The Moriah Foundation has launched The Moriah Foundation Trusted Advisors Network in the presence of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Andrew Scott Bell.

Ryan Kassel, Stephen Jankelowitz, Judy Lowy, Chief Justice Andrew Scott Bell, Justice Stephen Rothman

50 practitioners including lawyers, accountants and financial advisors attended the inaugural luncheon, hosted by Moriah’s long-standing corporate sponsor, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

The Moriah Foundation Trusted Advisors Network was established to raise awareness among practitioners about the very real needs of Moriah College, and to share information about Moriah’s planned giving opportunities.

Foundation President, Judy Lowy said, “Launching The Moriah Foundation Trusted Advisors Network is a very important step forward for our Foundation. Our community and our donors often aren’t aware enough that we need significant investment in Moriah and in our Moriah families to ensure that we continue to be both competitive and sustainable.

We welcome the opportunity to stay in touch with trusted advisors about the important work of our Foundation.”

New South Wales Chief Justice, The Honourable Andrew Bell spoke on “The Importance of Institutions in our Modern Society.”

 Speaking of his long-held belief that public, cultural, and educational institutions play a critical role in our society and community and his admiration for those who work to maintain their health and to secure their future, Chief Justice said, “Stable, progressive and civic institutions such as schools, which teach history, ethics and social responsibility, are more important now than ever. They have the profoundly important opportunity and responsibility of educating future generations… not just in the core curriculum, but in values of decency, empathy and compassion, civic responsibility and community.”

On the significant contribution institutions make to a prosperous and harmonious society, the Chief Justice said: “At their core, institutions bring people together by a common thread of values. They act as a repository of those values, and both preserve and promote them. They provide a source of societal stability and should remain dynamic and receptive to social and environmental conditions. An institutional framework allows the lessons and stories of the past to be handed on from one generation to the next and offer a sense of belonging and common mission to their members.”

 Reflecting on the eroding trust in institutions, the Chief Justice noted that “although institutions should not be immune from criticism or critical review, the work of institutions and the values for which such public institutions stand should be respected and indeed celebrated, rather than corroded.”

 Moriah Life Patron, and Justice of the Supreme Court, the Honourable Justice Stephen Rothman, explored a number of topics, in conversation with the Chief Justice. They discussed the greater degree of diversity now prevalent in the courts, and its impact on the court’s integrity; the growing levels of mistrust in the United States, and the manner in which judges are appointed; the manner in which judges are appointed in Australia, and on a more personal note, how the Chief Justice copes with his extraordinary workload.

The Moriah Foundation Trusted Advisors Network will continue to host events, providing this important network with the opportunity to engage with The Moriah Foundation, connect with other practitioners, and to hear from industry leaders.