Our Board of Directors
Meet our 2022/2023 Board of Directors
Julia Selby - President
"I hope to contribute to the long-term sustainability of NSTE for future generations, building on the work of others to maintain its welcoming presence as a Progressive synagogue for our community, as well as demonstrating a commitment to the wider community through tikkun olam. "
Julia has been associated with NSTE since her parents joined as early members in 1961, when she was in primary school. She became a member herself over 20 years ago when she returned to Sydney after living interstate and overseas as her career developed. Since 2017 Julia has chaired NSTE’s Jews for Social Action (JSA). Julia joined the board in 2018 and assumed the Secretary/Treasurer role in 2019. She became President in May 2021.
In her career, Julia worked in student administration and management at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) from 2004-2015, and was also Company Secretary from 2008-2016. Prior to joining NIDA, she had a long career with the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), including serving overseas as a Trade Commissioner, as well as having a range of roles in Australia.
Julia’s not for profit board experience includes being on the board of an independent school for more than 10 years.
Portfolio Responsibilities
- Finance, General Executive responsibilities, Governance, NSTE Programming Committee
Volunteering – NSTE
- Jews for Social Action
- Warden
Robin Braun - Vice President
Rob grew up on a dairy farm in George, South Africa where he learned to milk the cows. This was a skill which he later put to good use on a kibbutz refet when living in Israel. His schooling was at SACS in Cape Town. Rob and his wife Cathy have three children. They moved to Australia in 1998.
After working in industry for 10 years, he turned to academia and is now Professor of Telecommunications Engineering at University of Technology Sydney.
Rob is passionate about turning his skills and experience to benefit the community. He is thrilled to be able to join the Board of NSTE and make whatever contribution he can.
Geoff Wolf - Vice President
"NSTE is at a unique point in its history and I am honoured to join the Board of Directors and make a contribution to the organisation that has provided so much to my family and to the community."
Geoff and his family have enjoyed a lifelong association with NSTE, with his parents being founding members and Geoff meeting his wife, Jenny, in the early days of our youth groups. In later years, Geoff and Jenny married on our campus (incidentally it was the last wedding in the former Sanctuary, now occupied by the Preschool!), and they saw both their daughters attend the Preschool and experience their B’nei Mitzvah with us.
Geoff’s background is in the hospitality and hotel industry and he is currently involved in the retirement and aged care sector.
He was appointed as Vice President in May 2018.
Portfolio Responsibilities
- To be confirmed
Volunteering – NSTE
I have been an NSTE member for most of my life and have helped in a variety of capacities over many years including:
- Volunteering at the NSTE fetes that were held in the now Westfield carpark
- Co-chair for several Jubilee events
- Volunteer at many Senior Citizens Concerts
- Warden
Agnes Heffernan - Treasurer
Agnes Heffernan joined the board in August 2021 and is Treasurer, She is a longstanding member of NSTE and is a chartered accountant, with experience both in private practice and in the education sector. She also has a long association with B'nai Brith.
Greta Davis - Board Member
Greta has been associated with Progressive Judaism all her life having grown up celebrating bat mitzvah at the Woollahra Emanuel Synagogue and then joining NSTE in 2012.
She retired in 2009 after an exhilarating career in the information technology industry where she worked for organisations such as IBM, Fujitsu and Gartner. She is passionate about music and tries to play the oboe.
Greta has extensive volunteering experience, having served as president of the Sydney Bushwalkers, treasurer of the Australian Jewish Genealogical Society, writing life stories at Montefiore Hunters Hill and three years on the phone at Lifeline. She is currently treasurer of the Lane Cove Concert Band organisation and is the Research Area Coordinator for Płock and Włoclawek for Jewish Records Indexing – Poland.
Alexis Selby - Board Member
Alexis Selby joined the Board in 2022. She is a neurologist and mother of two children. She is involved with the NSTE choir and has started the NSTE Parents Group for families. Alexis is passionate about fostering a great sense of communication and connection for NSTE families.
Jennifer Ruskin - Board Member
Jennifer Ruskin joined the Board in 2018. She has engaged in different aspects of the NSTE community, including playgroup, Meah and the Community Families Club since 2012.
Drawing on her career as an academic in work-integrated learning and social entrepreneurship, as well as prior experience as a manager in the non-profit space, Jennifer brings facilitation, research and program development skills to the Board.
Portfolio Responsibilities
- BPJE (Board of Progressive Jewish Education) director
- NSTE60 in 2020
Volunteering - NSTE
- NSTE Playgroup
- Young family service activities
Peter Landis - Board Member
Peter and his wife Jacqui, with children Zoe, Sasha and Sean, have been members of NSTE for nearly 20 years. He grew up in the Eastern suburbs where his family were long standing members of The Great Synagogue.
He and his family made the move to NSTE after the children were born so they could enjoy a more inclusive communal experience for the whole family.
He has been actively involved over the years and was the Producer of the Musical “Children of Eden” as part of NSTE’s 50 year Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Peter has been a small business owner for most of his working life in IT and Technology related businesses, has volunteered at Lifeline and several other NFP’s and is currently a specialist in Recruitment for the Geospatial Industry.
He brings with him a desire to see the NSTE community flourish, emerging from what has been a difficult time for the whole world.