Meet Maccabi Australia’s New President

MEET MACCABI AUSTRALIA’S NEW PRESIDENT – LISA BOROWICK

Maccabi Australia made the announcement this week that Harry Procel, MAI president for the past 5-and-a-half years, has been appointed Australia’s Head of Delegation for the 19th Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2013.

With Harry stepping aside to concentrate on the role, Lisa Borowick becomes the organisation’s first female president. Maccabi News caught up with Lisa this week and and discovered a pretty infectious passion for the cause.

“You don’t get to experience what you’ve experienced without saying; well, I’m not going to share it,” Lisa told Maccabi News.

“When you’re older you realise that all those opportunities that were presented came because people were volunteering and facilitating those opportunities.

“You just want to share it and encourage others to experience it.”

Lisa’s journey is a classic story of Maccabi in the blood. Her first taste came with the basketball club as a nine-year-old, but it’s her vivid memories of her parents that sparked her dreams. Her father Peretz, and mother Rachel were heavily involved in Ajax sport in Melbourne and international tours.

“Their example is what in part makes me who I am,” Lisa adds. “I have a brother sister; everyone was focused on family first, but if you can contribute to the community, then it’s worthwhile. We don’t take it for granted, we feel very lucky. Growing up in a house passionate about sport and giving back to the community – it rubbed off a little bit.”

Lisa’s Maccabi CV is extensive, from a basketball starlet selected for senior carnival when she was just 14, to an administrator who has become a Maccabi Victoria Life Member, Head of Delegation to Sao Palo (2011), Argentina (2007), Sydney (2006); a manager at three Maccabiot (General Manager 2009, open team 2005, open assistant 1997) and Finance Director and Chair of International Sport on the MAI board – and she’s still just in her early forties, and with three children.

Lisa, a chartered accountant by trade, says that she inherits a very settled position. Her job isn’t to reinvent the wheel, but to lead a team that will continue to nurture all of MAI’s exciting projects and to ensure that everyone is focused to “achieve the most for the community”.

“We want to make sure we can support the states and act as a roof body and provide guidance and governance,” Lisa added.

“Good communication is the key. We are bursting with ideas; it’s just about managing the process to keep everyone focused.”

“The challenge is to keep everyone on the same page, focused, together, achieve most for community.”

In the end, Lisa’s aims are simple. She reveres her Maccabi memories and just wants others to experience what she has with the organisation.

“I’ve had the most wonderful experience because of Maccabi and my family. We got to do some really special things.

“(When I was younger) I heard all the stories, they (my parents) came home (from international events) with all those colourful tracksuits … you think – I’m going to do that one day.

“Now I get to watch my kids and cheer.”