The 2016 Graf Oration: Global issues and their impact on Israel and Australia
A high-powered panel will explore global issues as they impact Israel and Australia at the Graf Oration in Sydney this month.
Anthony Bubalo
Political and international editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, Peter Hartcher will share his insights on the topic with the audience, drawing on over 30 years of experience writing about the local and global politics.
Joining Hartcher on the panel will be research director at the Lowy Institute for International Policy Anthony Bubalo, whose is one of Australia’s leading Middle East analysts. Formerly, Bubalo worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with diplomatic postings to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Rounding out the panel will be Associate Professor Leanne Piggott, the national education director of the Centre for Social Impact, a research and advocacy group dedicated to resolving social challenges facing Australia. Piggott previously lectured in Middle East politics at the University of Sydney and was the director of Business Education at the University of Sydney Business School.
The discussion between the three panellists will be moderated by NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff.
Peter Hartcher
“The panel will be a unique opportunity to explore issues of importance and relevance to the Sydney and global Jewish communities with three top-flight political commentators,” said Alhadeff. “The discussion will cover several current issues affecting Australia, Israel and global Jewry, including China, the implications of the upcoming US elections and the nature of Australia-Israel relations.”
“This panel will be a unique opportunity to explore issues of great importance to the Sydney and global Jewish communities with three premier political commentators,” said Alhadeff.
“The discussion will cover several topical issues affecting Israel and global Jewry currently, including how Australia’s foreign policy affects, what implications the upcoming American election will have on Israel and world Jewry, and the nature of Australia-Israel relations.”
The 2016 Graf Oration will also be the last Shalom public function under the leadership of its CEO, Dr Hilton Immerman, who will be retiring at the end of the year.
“The Graf Oration is an initiative about which I am very passionate, as it exposes the Sydney Jewish community to great thinkers and ideas – and this year will be no different!” Immerman said.
Leanne Piggott
Tickets are now on sale to attend the evening, which includes a kosher dinner catered by Amaze In Taste, a free whisky tasting, as well as the panel discussion.
There is also the option to purchase raffle tickets, to go into the draw to win great prizes on the evening including dinner for two at Sydney’s top 10 restaurants.
All funds raised from the evening’s ticket sales will go to funding Shalom’s initiative, PJ Library.
PJ Library gifts award-winning Jewish books to families raising Jewish children between the ages of six months and nine years old in NSW and ACT each month.
“These books celebrate Jewish culture and values traditions through a wide range of beautiful stories and, build the Jewish identity of the next generation by bringing Jewish conversations and content into the home” Immerman said.
“PJ Library books allow Jewish families, including many who are not connected to Jewish day schooling or even to the wider Jewish community, to build their own Jewish bedtime libraries and enhance their connection to Judaism and community.”
The Graf Oration commenced in 2010 to honour the memory of Ervin Graf, a life governor and former president of Shalom, and founder of the Stockland Property Group, and his wife and partner in both professional and community work Kitty Graf.
Previous orators at the Graf Oration include counter terrorism expert Professor Boaz Ganor, Israeli novelist and commentator, Amos Oz, author and academic Professor Deborah Lipstadt and founder of Birthright Israel Avraham Infeld.
The Graf Oration will take place at 6:30pm on Monday, September 26 at the Shangri-La Hotel. Single tickets, corporate tables and raffle tickets can be purchased at www.trybooking.com/MPVM, or by phoning (02) 9381 4000.
