Alhadeff appointed Chair of the Community Relations Commission
CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies Vic Alhadeff has been appointed the new Community Relations Commission’s Chair.
Vic Alhadeff
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello also announced that Mr Hakan Harman has been appointed its CEO.
The Premier said: “I warmly welcome the appointment of two outstanding community leaders, Mr Alhadeff and Mr Harman, who will lead the CRC into a new era.
Mr Alhadeff has made a big contribution to the promotion of multiculturalism and human rights in NSW over the past 27 years.
Mr Alhadeff was raised in Zimbabwe and educated in South Africa. He has worked as a journalist at Australian Jewish News and is the CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, a position he’s held since 2004.
His career highlights include interviewing the late South African President Nelson Mandela, and receiving numerous awards for promoting human rights in the media.
Mr Harman is an experienced accountant who is the current Chief Financial Officer at the State Library of NSW, and previously served eight years as the CFO of the CRC.”
Mr Dominello said he was confident the new leadership would continue to work toward the multicultural vision set for NSW by outgoing Chair, Stepan Kerkyasharian AO.
“Mr Alhadeff is held in high esteem across our multicultural community and Mr Harman is well respected within the public sector, having held several senior administrative positions,” Mr Dominello said.
“Both have a strong desire to build on our cultural diversity, to celebrate that diversity and harness it as an economic asset.
We’re appointing a separate Chair and CEO for the first time, giving the Commission added impetus to chart a new direction for the next decade.”
Yair Miller, President of the NSWJBD, told J-Wire: “The appointment of Vic to this role is richly deserved and extremely gratifying. Both personally and professionally Vic has always strived to ensure communal harmony and understanding. This role is a natural progression in his efforts through the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and is a strong indication of his standing and that of the Board. We wish him much success in the role and look forward to the further insights it will bring to his position at the Board.”
J-Wire asked Alhadeff what the appointment meant to him. He said: “I am honoured to have been appointed to this position. I am passionate about the need to advance social harmony and combat racism, and the Community Relations Commission plays a vital role in pursuit of these goals. I acknowledge the excellent work and dedication of Stepan Kerkyasharian and look forward to further strengthening the foundations of our multicultural society.”
Alhadeff will take over the position currently occupied by, Stepan Kerkyasharian, Mr Kerkyasharian, who has headed an Inquiry into the exploitation of immigrants including women brought to Australia through marriage and held in slave-like conditions; students employed to work as nannies and denied their liberty and wages; men brought out on 457 visas required to perform unskilled labour for long hours with below award pay and; men migrating to work as sporting boxers enslaved and made to participate in illegal and unsafe fights.
Vic Alhadeff will commence as CRC Chair on 18 January 2014.
Since almost all well-wishers so far are ladies, it must be Vic’s dashing looks that must have prompted the appointment.
I will spoil the “party” as the only bloke to congratulate Vic. In exchange I’d like Vic to tell me who is his beautician. I also intend to apply as the new NSW Raiway Chief.
Well done and mazaltov Vic
This appointment is recognition not only Vic Alhadeff’s special qualifications for this challenging position but it also highlights his acknowledged leadership role in the Jewish and general community and his dedication to the creation of a more harmonious and tolerant society.
well deserved Vic and congratulations. the CRc will be in good hands. paula
Esther:
Mazel tov. A dynamic humanist who works so hard, with a dedication few can match. He has boundless energy for us, the Jewish Community. What a good thing, for the Commission, for Vic and his family, and for us.