Gary Samowitz appointed March of the Living CEO
Samowitz holds degrees in Holocaust studies, has undertaken the Yad Vashem educators course and has a proven track record in non-profit and community leadership
March of the Living Australia (MOTL) has appointed Gary Samowitz as its new CEO.
Samowitz brings a long and successful career of communal achievement to the position. He served as CEO of Stand Up for 10 years, after which he worked with Sydney’s Hakoah Club, managing its community engagement and fundraising activities, as well as consulting to Melbourne’s Jewish Arts Quarter.
He previously served as head madrich of March of the Living Australia Year 11 program in 2006, as an educator on the program to Poland and Israel in 2009 and was a member of the board.
Samowitz holds degrees in Holocaust studies, has undertaken the Yad Vashem educators course and has a proven track record in non-profit and community leadership.
“The board and I are excited to work alongside a proven leader of Gary Samowitz’s calibre to scale our organisation, its reach and its mission,” MOTL chair Adam Geha said.
“Gary will be replacing Cedric Geffen who has performed this role with passion and distinction in a voluntary capacity since 2011.”
Samowitz said he was “honoured to be stepping into this role at such a pivotal time in our history”.
“With the global surge of antisemitism, Holocaust education has never been more important. Exposing more people to what happens when racism and discrimination are allowed to fester unchecked will hopefully inspire them to not be bystanders to what is happening in the world today,” he said.
Geffen, who is aboard director, said, “It is with a great sense of pride and immense satisfaction that I pass on the baton of leadership and stewardship of this incredible organisation to such an esteemed and accomplished alumnus of the program.
“Intergenerational succession is the key to growth and sustainability and I am totally confident that with Gary at the helm, MOTL Australia will grow from strength to strength.”
Geffen just led his ninth MOTL trip, which returned to Australia last week and comprised 30 participants, a third from the wider community. One of only six international delegations to visit Israel as part of this year’s program, the group visited the sites of the October 7 massacres – an experience which participants found deeply moving, given that they were in Auschwitz just days earlier.
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