Leonard takes up new JNF role
THE Jewish National Fund (JNF) has elected a new federal executive to be headed up by community stalwart Grahame Leonard. Melbourne-based Leonard, the immediate past president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, succeeded Sydney-based Ron Ferster in the position.
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THE Jewish National Fund (JNF) has elected a new federal executive to be headed up by community stalwart Grahame Leonard.
Melbourne-based Leonard, the immediate past president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, succeeded Sydney-based Ron Ferster in the position.
“I am committed to a unified and whole-of-organisation approach to our endeavours,” Leonard said at last month’s federal JNF conference in Sydney. “I am also committed to our federal structure that spells out clear roles for each of the parts, which in aggregate make us whole.”
Leonard acknowledged the importance of working with JNF’s Israel-based head office Keren Kayemet to address various projects in Israel, while emphasising that JNF Australia should have a wide selection of projects ready to be implemented.
“Our challenge is to build on the organisation’s achievements that contribute so much to the quality of life and secure, sustainable development in Israel,” Leonard said.
In the foreseeable future, Leonard believes the focus should be on the Negev region, including the Arava. This should include research that examines the water challenge and in turn facilitates settlement in the Negev.
Other appointments at the conference included Stuart Romm as senior vice-president, Sara Gold, Lemmy Hadassin, Sue Musry and Gail Paratz as vice-presidents and Les Rosenfeld as treasurer. A board of elected members was also appointed.