Leadership
Message from the President
"This is a bold and exciting project, and we greatly appreciate your support. The strength of any organisation is the calibre of the people involved in its leadership and I just want to say what a privilege it is working with the Hakoah Board, Committee members and staff.
This group of talented and hardworking community leaders go above and beyond to ensure that the transformational vision of Hakoah at White City will become a reality. I’m inspired by their expertise, work ethic and passion. You can get to know them by reading the bios below."
Steven Lowy AM
Steven Lowy AM
Steven Lowy AM is a Principal of LFG, the private investment business and family office of the Lowy Family Group.
He was previously an executive director of Westfield Corporation serving as co-Chief Executive Officer for many years prior to the sale of Westfield in June 2018. He is a director of the Lowy Institute and the Lowy Medical Research Institute and is Chairman, World Board of Trustees Keren Hayesod-UIA.
He has served as a non-executive director of Scentre Group, Chairman of Football Federation Australia Limited, President of the Board of Trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Chairman of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and Presiding Officer of the NSW Police Force Associate Degree in Policing Practice Board of Management.
Steven received an Order of Australia (AM) from the Australian Government in 2010 for service to business, and philanthropic support for the arts and culture, medical research and social policy organisations. He has been a member of the Hakoah Club Board since March 2019.
Board Members
George Farkas
George Farkas
George Farkas has a 53-year association with the Jewish community. He was the youngest member of the Executive of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies at the age of 18, a co-founder of the UIA Trendsetters, a member of the board of the Sydney Jewish Museum from 2004 – 2010, and at the request of Maccabi Australia, the NSW member of a 3-person Committee set up in 2009 to review and make recommendations regarding Australia's participation in the Junior Maccabiah in Israel.
He also has a long association with Hakoah, having been its Honorary Secretary and a member of Hakoah's Board of Directors for many years in the mid 1970's, at the time of the building of its then Hall St premises personally conducting on site tours of the construction site, and being instrumental in greatly increasing the club's membership as well as being involved in the club's interaction with the community.
At the request of the Hakoah Board, he re-joined the Board in April 2011 and was elected President in March 2014. At the 2018 AGM , given his involvement with the redevelopment of White City, members passed a Special Resolution amending the Club’s Constitution to allow him if he wished and was re-elected to serve as a Director and President until 2024, beyond the permitted constitutional term.
In March 2019 he reorganised the Board and became Vice President.
In 2020, in view of his longstanding service to the Club, he was given the unique honour of being appointed a Governor of the Club, joining the existing 4 other Governors.
George holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney and practised as a Barrister at the Sydney Bar with distinction for many years. He was also an Accredited Commercial Mediator by the Australian Commercial Disputes Centre.
Kevin Wunsh
Kevin Wunsh
Kevin Wunsh is the Managing Director of Corporate Investments at Wingate and runs the Sydney office. He started his career as a corporate lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills and has held roles at AT Kearney, Babcock & Brown and Alceon.
Kevin has over 25 years’ experience working in Australia and internationally in investment, funds management, corporate advisory and strategy.
Kevin holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of New South Wales and a MBA Essentials Certification from the University of Michigan.
Greg Einfeld
Greg Einfeld
Greg Einfeld is the Founder and Managing Director of Lime Actuarial and Price Wizard, and has over 25 years’ experience in the Wealth Management industry. He has worked in Executive roles within MLC, Lend Lease & NAB and his experience includes investment, business leadership, financial management, product development, pricing, relationship management, strategy, M & A, operations & start-ups.
Greg has BEc, MEc, and MBA degrees, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia.
Phil Green
Phil Green
Phil Green has over 35 years’ experience specialising in; structured finance and advisory, leasing, asset based financing, principal investment and funds management. He has extensive expertise in property, financial assets, infrastructure and other forms of asset backed finance including; aircraft, rail and mortgages.
Phil is a founding partner of Alceon and prior to that was a partner of Babcock & Brown for 24 years and was appointed as Chief Executive Officer on its listing in 2004. Before joining Babcock & Brown, Phil worked for Arthur Andersen specialising in taxation, cross border leasing and structured finance.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law degrees from the University of NSW, a Chartered Accountant and was admitted as a solicitor in NSW in 1978.
Phil is a member of Maccabi, Past President of both Maccabi Squash and Cricket Clubs. He served on the JCA Allocations Committee and is a major donor to both JCA and UIA.
Ali Linz
Ali Linz
Ali Linz has over 20 years’ experience across the gamut of marketing. She is now co-founder of GroupTogether, an online group payment platform. Before that she held the position of Strategy Planning Director at global advertising agency DDB in Sydney with clients including McDonald’s, TAB and J&J. She was also co-founder of The Clinic, an advertising effectiveness consultancy.
She has contributed her skills to her community, industry and university. In 2010, she launched the JewishCare Capital Appeal with the hand logo and has been involved with JCA’s campaigns since. She has contributed to her university - UTS, as a judge on the panel of their yearly MBAe Enterprise Day and to her industry, lecturing at the AFA Adschool and judging the Advertising Effectiveness Awards.
Ali holds a Bachelor of Business from UTS.
Lance Rosenberg
Lance Rosenberg
Lance Rosenberg is currently Managing Director of Gleneagle Securities (Aust) Pty Ltd, a boutique investment bank and brokerage firm.
Gleneagle currently employs over 100 people in 4 countries and offers a full range of financial services to local and international clients.
Outside of Gleneagle, Lance is currently the Federal President of UIA Australia and the Immediate past President of Sydney Maccabi Tennis Club. Lance is on the boards of three other communal organisations, being a Director of The Shabbat Project Limited, a Director of Jewish Learning Centre Limited, and a Trustee of Blake Napier Trust Limited.
Lance holds a Bachelor of Commerce (UNSW), ACA, ASIA, JP.
Jessica Roth
Jessica Roth
Jessica is the Founder and Director of the Social Impact Hub. The Social Impact Hub collaborates with social purpose organisations to advise, educate and mobilise capital for impact. Jessica is also a consultant to the impact investment sector, having served as the Impact Strategist for Blue River Group, an independent impact investment services firm, and opened the Sydney office of Impact Investment Group. Previously, Jessica was a Solicitor at King & Wood Mallesons in Sydney.
She holds a B.A. and LL.B. (with First Class Honours) from UNSW and a LL.M. from Harvard Law School, where she was the recipient of the R.G. Menzies Scholarship to Harvard, and she studied social entrepreneurship, philanthropy and impact investing.
Previous communal experience includes serving as co-chair of JCA’s Gen-gage initiative (which became Jumpstart) to engage young adults, Emanuel Synagogue Board director and co-chair of capital campaign, and various AUJS leadership roles including President. She has been a member of the Club Board since March 2020.
Danny Yezerski
Danny Yezerski
Danny Yezerski is one of Australia’s leading special event producers and entertainment executives
In 1991 he founded TP Events Pty Ltd which has produced over 3000 events in the past 30 years .
Danny has worked across Australasia on international theatre projects including Cirque Du Soleil, Cats, Phantom of The Opera, Miss Saigon, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Sunset Boulevard, Rent, Billy Elliot and Les Miserables.
TP Events has produced some of Australia’s most high profile and spectacular events, including Sydney of City’s New Years Eve , Crown & Sydney Harbour Casino opening events, The Dalai Lama’s National Tour, Australia Day & Bicentennial celebrations, Film premieres (Matrix, Lord Of The Rings, Happy Feet, Kill Bill, Men In Black ) Live Television Events, Concerts, Awards nights (IFA, ASTRA, CRA,SBS & Nine), Corporate roadshows (LG, Sony, Penfolds, South Corp, Boral), VIP & Government Events (SOCOG, IOC, YPO, Prime Ministers Office), Private, Social and a wide range of high yielding Charity Events ( Sony, Children’s Hospital, Beyond Blue,Victor Chang, UIA, JNF, JCA)… managing highly experienced teams to create and deliver these events , overseeing all aspects of the productions.
Danny has also promoted and toured a wide range of international concerts and artists. He lectures and mentors students at NIDA, UTS, UNSW and AGS. He has a Bachelor of Science from the University of NSW (Computer Information Systems), a Diploma in Audio Engineering and Acoustics from SAE Institute Australia, a Masters in Event Production and Design, and is the Founding President of YEO Australia.
Chelsea Lahav
Chelsea Lahav
Chelsea Lahav is a communications professional with experience in both the public and private sector. She studied Law and Politics at Macquarie University and began her first role in public affairs working for the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. She then transitioned into the Prime Minister’s Press Office under Malcolm Turnbull and worked on the 2016 Federal Election. Chelsea has held communications roles for some of Australia’s biggest brands, including Qantas and The Arnott’s Group and is passionate about all things news and current affairs.
Chelsea sits on the Hakoah Board as an observer as part of the 2021 Observership Program.
Team Members
Robert Woolf
Robert Woolf
Dr Robert Woolf established Projects+Infrastructure in 2005 after eight years as an Executive Director at NM Rothschild & Sons. His hands-on, detail driven approach has resulted in a uniquely successful hit rate of completed projects.
In recent times he has completed the 12,500m2 Clinical Practices Building at James Cook University, urban renewal projects at Tuncurry and Forbes, Devonport LIVING CITY urban renewal project, and the new kindergarten at Moriah College.
He is currently Project Director of the White City redevelopment, for Hakoah Club. After time as a Director at Infrastructure Development Corporation and Hambros, Rob established Rothschild’s projects and infrastructure division as Business Head.
He initiated and led the redevelopment of Swinburne University’s Hawthorn Campus including the design, construction, finance, and operation of a 371 bed student accommodation, academic space and student services. Other projects he led include Victoria’s private prisons projects and Epworth Centre - and specialist Oncology Centre. He led the redevelopment of Royal Derwent Hospital, Mersey Werribee Hospital, Royal Melbourne Private Hospital, La Trobe Regional Hospital, the NW Regional Burney and other health care projects.
Gary Samowitz
Gary Samowitz
Gary is currently the Engagement Director at Hakoah. Prior to this he was appointed as Stand Up’s CEO for 10 years and played a key role in overseeing the explosive growth of its programs and volunteer community. Stand Up is all about the Australian Jewish community pursuing social justice for all. Gary has also served as the Hillel Director (at Shalom) for 4 years where he mentored and trained Jewish university students, and was lucky to lead 12 Israel programs.
Gary is currently the Chair of the AUJS Board, and is also the Chair of the Festival Of Jewish Arts and Music.
Pam Lewin
Pam Lewin
Pam Lewin is Hakoah’s longest serving staff member. She became the executive assistant in 2005 and Club Secretary in 2010.
She has been managing the White City site for the last decade with her little dog Ollie. Pam is also a skincare professional and sells a range of products to her loyal clientele.
She is a mother of 2 young adults and is excited for the future of Hakoah at White City.
Ali Weiss
Ali Weiss
Ali is an impact-driven marketer, program manager and community builder. Ali moved to Sydney from New York in 2010 and has since had a wide range of experiences within the not-for-profit, social-enterprise and corporate sectors. She also founded her own social enterprise.
Ali studied Political Science and Judaic Studies at the University of Rochester and received her Juris Doctor from NYU School of Law. After law school, she was a litigator at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York.
Development Subcommittee
Phillip Wolanski AM
Phillip Wolanski AM
Phillip Wolanski AM is the Managing Director of Denwol Group, whose principal activity is property development and investment.
Phillip has over 40 years’ experience, in the property industry specialising in development, including residential, commercial, retail, hotel and industrial development and investment including the adaptive re-use of existing buildings.
Phillip has had a long association and involvement with the Jewish community, and has previously served a term as Member of the JCA Allocations Committee.
In the years, 1997-2006, Phillip served as a Board Member and the Vice President of the Hakoah Club Ltd and was a member of the Management Finance Committee and Co-opted Chairman of the Building Committee.
In 2017, he was Appointed as a Life Governor of Hakoah.
He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Hakoah Club’s Building and Development Committee for its redevelopment of White City.
Phillip is the current Patron of Maccabi-Hakoah FC, having previously held every committee position, and served as a player over several decades.
From 2003 - 2015 Phillip was also a Board Director of Football Federation Australia Limited, served as the Chair of its Football Development Committee and was the Head of Delegation for the Socceroos (2004 –2014), before retiring having reached the maximum term allowed as a director.
In 2014 Phillip was appointed as a Trustee to the Sydney Opera House Board, where he is currently serving his third term and is a Member of the Sydney Opera House Building and Heritage Committee and Chair of the Sydney Opera House Conservation Council Committee.
Phillip was awarded an Order of Australia in the General Division in 2008 in the Queen’s Birthday honours for service to the community through executive roles and philanthropic contributions to a range of arts, sporting and cultural organisations.
In 2017, he was inducted into the NSW Maccabi Sports Hall of Fame.
Phillip holds a Bachelor of Economics Degree (major in Accounting) University of Sydney.
Allen Linz
Allen Linz
Allen Linz is Managing Director of Rebel Property Group, a Sydney based Development and Investment Company. Rebel has been an active developer of residential, commercial and retail development for the past 20 years.
Between 2000 and 2012, Allen was an active board member of Jewish Care – Sydney’s major provider of non-residential services to the aged, people with disabilities, mental health and wellbeing for families and youth in crisis. He was instrumental in bringing the Jewish Care Aged Care facility in Bondi Junction to fruition in 2012.
In 2015, Allen was asked to co-chair the Hakoah Development Committee, forming part of a dedicated team working towards the re-development and upgrade of the former White City Tennis Centre for members of the Hakoah Club and the wider local community.
George Farkas
George Farkas
George Farkas has a 53-year association with the Jewish community. He was the youngest member of the Executive of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies at the age of 18, a co-founder of the UIA Trendsetters, a member of the board of the Sydney Jewish museum from 2004 – 2010, and at the request of Maccabi Australia, the NSW member of a 3-person Committee set up in 2009 to review and make recommendations as regards Australia's participation in the Junior Maccabiah in Israel.
He also has a long association with Hakoah, having been its Honorary Secretary and a member of Hakoah's Board of Directors for many years in the mid 1970's, at the time of the building of its then Hall St premises personally conducting on site tours of the construction site, and being instrumental in greatly increasing the club's membership as well as being involved in the club's interaction with the community.
At the request of the Hakoah Board, he re-joined the Board in April 2011 and was elected President in March 2014. At the 2018 AGM , given his involvement with the redevelopment of White City, members passed a Special Resolution amending the Club’s Constitution , to allow him if he wished and was re-elected to serve as a Director and President till 2024, beyond the permitted constitutional term.
In March 2019 , he reorganised the Board and became Vice President.
In 2020, in view of his longstanding service to the Club, he was given the unique honour of being appointed a Governor of the Club, joining the existing 4 other Governors.
George holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney and practised as a Barrister at the Sydney Bar with distinction for many years. He was also an Accredited Commercial Mediator by the Australian Commercial Disputes Centre.
Steven Lowy AM
Steven Lowy AM
Steven Lowy AM is a Principal of LFG, the private investment business and family office of the Lowy Family Group.
He was previously an executive director of Westfield Corporation serving as co-Chief Executive Officer for many years prior to the sale of Westfield in June 2018. He is a director of the Lowy Institute and the Lowy Medical Research Institute and is Chairman, World Board of Trustees Keren Hayesod-UIA.
He has served as a non-executive director of Scentre Group, Chairman of Football Federation Australia Limited, President of the Board of Trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Chairman of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and Presiding Officer of the NSW Police Force Associate Degree in Policing Practice Board of Management.
Steven received an Order of Australia (AM) from the Australian Government in 2010 for service to business, and philanthropic support for the arts and culture, medical research and social policy organisations. He has been a member of the Hakoah Club Board since March 2019.
Robert Woolf
Robert Woolf
Dr Robert Woolf established Projects+Infrastructure in 2005 after eight years as an Executive Director at NM Rothschild & Sons. His hands-on, detail driven approach has resulted in a uniquely successful hit rate of completed projects.
In recent times he has completed the 12,500m2 Clinical Practices Building at James Cook University, urban renewal projects at Tuncurry and Forbes, Devonport LIVING CITY urban renewal project, and the new kindergarten at Moriah College.
He is currently Project Director of the White City redevelopment, for Hakoah Club. After time as a Director at Infrastructure Development Corporation and Hambros, Rob established Rothschild’s projects and infrastructure division as Business Head.
He initiated and led the redevelopment of Swinburne University’s Hawthorn Campus including the design, construction, finance, and operation of a 371 bed student accommodation, academic space and student services. Other projects he led include Victoria’s private prisons projects and Epworth Centre - and specialist Oncology Centre. He led the redevelopment of Royal Derwent Hospital, Mersey Werribee Hospital, Royal Melbourne Private Hospital, La Trobe Regional Hospital, the NW Regional Burney and other health care projects.
Board Subcommittees
Finance & Property
- Kevin Wunsh
- Greg Einfeld
- Rob Woolf
- Pam Lewin
Development
- Phill Wolanski
- Allen Linz
- George Farkas
- Steven Lowy
- Rob Woolf
Fundraising
- Phil Green
- Lance Rosenberg
- Steven Lowy
- Alex Abulafia
- Phil Opit
- Kevin Wunsh
- Gary Samowitz
Governance
- George Farkas
- Jessica Roth
- Phil Green
- Steven Lowy
- Rob Woolf
Communal Engagement
- Ali Linz
- Jessica Roth
- Greg Einfeld
- Danny Yezerski
- Chelsea Lahav
- Gary Samowitz
Club Governors
- Sir Frank Lowy AC - Life Governor
- Phillip Filler
- George Farkas
- Andrew Kemeny
- Phillip Wolanski AM
