Our Staff

Lynne Michel - Temple Administrator

Lynne brings over 15 years' experience to this role, gained from her previous position as Administrator and Bookkeeper at Kehillat Masada Synagogue.  Additionally, Lynne has volunteered as a member of the Board of Management at Masada College for several years, having had the lead role of various portfolios.  Over the last few years, Lynne has been contracting privately and working in the travel business. 

As Temple Administrator, Lynne is responsible for governance, insurance and risk management, budgetary control, Board of Directors communication and reporting, project management of major fundraising programs and grant applications, engagement with members, external providers, local council and affiliated NSTE entities. Lynne provides leadership and direction to the Office Team.

Pauline Lazarus – Program and Administration Manager

Pauline has worked at NSTE for over 18 years. She is responsible for the general running of functions and events at NSTE. In addition, she continues to serve as Personal Assistant to the Rabbis. Pauline also coordinates lifecycle events and the hire of VJs and the Max Joseph Hall.

Pauline migrated to Australia from England at the end of 2000, along with her husband Nigel and her two sons, Josh and Reuben. Both boys have celebrated their bar mitzvahs at NSTE and were actively involved with Kesher Lanoar and Netzer. Josh also taught in MEAH and Reuben can be seen regularly helping out at various events.

She is a regular member of the NSTE choir and was part of the ensemble for the Jubilee production of "Children of Eden." Outside of work Pauline serves as Secretary for the Jewish Arts Inc board and helps run events including the Bi-Annual Australin Choral Festival.

Sarona Perez - Membership and Accounting Administrator 

Sarona has been part of the NSTE Office team since July 2007, working in a variety of capacities over the years, and is currently Membership and Accounting Administrator. She is primarily responsible for the smooth running of accounts receivable and of the membership database.

Sarona was originally drawn to NSTE, when, having returned from living in Israel for 10 years, she went in search of a Jewish community in which to raise her children. Although initially feeling like an outsider, she quickly found her feet by joining in NSTE community group meetings, such as JSA’s, and shule and Hebrew School events. Sarona has since deepened her sense of fulfilment by participating in a great many facets of NSTE’s community, including joining the NSTE choir, which has definitely been a highlight.

Sarona is passionate about tikkun olam and, in Israel, worked in International Relations at the Ministry of Environment, representing Israel in international conferences and coordinating Israeli Environmental Ministers’ meetings and conferences abroad. She is also a counsellor by nature, and is always happy to lend a hand, a shoulder, and an ear to those in need.

Gail Fox – Community Administrator

Gail Fox joined the Office Staff in 2017, however she has been involved with NSTE since her arrival from South Africa in 1986. 

Gail was immediately involved with Netzer, became a teacher at the Hebrew School, and helped with Shammash duties and leading services occasionally for many years before graduating as a professional speech pathologist. 

Gail worked in both Australia and Israel as a speech pathologist, and also owned her own business in Jerusalem, where she lived with her husband for almost five years.  After giving birth to her daughter, they moved back to Australia, and she continued her involvement with NSTE through teaching at Sunday school and being the mother of two children who attended the preschool and now Meah. 

Gail co-ordinates the Community Well-Being Program, provides administrative help for the Boomers, MEAH and Early Childhood Engagement Committee.

Judy Campbell – Music Director

Judy has been Music Director at NSTE since June 1999, providing direction to the volunteer choir, youth choir, vocal quartet ZIMRA and a range of professional musicians who are involved in services, concerts and other projects from time to time. Prior to that, she sang in the NSTE volunteer choir for over 12 years. Over the past decade, she has directed the choir on three CD releases:

• “A Chanukah Cantata” by Shelley Olson (2000)
• “A Hallel for Our Times” also by Shelley Olson (2003)
• “Celebration”, Jubilee CD release (2009)

In her secular music life, Judy is a professional vocalist, composer, arranger and producer. She has led and written for a number of bands and vocal groups over a long period of time, and has toured extensively in Australia and South Africa with her world jazz group MOSAIC, who have three CD releases to their name.

Judy studied arranging at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and later taught sight-singing courses there. She has collaborated with other composers as an arranger and lyricist, and sings in the acclaimed Sydney chamber choir, Bel a cappella.

In 2007, Judy launched Jewish Arts, a multi-artform initiative aimed at fostering Jewish continuity through active engagement with the arts. Now an incorporated association, Jewish Arts has presented and/or supported quite a number of events and continues to explore ways in which to realise its aims. In 2012, Judy received the President's Award from the Union for Progressive Judaism "in recognition of her exemplary leadership, outstanding service, devotion and commitment to the promotion and development of Progressive Judaism."

The philosophy underlying all her work is one of promoting harmony and understanding between people through shared experience of the arts. To this end, Judy actively pursues musical and cross-artform collaborations across genres, different media, cultures and religions.

 Nicki Braun - Clerical Administrator

Nicki became a member at NSTE when she was 14 years old. She grew up not really know much about Judaism throughout primary school and thinking it wasn’t something for her. But when she became a member at NSTE, this all changed. She had a supportive and inclusive community; a safe place and somewhere to identify with. And, she has never looked back.

Nicki started Netzer when she was 12. This was the beginning of her connection with the Progressive community and a big influence for joining NSTE. In 2015, Nicki went to Israel on Shnat, Netzer’s gap year program. Then in 2016, she was the metaemet (PR coordinator), and in 2017 she is the Sydney Mazkira (chairperson).

Nicki is studying communications at UTS, with a major of social and political science. In her free time, she likes going for adventures, spontaneous outings, being outdoors and active, and just being around friends. 

Leo Villalobos - Weekday caretaker