Our New GM

What are some of your fondest Maccabi memorable moments?

So many of my favourite memories have been the small moments – a smile from a participant, a kind word from a parent – where you know you’re making a difference in someone’s life just by giving them the opportunity to be active and connect with their community.
Looking at ‘bigger’ moments, the first time I ran an All-Abilities basketball tournament was pretty amazing – we had over 80 athletes from across Victoria coming together to share their love of basketball (and healthy competition!) on the same day as the Swimathon and the place was buzzing.

I’ve also been so lucky over the years to have had various opportunities to share stories and learnings from Maccabi at conferences and events and in articles, and it makes me so proud when I get to let the wider Jewish and sporting communities know about the fantastic things we’ve been doing.

How long have you worked with Maccabi and in what role?

I’ve worked with Maccabi for 61⁄2 years. I started as the All-Abilities Inclusion Coordinator for Maccabi Victoria and along the way added the roles of Member Protection Officer for Maccabi Australia and Donor Engagement Officer for the Maccabi Foundation.

What excites you most about starting in this new role?

Over the years I feel like I’ve been able to see so much of what Maccabi has to offer – both in my official capacities and lending a hand at everything from Friends of Maccabi lunches to Junior Carnivals. I’ve always been passionate about being involved ‘in the community’, and I feel like this new role is a way to bring together my knowledge and experiences from so many parts of Maccabi with a supportive team that I know so well.

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

I love cooking and baking and can often be found doing one-woman concerts in my kitchen (my poor dog!) or entertaining friends (now that I’m allowed again!). Outside of that, I spend my time reading, dancing, learning acrobatics (my cartwheels are slowly improving!), donating plasma regularly, and spoiling my dog.

Which aspects of yourself do you believe will shine through in your new role?

I’m passionate about the Jewish community, about being active and about equality and inclusion – all of which I think are important for working at Maccabi. I love to talk to people and find out their stories, I think there’s a huge satisfaction in seeing programs and events come to life, and anyone who has seen my desk knows that my love of chocolate might also shine through in the office!

What part of Maccabi resonates the most with you?
I love the fact that Maccabi is always looking at how we can do things differently to engage the community, whilst still staying true to our sporting club origins. The way people engage with physical activity and overall wellbeing is constantly changing, and Maccabi is determined to stay relevant and adapt and broaden their horizons.

Now that we are out of hopefully our last lockdown how do you see Maccabi Victoria moving forward?
I think the last two years have not only reminded us of the importance of being able to play sport and get active, but also shown us different ways to engage with the community. I’m excited about the fact that sport and events are coming back, but also keen to see how we can do things differently to get more people healthy and active. It’s exciting that we can return to a new kind of normal, with sport and activities happening in person, and staff returning to the office.