‘Exceptional contribution’ leads to award
Potaznik joined the AFTAU board in 2000 and served as president from 2019 to 2023.
In recognition of her outstanding dedication, Rosie Potaznik is the recipient of Tel Aviv University’s 70th Anniversary Recognition Award (2026) for Exceptional Contribution.
The award honours governors whose commitment has played a meaningful role in advancing Tel Aviv University (TAU)’s mission and strengthening its global community. It is planned to present Potaznik with the award at the TAU board of governors in May in Israel
Her association with Tel Aviv University spans more than three decades and reflects a personal and philanthropic commitment.
The journey began in 1994 when she addressed the inauguration of the Buchmann Faculty of Law on behalf of her uncle, Josef Buchmann.
During that ceremony, her grandparents, Eliezer and Chaya Buchmann, who perished in the Holocaust, were honoured with a commemorative plaque placed at the faculty’s entrance.
This moment marked the beginning of her long and dedicated service to the university and the Australian Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU).
Potaznik joined the AFTAU board in 2000 and served as president from 2019 to 2023.
In 2010, she was elected to the Tel Aviv University board of governors, contributing to the strategic advancement of the university’s mission and global engagement.
“This award represents the recognition of many years of self-discovery and reflection on my life,” Potaznik told The AJN. “As the child of Holocaust survivors, I grew up in a world where much was unspoken and often misunderstood. The values that were certain and unwavering were survival and achieving success at all costs. The events of October 7, 2023, felt like another Holocaust – a profound threat not only to our survival but ultimately to the state of Israel.
“Raising funds for Tel Aviv University became my way of contributing to this fight. Supporting the university was a personal commitment to advancing research and education, and a way to uphold the fight for our survival.
“This recognition is a continuation of my family’s longstanding support for Tel Aviv University and a legacy that I willingly choose to uphold.”