AUSTRALIAN JEWISH ASSOCIATION

DR DAVID ADLER

PRESIDENT

Dr David Adler is a medical graduate of the University of NSW, where he also received the medical faculty prize for general proficiency and leadership.

He is formerly the Deputy Medical Secretary of the Australian Medical Association, a role which provided his training ground in policy and advocacy. He has been responsible for significant features of health policy at both State and Federal levels.

David is an active member of Sydney’s orthodox Jewish community and participates in Torah related learning regularly.

David and writes frequently on political issues, is a popular speaker at many Jewish community events and is known to be outspoken on issues affecting the Jewish community and as an advocate for Israel.

MICHAEL BURD

TREASURER

Michael Burd now retired since 1996, had a 30-year background in the clothing Importing business with factories based in India and Pakistan. Michael married his Jewish, Indian-born wife in the only Synagogue in New Delhi nearly 40 years ago. Michael’s wife Rebecca’s family originates from Iraq.

Michael has extensive experience, knowledge, understanding, and familiarity dealing with Hindus and Muslims with his dealings in India and Pakistan over a long period of time. Michael the been an Israel activist for the last 20 years a prolific letter writer, talkback caller on commercial radio on the topic of Israel and Jewish issues.

Michael and Alan Freedman are co-hosts of the top rating Nothing Left radio programme on J-Air Jewish Community radio. Michael is a regular traveler to Israel for the last 47 years.

ALLAN ELLISON

HONORARY SECRETARY

Allan Ellison was born in Zimbabwe and migrated to Australia in 1998.

Allan’s interest in Judaism and the Zimbabwe local community started at an early age when he was a member of Bnei Akiva Zimbabwe.

Allan has lived in Zimbabwe, South Africa and now Australia – whilst maintaining his interest in numerous Jewish communities.
Israel advocacy is his great passion. For many years now he has been very active in Israel advocacy, both on and off line. Even more so recently with the sudden spike and surge in anti-Semitism and for the calling for the obliteration of the Jewish state.

GEOFF BLOCH

Geoff Bloch is a Melbourne-based barrister and a graduate of Mount Scopus College and Monash University. In his student years Geoff studied in Yeshiva in Jerusalem and was a youth leader in Bnei Akiva and the Counterpoint programmes. Geoff is a Baal-Koreh and long-standing member of Mizrachi Melbourne.

Geoff is a conservative advocate for free speech and has participated in public debates and submission to government against legislation curtailing it.

ALAN FREEDMAN

Alan Freedman works as a consultant pharmacist in Melbourne providing medication reviews to people at home and in the aged care setting. His interest in Israel advocacy and Jewish issues escalated about 15yrs ago when he started writing letters to the editors of Australian newspapers.

At that time, several similarly interested people in Melbourne were meeting monthly and over time, a need for a grassroots Israel advocacy organisation was identified. Alan, with some others, then formed Australian Voices for Israel which disseminated information to people with similar interests, and which also collaborated with the mainstream communal organisations when visiting speakers were brought to Australia. Australian Voices for Israel currently sends out weekly bulletins comprising the best of the recent articles and has a strong Facebook presence.

For the last 2yrs, Alan has co-hosted ‘Nothing Left’ with Michael Burd, a weekly programme on J-Air community radio that discusses Israel advocacy, the Middle East, and issues of interest to the Jewish community.

TERRY DAVIS

Terry Davis arrived in Australia from London in 1983. He has lived in Sydney since emigrating from the UK, and is a member of the North Shore Synagogue congregation. He has been enthusiastically Zionist since his teens, as a member of the Federation of Zionist Youth in the UK. He is an occasional contributor to the letter pages of the Australian Jewish News and The Australian, with a distinctly right of centre worldview of domestic and Jewish matters.

Terry is a practicing real estate valuer, being the sole proprietor of TJ Davis & Associates Pty Ltd, mainly dealing with expert witness matters in court and rent review work.

Academic and professional qualifications include a B.Sc. degree in Estate Management from Reading University in the UK, a Master of Commerce Degree in Land Economy from the University of Western Sydney, and membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Australian Property Institute.

Terry has been married to Sue since 1980 and they have two daughters. His interests outside of business include playing tennis and fanatical support of the red and white half of North London Premier League soccer.

OTHERS

AJA has other Jewish community members of standing as part of its team who for reasons of their work involving engagement with organisations involved with media, government, security and other bodies, do not wish to be identified publicly at this stage.