Assistant Foreign Minister to headline ZFA Biennial conference
Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts will headline the 2022 Zionist Federation of Australia Biennial Conference, to be held on Sunday.
ZFA president Jeremy Leibler
The Biennial Conference will bring over 100 Jewish leaders, professionals and state representatives to Melbourne from around Australia to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the Jewish community and the State of Israel.
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “After two years of online conferences, it is exciting that the event will be held in person. The program drills down into some of the key issues the Australian Jewish community holds dear. It’s a program and a conference focused on making even brighter the future of the community and Australia’s relations with Israel.”
Tim Watts will speak about the Australia–Israel relationship in his capacity as Assistant Foreign Minister. This is particularly relevant following the Albanese Government’s withdrawal of recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Also speaking will be Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon. Each of the keynote speakers will be answering questions after their speeches.
The conference will also include two panel discussions and a workshop session. The first panel will examine Israel Programs into the Future, with Tracie Olcha (CEO of Australian Jewish Funders), Dr Ron Weiser AM (board member of Y2i and Milli Phillips Foundation) and Dr David Graham (a consultant demographer to the JCA). The panel will look at funding models, to ensure the sustainability of these vitally important investments into our community’s future.
The second panel will explore Zionist voices in progressive spaces. Deborah Stone (Editor of +61J), Jasmine Munn-McDonnell (PhD candidate, Adelaide University) and Prof Phillip Mendes (Monash University) will discuss the challenges and opportunities for Zionists in academia, the progressive media and the arts.
The final major component of the ZFA conference will be an interactive workshop of group discussions. Attendees will explore a range of topics touching on issues regarding diaspora affairs and Israel, presenting an opportunity to suggest and discuss ideas to help build the future of the Australian Jewish community.
