Members of the Jewish Education Foundation represent a cross section of the community, with deep experience in the issues under discussion. They do not speak for any school they may be or have been affiliated with.
Jewish Education Foundation members
Alan Schwartz AO
Alan Schwartz led the merger of Jewish Community Services and Montefiore Homes to create Jewish Care and was its inaugural President. He is the Managing Director of Trawalla Group which manages his family’s investments and a Board member of his family’s philanthropic arm – the Trawalla Foundation.
Alan is the past Chair of Philanthropy Australia and a former Council member of Swinburne University. In recognition of his contribution to community and business, Alan was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2003, followed by an Order of Australia (AM) in 2007.
Alan graduated from Monash University with degrees in Economics and Law (Honours) and during his first year at Monash co-authored a best- selling economics textbook, The Australian Economy.
Genia Janover
Genia Janover, who served as Principal of Bialik College for 20 years, and prior to that as Vice Principal of Leibler – Yavneh College, has enjoyed a stellar career in education for over 4 decades. Innovative educational programs and a focus on school culture and staff and student well-being marked her principalship at Bialik College where enrolments grew from 380 students to almost 1,100 students during her tenure.
Genia has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards, among them the Australian Government National Award for Best National Achievement for Excellence by a Principal (2007) and the Max Fisher Prize for Jewish Education in the Diaspora (2005). She has been named by the Bulletin Smart 100 as one one of Australia’s top 10 educators (2003). She is a Fellow of The Australian College of Educators and a Fellow of The Australian College of Educational Leaders.
Since retiring from Bialik College, Genia serves on the Boards of 2 schools, works as an education consultant and Ambassador to Independent Schools Victoria. Genia was born in Germany in 1948. She is the daughter of Holocaust survivors. She is married to Myer. They have twin sons and 4 grandsons all of whom have been and are being educated in Jewish schools.
Nathan Cher
Nathan is a Tech Entrepreneur & Investor who has been a founder and director of a number of companies (listed and unlisted) in the areas of Technology, FinTech, Property and Venture Capital in Australia and Israel.
Nathan serves as a director of the AJF (Australian Jewish Funders), he is the Victorian Chairperson of the ORAH Project.
He has served on boards of Jewish Communal organisations and working groups, and together with his wife Camit, supports a wide range of charities and causes.
Andrew Markus AO, FASSA
Andrew Markus is Emeritus Professor in Monash University’s Faculty of Arts and was previously Director of the university’s Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation.
Since 2004 he has been a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. His research specialisation is in the field of racial and ethnic relations, ethnic communities and immigration policy.
He has played a leading role in two national surveys of the Jewish community, Gen08 and Gen17, and is the senior researcher on the Scanlon Foundation social cohesion survey, which has been conducted annually since 2009.
Graham Goldsmith AO
Graham Goldsmith is currently Chairman of SEEK Limited, Deputy Chairman of Djerriwarrh Investments Ltd and a Panel Member of Adara Partners. He is also Chairman of Armitage Associates and a board member or consultant with a number of family offices.
He is also a director of Stars Foundation Ltd. Graham was previously a Council Member and then Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology over the period 2010-2019, and a Council Member, Treasurer, Vice President and President of Bialik College over the period 2000-2014.
Mark Harrison
Mark Harrison has almost twenty-five years’ experience in the Australian property and propertyfinance sectors. He joined Wingate in 2008 as Managing Director, Property and has overseen the growth of the firm’s property division into one of Australia’s most active real estate debt and equity investors.
Mark was a Board member at The King David School for 13 years from 2007-2020 and President for six years from 2012-2018. During his time as a Board member, Mark was also part of the Finance Sub-committee, the Property Sub-committee and served on the King David Foundation.
Lisa Kennett
Lisa Kennett is an experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director of Boards, bringing to the table her years of experience as a Commercial Barrister and Solicitor, Conflict Resolution Advisor and Facilitator of Negotiation Skills Workshops.
She was the President of Mount Scopus Memorial College for 7 years and is currently the President of Jewish Care, as well as a member of the Advisory Board for the Community Security Group and the Allocations Committee for Orah in Victoria. Lisa is passionate about facilitating positive change for the communities in which we live, which is why she has embraced this Working Group.
Caroline Tait
Caroline is a corporate lawyer with almost 20 years’ experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, and equity capital markets matters. Caroline is currently a special counsel at King & Wood Mallesons and has also practised as an attorney in New York and has held senior in-house positions including at a global investment bank.
Caroline graduated from Monash University with a degree in Law (First Class Honours) and Business (Banking and Finance) and attended Jewish Day Schools for both her primary and secondary education. Caroline and her husband have two children who attend Mount Scopus Memorial College. Caroline is actively involved at the school – she has been a member of the School Council for the past 5 years and also serves on various school committees.
Fee Assessment Board members
Kevin Slomoi, Chair
Kevin is a Chartered Accountant. He is currently a principal at KS Advisory, previously a partner at GMK Partners Pty Ltd for 24 years and Deloitte for 4 years.
Kevin specialises in consulting to high-net-worth families and is a member of family advisory boards.
Kevin has had extensive community involvement including the following:
Director of AIJAC
Member of Project Fortify Committee (CSG) for 2019-2021
Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mt Scopus Memorial College, 2003-2007
Member of Executive Committee and Council, Mt Scopus Memorial College, 2002-2007
Member of Finance Committee, Mt Scopus Memorial College, 1996-2003
Member of Finance Committee, Jewish Care, 2001-2004
Board Member, Jewish Community Services, 1997-2000
Treasurer, Australia Southern African Business Council, Victorian Chapter, 1992-1994
Lisa Kennett
Lisa Kennett is an experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director of Boards, bringing to the table her years of experience as a Commercial Barrister and Solicitor, Conflict Resolution Advisor and Facilitator of Negotiation Skills Workshops.
She was the President of Mount Scopus Memorial College for 7 years and is currently the President of Jewish Care, as well as a member of the Advisory Board for the Community Security Group and the Allocations Committee for Orah in Victoria. Lisa is passionate about facilitating positive change for the communities in which we live, which is why she has embraced this Working Group.
Nathan Cher
Nathan is a Tech Entrepreneur & Investor who has been a founder and director of a number of companies (listed and unlisted) in the areas of Technology, FinTech, Property and Venture Capital in Australia and Israel.
Nathan serves as a director of the AJF (Australian Jewish Funders), he is the Victorian Chairperson of the ORAH Project.
He has served on boards of Jewish Communal organisations and working groups, and together with his wife Camit, supports a wide range of charities and causes.
Ruth Kaye
Ruth’s background is in Business, Finance and IT. She worked in one of the major international Chartered Accounting firms as an auditor. She also worked at one of Australia’s leading retail companies as an internal auditor where she gathered a wealth of experience. More recently Ruth has conducted her own consulting business providing financial and management services.
Ruth has, over many years volunteered with a range of National, State and local community organizations with a diverse focus such as youth, sport, women’s issues, welfare and education performing various roles including Vice-President, Treasurer and Committee Chair.
She has an attention to detail which supports her considered approach in the work she undertakes.
Nathalie Chasen
For the last 17 years Nathalie Chasen has held various positions across government, health, and Not for Profit sectors in the area of People and Culture, specifically Organisational Development, Leadership and Team Development. She is currently the People and Culture Project Manager at Justice Connect, a not-for-profit organisation that designs and delivers high impact interventions that increases access to legal support and progress social justice.
Nathalie is married with two children who attend one of the Jewish Day schools and is passionate about the future of Jewish education and the important part it plays in our community.