Amanda has always seen sports and exercise as a way to keep fit, develop specific skills, and make friends. Sporting friendships account for many memorable and favourite times in her youth and have seen her through some of the toughest challenges in her life. She’s committed to taking her passion of building the Jewish community through exercise and wellbeing to the broader community.

Amanda has achieved junior Springbok colours for Judo and made state level for swimming and hockey in South Africa. She’s also actively encouraged her kids to seek similar opportunities in sport.

Amanda, her husband, David, and their two children competed as a family in the 2017 Maccabiah. It was the first time a single family had all competed at the same Maccabiah event.

She was involved in the Maccabi Amateur Swim Club and served as a committee member for 7 years. Amanda is now on the Maccabi NSW Board under the portfolio of Women in Sport and Maccabi Life for the last 4 years. In 2019, she co-founded the Maccabi Life Walkie Talkie club with her friends, Nicole Katz and Nicky Klugman. The group now boasts over 500 members.

Amanda has held many senior positions in business in both South Africa and Australia, working with Investec and CBA. She currently runs her own consulting business.

Nicole became involved in Maccabi Life in 2019, when she co-founded Walkie Talkies with Mandy Penkin. A year later, they started up Maccabi Running. She is extremely passionate about connecting the Jewish community via non-competitive sports and promoting health and wellness via talks and events. Nicole plans to grow the Maccabi Life team and offering due to the ongoing demand.

Nicole worked in recruitment for Hays Banking Personnel and then at Jewish Care’s Print 35 as a Business Development Manager. Nicole is currently co-founder of Fashion Forward, selling ladies preloved designer clothing labels. 100% of proceeds go to Jewish House and support women and children in crisis.

Nicole is very driven and passionate about her volunteer roles. She loves running, strength training, tennis, bridge, and hiking. She is married to Dan and has 2 sons, Judd and Ari.

Josh has been involved with Maccabi since joining the Maccabi Junior Soccer Club, aged six. He played soccer for many years, eventually representing Hakoah U21s and attending the Maccabiah Games in 2017.

Josh has extensive career in Investment Banking and Real Estate and is currently working with Toga Hotels in Sydney. He’s married to Paula, has three young kids, and remains actively involved in the Sydney Jewish community through volunteering and sport

Maccabi has always played a pivotal role in Jodi’s life since she could walk, having grown up in the netball and football clubs and participating in multiple Junior Carnivals. Her leadership journey began as a Carnival leader in 2018, which led her to taking on the Maccabi NSW Youth Officer role for 3 years. Jodi is a keen volunteer and player in the Maccabi Social Clubs and an enthusiastic sportswoman across the fields, from netball and soccer to tennis and touch football.

Jodi works as an Operations Consultant and Transformation Analyst at Accenture, having recently completed degrees in Commerce and Information Systems at UNSW. She has always been a passionate participant in a wide range of Jewish Community organisations, including The Jewish Board of Deputies, Jewish Care, and Olami. Her involvement in worldwide leadership courses in New York, Madrid, and Sydney, have afforded her the opportunity to work with fellow young leaders from over 30 different countries.

Simon became a Committee Member in 2023 after participating in the 2022 Observership Program with Maccabi NSW.

He has been involved in Maccabi since playing for the Sunday Seagulls U6s and continues to be an active member through Maccabi Golf.

Simon currently works at Venues NSW where he is responsible for the strategy and planning of the eight major stadiums and entertainment venues in NSW.  Prior to pivoting to the world of sport and entertainment in 2017, he spent six years in corporate finance.

Since 2016, Simon has been a Board Director of Walking Up The Hill Foundation, a private ancillary fund that distributes capital to meaningful causes around Australia.  From 2018 to 2022, he volunteered with Surf Life Saving Australia as a patrol member at Bondi Beach.

Simon holds a Master of Finance and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of NSW.

Simon’s family are passionate about the Jewish community, sport and wellbeing.  He looks forward to his children growing up and playing Maccabi sports.

Darren is a seasoned marketing professional with an extensive career in driving the growth of ambitious companies through innovative brand and marketing strategies. Known for tackling significant challenges and achieving notable success, he excels in the fast-paced marketing sector and values teamwork and camaraderie. Outside of work, Darren is an enthusiastic sports fan and actively supports his two young children in their involvement with Maccabi Soccer, Netball, and Basketball clubs. In 2024, Darren deepened his commitment to community service by joining the Maccabi board while also participating in other initiatives within the Sydney Jewish community, underscoring his dedication to meaningful community impact.

Rod  joined Maccabi as a teenager shortly after arriving from South Africa in 1987. He played soccer, cricket, and tennis, and attended both Junior and Senior Carnivals. He has also had the privilege of competing at Maccabiah and the Pan Am Games in Argentina for football, and he is  hoping to go to Maccabiah again next year with my wife and 2 girls – who will hopefully be selected to play netball.

When did you formally become involved in Maccabi leadership?
I joined the Maccabi Board in 2017 and looked after the Football Portfolio. I was appointed Vice President in 2018.

What are your thoughts and feelings about Maccabi as an organisation?
Maccabi is an amazing organisation with a very proud history of developing Jewish sport. It provides an opportunity for Jewish people to connect and form life-long friendships. The next few years present a wonderful opportunity for Maccabi to continue to grow as an organisation.

Originally from Israel, Ori joined Maccabi Tzair Youth Movement in Year 4 and continued to be a Madrich (leader), all the way through to Year 12.

He also played competitive table tennis at Maccabi Netanya, reaching a top 10 player position at his peak, and later coaching some of the best youth players in the country.

Throughout his career, Ori spent many years in senior positions within the Jewish community, including with JNF, the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, and most recently as CEO of Technion Australia.

Ori served as a commander and medic at the Israel Defence Forces, and he holds a Bachelor’s in Science from the Hebrew University and a Master’s in Science and Technology from UNSW.

Ori lives in Sydney with his wife, three boys, and two dogs.

Moving to Sydney from South Africa with a young son and heavily pregnant, Nikki’s priority was to ensure that her Jewish connection not only continued but thrived.

What better place to be involved in the Jewish way of life than to join the one and only Maccabi NSW.

Nikki previously worked an African Safari’s specialist, booking once in a lifetime safari’s and was able to travel around Africa meeting wonderful people along the way.

Africa will always have a special place in her heart.

Immigrating is never easy, but Maccabi NSW was so warm and welcoming, and the staff became like family, that it was the best decision she ever made.

Nikki’s passion is helping Jewish kids find their love of sport and after 2 years of uncertainty, getting kids active and playing sport has never been so important.

Nikki’s son and daughter play in the Maccabi Basketball club.

Nikki has been with Maccabi NSW for 4 years now and it has been some of the best years of her life.

Mick has been part of Maccabi since his teenage years having been to 5 senior Carnivals and playing for the now defunct Indoor Hockey Club and Water Polo Club, and later at the Senior Football Club.

In 1997 Mick took on the role of CEO of Maccabi NSW, He remained in that role for 20 years eventually moving aside to take on the role of Football Administrator to the 4 Maccabi Hakoah Football Clubs. In his time as CEO he founded the Maccabi NSW Hall of Fame and was instrumental in joining Maccabi to the JCA family.

Mick has 3 Daughters who have all played for Maccabi at the Netball Club. Mick was also part of the 1997 Maccabiah Team – notable for the tragedy of the Bridge Collapse but also memorable as he played in the only Football team to ever win a medal at Maccabiah.

Nicki has 17 years of experience working in the disability sphere with many different roles and challenges accepted along the way. The disability sphere has certainly changed within this period with advocacy and inclusion coming leaps and bounds from when she first started out. It makes her proud to engage within such an amazing community that understands and appreciates this important work.

Nicki has 3 children that have enjoyed what Maccabi NSW clubs have to offer and looks forward to making these opportunities available to the All Abilities community.

Taryn has been involved with Maccabi since she was 9 years old. In particular, with Maccabi Netball, both playing and coaching for over 10 years. Her mum, Lana, was the VP of the Netball Club for many years giving her the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of Maccabi.

Taryn also represented Maccabi Australia at the 2013 and in 2017 Maccabiah Games in Israel. Together with her netball team, she won Silver as a Junior and Gold as a senior. In the 2013 games she was also recognised as MVP and was team captain.

Originally from Belgium, Isabelle has  over 25 years of  experience in the dynamic realms of events and marketing. Isabelle’s journey has always been driven by her deep passion for the non-profit sector and a profound desire to contribute to the Jewish community. In April 2023, she proudly joined Maccabi NSW, marking a new chapter her  lifelong commitment to community engagement. Prior to this, she spent five rewarding years at JCA, where she honed her skills and forged valuable connections. Beyond her professional pursuits, She is a devoted mother to three wonderful children and is thrilled to be a part of the Maccabi family and is looking  forward to continuing her mission of giving back to the community.