judaism is responsible for governance and oversight of the organisation. Elections are held every two years for President, two Vice-Presidents, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary and two members at large. The President has the prerogative to appoint representatives from affiliated bodies (as specified in the constitution of the UPJ), as well as members at large for specific portfolios. The Executive Director serves on the Executive Committee ex-officio.
Current members of the Executive Committee are:
President: David Robinson
I was born in Cape Town, South Africa and grew up in the Progressive movement as a member of Temple Israel. I attended Netzer youth movement (previously known as NFTY and then Maginim) as a Chanich and subsequently assumed a leadership role within the movement where I ran meetings for various age groups as well as the first national Netzer camp. I am also a past President of a B’nai B’rith lodge in Cape Town and have undertaken numerous other leadership roles including representing South Africa at a world Boy Scout jamboree in Japan in 1971. I am a Chartered Accountant by profession and am married to Maureen who I met through Netzer. We have 3 daughters who have also all been involved in Progressive Jewish activities over many years. We migrated to New Zealand in December 1997 and I was elected to the Board of Management of Beth Shalom in Auckland in March 1998. I assumed the role of Vice President in March 1999 and took over a President in December 1999, a position I filled for 3 ½ years. On completion of my term as President I assumed the role of Treasurer of Beth Shalom for 2 years. I was elected to the Executive of the UPJ in November 2004 as Vice President and convened the previous 2 UPJ regional conferences. I was honoured to be elected as President of UPJ in November 2008.
Vice President: Neil Samuel
Neil Samuel’s involvement in Progressive Judaism spans more than four decades continuing a well established family tradition. While his father was President of Temple Beth Israel, his mother was particularly involved with the Women’s Guild as their President. Much of Neil’s mentoring was carried out informally but his official roles have included Chairman of the Youth Council, Board Member, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer of Temple Beth Israel. In addition, Neil was appointed Honorary Treasurer of the Victorian Union for Progressive Judaism for six years and served on numerous Finance sub committees. From 2004 to 2008 he served as Honorary Treasurer of The Union for Progressive Judaism and in 2008, Neil was appointed Vice President. Neil is a Director of Dryen Australia Pty. Ltd., one of Australia’s largest domestic linen importers and wholesalers. A major part of this role has entailed extensive travel throughout Asia and Europe for 35 years. This wealth of experience earned him an invitation to lecture on numerous occasions at Deakin University on the practicalities of international trade, particularly China, India and Pakistan. Since 2003, Neil has served on the Board of Directors of Alzheimer’s Australia Vic, taking on the role of Honorary Secretary the following year. While continuing in this role he also joined the Board of Directors of Alzheimer’s Australia in November, 2007, and is currently the Vice President. To unwind, Neil loves nothing more than rowing on the Yarra River, walking in the early hours of the day or watching a James Bond DVD. Thankfully, he has a very supportive family consisting of his wife, daughter, son and two naughty dogs who all bring much humour and some challenge into his life.
Vice President: Sharene Hambur
Sharene has over 20 years’ experience advising on the legal issues associated with property and infrastructure projects.. She advises a wide range of private companies and government departments and agencies on various property issues including land development, leasing, subdivisions acquisitions and disposals. Her private sector clients include developers and investors involved in a wide range of property related transactions, including the development and leasing of shopping centres, broad acre land subdivisions, and acquisitions and disposals of properties. Experience Victorian Government Property Group (Treasury and Finance): Advised on the sale and leasing of government land and government owned buildings including the City Accommodation lease project. This involved the preparation of complex agreements to lease and lease and tender documents for approximately 100,000m2 of office accommodation for numerous government departments. Wilbow Corporation Pty Ltd (now FKP): Acted on the acquisition, development and sale of a number of suburban shopping centres and office buildings and in the leasing and sale of a serviced apartment complex in the Melbourne CBD University of Melbourne: Advised on the University Square development project which involved the acquisition, consolidation and development of University Square, an adjunct to the main campus, including necessary legislation and Crown leasing arrangements. Sharene has also worked on many commercial and residential property transactions including student accommodation projects for the University. Department of Sustainability and Environment: Provides advice on a range of Crown land leasing and licensing arrangements. Has prepared agreements for use of private infrastructure on Crown land and prepared a suite of leases for reserved and unreserved Crown land for use by the Department throughout the State.
Immediate Past President: Phyllis Dorey
Phyllis Dorey is a well-known and highly respected educational consultant with nearly 30 years experience gained across all sectors of education. Her skills and expertise, especially as a manager, presenter, trainer, mentor and executive/life coach have been widely recognised and valued by individuals, training institutions, and companies. Her unmistakable voice can also be heard on training packages and voice-on hold messages.
As a long-standing, committed, and active member of the Progressive Jewish community in Australia, she carries on her family’s tradition of community service. She was a board member of Temple Beth Israel for over 14 years, serving as its President from 1999 to 2001. In 2000, she was elected to the Executive of the Union for Progressive Judaism ( Australia, New Zealand and Asia), serving as Chair of the Education and Leadership committee, then as Vice President, coordinating the recruitment and appointment of the Union’s first full time Executive Director - Mrs Janice Alper . In November 2004, Phyllis was elected President of the UPJ and held this position until November 2008.
Honorary Treasurer: Philip Levy
Philip and his wife Lorraine joined North Shore Temple Emanuel in 1980 and, after moving to the eastern suburbs, joined Emanuel Synagogue in 2007. They were active in communal work and Philip served on the Board of NSTE as Treasurer for 4 years and Vice-President for 3 years. Philip and Lorraine have 2 adult daughters, Monica and Sonja. Professionally, Philip graduated as a chemical engineer and had a career including technical management, management consulting, and senior corporate roles. He held the position of Human Resources Director in a major retailer, a bank, and a legal firm. Philip is in his 60’s and since his retirement he and Lorraine have enjoyed their interests of theatre, music and travel, and keep busy with voluntary work for several groups.
Honorary Secretary: Alison Marcus
Committee Member: Shirley Bosman
I have been a member of Beth Shalom for almost 10 years having immigrated from South Africa in 1999. I became involved in assisting with the Hebrew School soon after arrival and once the Rabbi/Principal of the school left for another congregation, I found myself running the school. Daunting as it was having had no prior experience in this area, together with my amazing teaching team, we have kept the school afloat since then with over 70 enrolled students. I soon became involved in UPJ educational workshops & conferences and then found myself organising these together with others from various parts of Australia. I have assisted with the organising of 2 UPJ Conferences and assist in other areas where necessary. I am passionate about the success of all supplementary Religious schools and will do whatever it takes to ensure that this is maintained. I believe strongly in networking and good communication and enjoy working as a team member with other constituent members. Besides being extremely involved in a number of areas in our shul, I have also served on the Board of Management for the past 2 years, firstly sharing portfolios such as Educational representative and social rep together with other Board members and this year’s portfolio as membership chair. I enjoy participating in shul and UPJ activities, programmes and events and I hope to help provide a good basis for all our constituents to run effective educational centres within their synagogues. I hope to connect with each one of our centres to be able to assist them with whatever their needs may be during my term in office. I look forward to meeting YOU at one of our various UPJ meetings/events.
Committee Member: Helen Bryant
I started my interest in Jewish Education in my late teens and attended a Jewish Teacher course at St John’s Wood Liberal Synagogue. After qualifying as a teacher and teaching in the UK for 3 years I studied for 6 months at the WUJS Arad campus. I added to my qualifications with a degree in Psychology after my arrival in Western Australia. I am a recipient of the National Excellence in Teaching Award in secondary education. Passionate about Judaism and education of all age groups I am blessed and privileged to be able to put these passions together at Temple David, Perth’s only Progressive synagogue. Currently teaching the bar/bat mitzvah class and the Discovering Judaism class I learn more as I teach. In the past 8 years I have availed myself of study opportunities overseas and in our region. I am a graduate of the Liberal Yeshiva Programme in Jerusalem and a Beutel fellow. I have been involved in organizing and coordinating conferences for the UPJ and have also had experience as a presenter and a coordinator in running workshops for the Progressive Jewish Educators’ Network, sharing skills and experience with other like minded educators. I believe that life is a continual journey of learning and I am excited about being the chair of our region’s education committee. I will be working closely with our educators and we will be sharing resources and programmes via the Internet and our website. As education is not just the province of educators and we are all learners and teachers I look forward to regular communication through our vast network about the education opportunities and resources in our region.
Committee Member: Sharon Ser
Sharon was born in London,where she qualifed as a lawyer. She moved to Hong Kong in 1987, and was an early member of the United Jewish Congregation, formed in 1989 and became it’s president for 4 years from 2004 to 2008. Sharon is a partner in her law firm specialising in family law.
ARZA: Ian Samuel
WUPJ: Philip Bliss
Dr Philip Bliss is currently a vice chairman of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and sits on the WUPJ Board of Management and Executive. He chairs the Advocacy committee and Social Action Committee. He also co-chairs the Constitutional committee. Philip also sits on the World Zionist Council. Philip has been active on the Council Christians and Jews where he is Federal treasurer and chairs the programs and publicity committees for the Victorian CCJ. Philip is a previous president of the Union for Progressive Judaism and of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria. He is married to Andrea and have four children and three grandchildren and tries to earn a living as a dentist.
Schools Representative: Geoff Sandler
Geoff Sandler is a Consultant where he works mainly in the development of people and the development of the organisation’s business. As a lawyer of some 17 years in private practice and 9 years as a consultant and trainer part of which time was with a pre-eminant communication consultancy, Geoff has extensive experience in developing the communication strategy, coaching individuals or teams whether in the tendering process, for significant presentations, or in leadership roles. He has also developed skills in relationship management and the strategic management of complex, high-value negotiations. Geoff has consulted on and coached in a range of major transactions. He has worked with executive teams on large tenders and on substantial disputes. Geoff has three daughters – two teenagers who believe they are in their late twenties and one of eleven who believes that she is seventeen. That is why he has grey hair. He is also a passionate Collingwood supporter.
Moetzah: Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins
Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins has served as rabbi at Emanuel Synagogue for 20 years, the last ten years as senior rabbi. He is committed to principles of egalitarianism, inclusion and diversity within the synagogue and the broader community. He sees text-based education as a means for understanding the wisdom of our ancestors and being better able to implement Torah values in contemporary times. He serves on the board of the Shalom Institute, and as one of the rabbinic consultants to Emanuel School, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. He is currently chair of the Moetzah.
Netzer:
Dana Bar Zuri - Shaliach Victoria
Jeremy Bliss - Federal Merakez
Executive Director - Steve Denenberg
English born, Israel trained Social Worker, Steve has been a proud Australian since he moved to Sydney with his wife and two daughters in 1986.After 18 years as CEO of Jewish Care (NSW) and periods as CEO of the federal body Steve established Plum Partnerships, providing low-cost fundraising and ‘profile raising’ for Israel-based not-for-profits. In 2004 Steve joined Emanuel Synagogue and part-time and then full-time CEO. In 2008 he combined this role with that of Executive Director of the UPJ until, in August 2008, he joined the UPJ full-time. Steve has a Bachelor of Social Work from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem and post-graduate qualifications from the University of Essex (U.K.) and the Australian Graduate School of Management. He is an alumnus of the Sydney Leadership program.
During this time he has worked as a volunteer for numerous organisations, including the Refugee Council of Australia, the Refugee Advice & Casework Service, the Association of Jewish Communal Professionals, the 2000 Olympics and Emanuel School (as Board member, chairman and President) and was received the Centenary Award for services to the Jewish community, the aged, young people and people with disabilities.
Social Action: Nicky Maor
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