Eli Nossbaum is an Executive Director in the UBS Wealth Management Division in Melbourne where he works closely with family offices and not-for-profit organisations advising on local and international investments across multiple asset classes. Prior to UBS, Eli spent 4 years as a Relationship Manager with Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management. Eli holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Applied Finance from Monash University. Eli was previously a member of the Investment Committee of Jewish Care Victoria, which included responsibility for managing the organisation’s endowment and residential bond portfolios. He is married to Tammy and the proud father of 5 children. 

Peter commenced work as an accountant in 1977 and first became a principal in 1988. In 2006 he was one of the founding partners of Logicca. In addition to his business services clients he heads the audit, superannuation, estate planning and not-for-profit sections of the practice.

Peter is married to Leone; they have three children and 6 grandchildren.

He has had the honor of being the treasurer of the Zionist Federation of Australia and is currently the treasurer of Technion Australia a charity which supports the work of the Technion University in Israel, through financial donations and research collaborations.

As a Bondi boy all his life he is keen supporter of the Sydney Roosters football team and the Australian cricket team.

Keren is an executive level corporate, funds and financial services lawyer and non-executive director. She is experienced in governance and strategy, both in the private and NFP sector and has always had a keen interest in Jewish organisations, having worked within them both in paid and voluntary capacities. Since October 7 Keren had taken a leading role in advocacy and developed a keen interest in the philanthropy sector, particularly where it touches on Jewish community and Israel. Keren went on the AJF mission to Israel in March 2024 which was incredible – really a life-changing experience, and is keen to further develop and hone leadership skills in the field of Jewish community and philanthropy. Keren also just participated in Cohort 5 of LaunchPad Leadership.

Lauren Placks is an experienced and passionately dedicated charity and not-for profit community leader. For more than a decade, she has held leadership roles and maintained active involvement in various charities such as the JCA, Australian Jewish Fertility Network (AJFN) and the UIA. I have also been a Board Member on the Moriah College Foundation for the past 5 years and recently joined the board for Australian Jewish Funders (AJF).

After completing a Bachelor of Senior Education (Physical and Health Education) with Honours and running a successful personal training business, Lauren began raising her young family. Her time is now largely spent on her various roles and responsibilities within each organisation, with a focus on events, strategic planning and engagement and helping to encourage her fellow cohort to begin their own philanthropic journey, for example through her role as the chair of ‘Jumpstart Juniors’ for JCAs young family program. Lauren and her husband have also been a part of a giving circle for the past 4 years and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of this unique way of giving.

Dr Linda Friedland is a medical doctor with over 25 years’ experience in clinical medicine and an international advisor to several global companies.  She consults to healthcare, biotech, corporate and financial institutions and as a speaker has delivered keynotes in more than 30 countries. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), Linda is Deputy Chairperson of Neurological Council of Western Australia (NCWA), a non-executive director Maurice Zeffert Jewish Aged Care, Asia- Pacific partner, Camelot Bio- Capital and sits on several global advisory healthcare boards. A mother of 5 and grandmother of 5, Linda is married to Professor Peter Friedland and lives in Perth. A passionate Jewish community leader, over the past 15 years she has held roles in UIA women’s division, AICC and facilitates Perth community events on behalf of JCCWA, SZC, NCJWA, Carmel School and the Synagogues.

Linda is also the founder of Project 18 a fund, which started urgently after October 7^th and has developed into a global collaboration with the UK and US funding pregnant war widows, children and advanced trauma life support.

An author of seven bestseller health, women’s and lifestyle books with a long career in television and media, she has developed public health and mental health programs in Asia, USA, Australia, Africa and the UK.

Raphael Leibler is a partner in Arnold Bloch Leibler’s litigation & dispute resolution team. He has represented public and private companies, high-net-worth individuals and other high-profile clients. He has acted in a diverse range of commercial disputes, cross-border matters, activist shareholder campaigns, corporate insolvencies and royal commissions. Raphael has also acted on behalf of numerous pro bono clients, including community organisations, schools and charities.

Raphael previously spent time in New York as a speechwriter to Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Ron Prosor.  He has held roles in numerous communal organisations, including the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Australian Friends of Hebrew University. Raphael lives in Melbourne with his wife Rebecca and daughter Elke.

Simon Feiglin joined Riverside in 2007. He leads the RAF transacting and operating teams in the acquisition, growth and sale of portfolio companies, as well as the development of the strategic direction of the fund.   Prior to Riverside, he was a founding Partner of Silver Oak Services Partners, a private equity fund focused on investing in the services sector. He also served as the Vice President of Corporate Development at CBIZ Inc., where he managed the merger, acquisition and divestiture effort for a $600 million publicly traded company. His earlier career includes four years at Morgenthaler Partners, a private equity firm. He holds a BBA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Tom Levi is a principal management consultant at Nous Group, bringing two decades’ experience across business consulting and law to his work in the education, government, and community sectors. An active member of Australian Jewish Funders, Tom has participated in and facilitated LaunchPad Leadership and joined a recent AJF Israel mission, deepening his commitment to strategic philanthropy within the Australian Jewish community.

Tom has significant board governance experience, including serving as Chair of Little Dreamers Australia and Treasurer of the NSW Board of Jewish Education. His extensive work with the NSW Jewish community has encompassed schools sector planning, next generation engagement initiatives, communal strategic planning, and building and capital oversight. Tom is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and holds an MBA from INSEAD Business School. Tom and his wife Isabella live in Sydney with their two young children.

CEO

Tracie Olcha is Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Jewish Funders (AJF), a membership organisation of Jewish social investors. Tracie works closely with the AJF network, philanthropic foundations and a multitude of organisations throughout Australia, the US, Israel and Asia to promote strategic, effective philanthropy and support their journey towards impactful giving across the generations. 

She is all about empowering community members to create meaningful and relevant Jewish experiences for themselves and their peers and is the visionary behind LaunchPad – A Platform for Jewish Community Innovation. LaunchPad inspires grassroots community engagement and leadership, enabling change-makers to connect, think, create and lead.

Before joining the AJF in 2011, Tracie worked with a variety of Jewish organisations and was responsible for a myriad of projects including fundraising, marketing, major events and conferences. With a background in education, Tracie taught and held a number of leadership roles at Mount Scopus Memorial College and was education consultant for News Limited and the AFL.

Tracie sits on the International Council at Moishe House and is a Scholar with Our Common Destiny, a ground-breaking new initiative to strengthen global Jewry by linking Jewish communities all over the world to a shared set of ethics and values across religious and cultural identities. Tracie co-founded Mamilla, a six-month program that aims to unlock and activate the power of Jewish entrepreneurs and connects them with the start-up eco-system in Israel.

Director of Community and Innovation

Rebecca is supportive, enthusiastic and extremely community focused. She loves to have fun, explore new opportunities and is empowered to encourage those around her to take a leap of faith and step forth with courage, the motto from Bialik College, where she attended school from kindergarten through to year 12.

Rebecca first joined the Australian Jewish Funders team as the LaunchPad Retreat Coordinator. Through this role, her understanding of the Jewish community has broadened, as has her network of highly motivated and inspiring individuals.

Rebecca has also been involved in the disability sector for many years and brings a wealth of knowledge, understanding and a commitment for a more inclusive society to the LaunchPad network. In her spare time, Rebecca loves exploring new walks around Victoria, believing walking isn’t only a lockdown trend. She also loves a soy latte, experiencing new restaurants and is always on the hunt for the best dumplings in town.

Philanthropy Manager – Sydney

Natalie brings a unique mix of global experience and community passion to her role as Philanthropy Manager at AJF. Originally from South Africa, she began her career in investment banking in London and New York before co-founding and growing the fashion brand Bird & Knoll into a globally recognised business.

She holds a Bachelor of Business Science (BBusSc) from the University of Cape Town and is now based in Sydney, where she works with individuals and community organisations to support AJF’s mission of strengthening Jewish life through values-driven philanthropy. Natalie lives with her husband and two daughters and is passionate about creating opportunities for meaningful connection and contribution across the Jewish community.

Projects and Communications Manager

Susan brings a strong background in communications, event management and community engagement to her role at AJF. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications from the University of Melbourne and has worked across the travel and sport industries, most recently as Marketing and Events Manager at VAFA, Australia’s largest community football league.

With experience in sponsorship, media and brand development, Susan is passionate about creating impactful projects and fostering meaningful connections within the Jewish community.

Outside of work, Susan enjoys swimming and baking – and her colleagues are often treated to her delicious creations in the office.