Our people

Governor of New South Wales from 1 March 2001 to 1 October 2014 and was the first woman to be appointed to the role. Born in Narrandera in the Riverina district of New South Wales, and educated at the Narrandera Public School and Sydney Girls High School, Marie Bashir completed a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Sydney in 1956.

Professor Bashir taught at the Universities of Sydney and NSW, increasingly working with children’s services, psychiatry and mental health services, and indigenous health programs. At the time of her appointment as Governor of New South Wales, she was…

• Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Sydney.
• Area Director of Mental Health Services Central Sydney.
• Senior Consultant to the Aboriginal Medical Service, Redfern and to the Aboriginal Medical Service, Kempsey.

She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988 for her services to child and adolescent health, and was invested by Her Majesty, the Queen, with the insignia of a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 2006.

In June 2014, Professor Bashir was named as a Dame of the Order of Australia for…

• Extraordinary and pre-eminent achievement and merit in service to the administration, public life, and THE people of New South Wales.
• Medicine, particularly as an advocate for improved mental health outcomes for the young, marginalised and disadvantaged, to international relations, through the promotion of collaborative health programs.
• And as a leader in tertiary education.

Dame Bryce grew up in Ilfracombe, which she described as “a little bush town in western Queensland of two hundred people.” While attending the University of Queensland, she married architect and graphic designer Michael Bryce in 1964 (the couple eventually had five children). The following year she earned Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees and was admitted to the Queensland bar. From 1968 to 1983 she served as a lecturer in law at the University of Queensland, and in 1984 she was named the first director of the Queensland Women’s Information Service. In the late 1980s and early ’90s, Bryce worked for the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, first as the commission’s Queensland director and then as the organisation’s federal sex discrimination commissioner.

In 1993 Bryce became the founding chairperson and CEO of the National Childcare Accreditation Council, in which position she led efforts to ensure and improve the quality of child-care services in Australia. She later served (1997–2003) as the principal and CEO of the Women’s College at the University of Sydney. Bryce was appointed governor of Queensland in 2003, the same year that she was made a Companion of the Order of Australia. Her five-year appointment as governor was extended for an additional two years in January 2008. However, three months later Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced his selection of Bryce for the governor-general’s post.

Ron is a graduate of law and commerce from Melbourne University.

Since his undergraduate days, Ron has been an activist in Jewish political affairs, spending time in London as President of the World Union of Jewish Students and then several years living and working in Jerusalem before returning to Australia with his family in 1985.

A leading member of the Australian Jewish community, Ron has been President and Chairman of many communal organisations and in 2003 was elected President of Hadassah Australia, the Australian ‘Friends’ of Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital. In 2019 Ron launched the Hadassah Australia Medical Research and Collaborations Foundation.

In 2013, Ron established Project Rozana and is proud that it is now active in Australia, Canada, Israel and the US, noting that Project Rozana programs have touched the lives of many thousands of people in Israel and Palestine. In 2018 Ron was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), in recognition of his community service and achievements.

Jamal is a General Practitioner and prominent figure in the Lebanese Muslim community in Sydney, Australia. He is recognised for his work to prevent the radicalisation of young people by Islamic State.

In 2010 he was a National Finalist as Australia’s Local Hero for the Australian of the Year. Jamal is known for his efforts in promoting cohesion, courage and unity, winning The Australian newspaper’s Australian of the Year in 2015. He was praised at the time as “a great Australian” by current Prime Minister, Scott Morrison,

Michael Gale is a former Silicon Valley technology entrepreneur and venture investor turned investment banker whose current clients range from Australia to the Emirates. He is a principal of First Penny Investments and sits on the Boards of numerous technology companies. He has been involved in over 100 start-up companies in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Gale entered the personal computer industry in 1981 by importing educational software into Australia. He was later an executive at Computer Power and then Macromedia prior to its 1993 NASDAQ listing (later acquired by Adobe). He has been variously an angel investor, technology banker and venture capitalist since 1994. He was a cofounder and managing director of Double Impact Incorporated, an investment bank prominent in the 1990s in San Francisco.

Gale has written columns for the online magazine Australian Anthill. He is a frequent conference speaker and panellist and has been listed as a notable entrepreneur by Marquis who’s Who.

Michael is Chair of the Project Rozana Development Committee.

She’s been working in the media for more than 15 years, the majority of that time reporting for the ABC’s flagship news and current affairs programs.

From 2015 – Eliza and her family lived in Indonesia and Lebanon where she worked as a senior communications consultant to the UN Deputy Special Coordinator of Lebanon.

She also undertook a similar role for a human rights NGO working with Syrian and South Asian refugees.

During her time in the Middle East region, Eliza travelled extensively throughout Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

Eliza also reported on Lebanon’s political revolution and subsequent economic crisis.

Eliza has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney, majoring in history and politics. She’s a passionate consumer of international news and current affairs.

Eliza is Chair of the Project Rozana Communications & Media Committee.

Data Driven, People Centric.

An experienced senior director, Veronica has a unique background in operational leadership, strategy and planning. She has held leadership roles within public health, publishing, the pharmaceutical industry and the Australian Army.

Commencing her career as a pharmacist Veronica moved into business development within the pharmaceutical industry developing her commercial acumen and negotiation skills. Those skills were further honed by a move to human resource consulting where the power of network and influence became apparent. Expansive roles in publishing and strategic consulting followed.

The diversity of Veronica’s experience has resulted in an extensive skill set that has proven exceptionally valuable upon finding her true passion – equitable access to healthcare.

She has spent the past ten years in public health services of Queensland and Victoria. She’s gained a wide understanding of health issues across the varied cultures, in rural and metropolitan areas.

Veronica leads and mentors a diverse range of stakeholders in strategic planning to align health service delivery with changing patterns of need, to make effective use of current and future resources, to improve health and to safeguard equity of access. She believes the future lies in the use of data analytics and technology in conjunction with human collaboration and empathy to close the gap in health outcomes for disadvantaged communities.

Describing herself as a translator, Veronica brings together people of different perspectives and experiences across many disciplines, building trust, understanding and common ground to achieve improved health outcomes for the community.

Ruth (Ramone) Rosen joined Project Rozana in early 2018 after many years in the education sector in Australia and in Israel.

During her years living, studying and working in Israel, she taught in high school and lectured in English and Comparative Literature at Tel Aviv University. She also worked as a translator-editor-writer for the Israel Labor Party, a freelance writer and translator and as private tutor to the first Egyptian Ambassador to Israel.

Returning to Australia, Ruth moved into international education management. Her roles encompassed program management, education policy and marketing as well as governance and communications.

Ruth brings to her role at Project Rozana enthusiasm, skills and knowledge at both the strategic and operational levels. She enjoys being part of a team taking the organization forward supporting the mission of building better understanding between Israelis and Palestinians through health, making a difference to individuals and communities in Israel-Palestine and in Australia.

Prior appointments, expertise, qualifications

Ozford Australia, August 2014 to December 2017 – Head of Education Programs
A private education institution for international students offering English language courses, Senior Secondary and Vocational qualifications, and Undergraduate degree programs in a supportive, individualised and innovative learning environment.

Innovation & Business Skills Australia, March 2008 to August 2014 – Manager Corporate Governance & Communications
IBSA is a not-for-profit independent Industry Skills Councils established by the Australian Government to work closely in the Vocational Education & Training sector to develop national qualifications.

Australia Council for Private Education & Training (ACPET), August 2005-March 2008 – Manager International Policy & Marketing
ACPET is the national peak industry association for non-government providers of education and training to domestic and international students across all education sectors, with particular focus on post-secondary education.

Monash University, Monash International, May 1990 to December 2004 – Teacher, Coordinator, Director of Studies, Director Melbourne Access Programs (Monash College and Monash University English Language Centre)
Monash International P/L was a wholly owned Monash University company responsible for the recruitment, teaching and welfare of international students.

Expertise

• Strategic planning, analysis, development and implementation
• Research and writing proposals and reports
• Staff management, mentoring and leadership
• Communication, relationship-building, marketing and presentation skills
• Corporate governance and board compliance and support

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Monash University
• Master of Arts (Cum Laude) Tel Aviv University
• Grad Diploma of Education (ESL and History) Tel Aviv University
• Grad Certificate of Business Management (AIM)

Hugo is a Partner at Think & Grow, bringing foreign technology companies to Australia and taking the best Australian tech companies abroad.

Before relocating to Melbourne from London, Hugo spent seven years as Chief Executive of UK Israel Business, the bilateral chamber of commerce between the UK and Israel.

In the not-for-profit space, Hugo served as a Trustee of British charity MyIsrael from 2019-20 and before this, spent five years as a Young Board Member of Norwood, chairing the Young Business, Finance & Entrepreneurs committee.

Christine is a fundraising and innovation specialist at Cancer Council Victoria who is passionate about ensuring supporters are at the heart of fundraising. Using her extensive experience in business improvement, project management, agile ways of working, design thinking and leading teams; she drives innovation, insights and customer experience projects, to grow fundraising.

Most recently, Christine has been supporting the roll out of a new, more agile way of working across her division to improve collaboration, increase pace to market and further empower staff. Christine is a proud advocate for diversity and inclusion especially in supporting and raising up the feminine.

In a stellar career, neuroscientist, researcher and Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Ed was most recently President and Principal at King’s College, London and Chairman of King’s Health Partners board from 2014 to 2020. He joined the Global Executive board of Ramsay Health as Group Chief Medical Officer in February 2021.

He began his career in Adelaide after graduating with first class honours from the University of Tasmania in 1974. He was made Neurology Registrar at Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1978. He finished his neurology training and completed his doctorate at the Institute of Neurology Queen Square and in 1982 was awarded the Queen Square prize for neurological research. In 1983, he was appointed Director of Neurology at St Vincent’s Hospital and Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Melbourne in 1992.

Professor Byrne was a founding director of the Melbourne Neuromuscular Research Unit and the Centre for Neuroscience in 1993. He was also made Professor of Experimental Neurology at the University of Melbourne in 2001. His major research contributions have been in the field of mitochondrial medicine and neuromuscular disorders.

He first came to Monash University as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, a role he held from 2003 until 2007.

Professor Byrne was then appointed the Vice Provost (Health) at University College London (UCL). He held that position until becoming the eighth University President and Vice-Chancellor at Monash University in 2009.

The University of Melbourne awarded him a Doctor of Science, a higher degree conferred in recognition of a demonstrated record of research excellence. He completed a Masters of Business Administration in 2005.

He has been awarded…

• UCL, honorary professorship.
• Warwick University, honorary professorship.
• Peking University, honorary professorship.
• University of Adelaide, honorary degree.
• Warwick University, honorary degree.
• Western University, honorary degree.
• University of Sydney, honorary degree.
• Australian Academy of Science and Technology, fellowship.
• Australian Academy of Health and Medicine, fellowship.
• American Academy of Neurology, fellowship.
• American Neurological Association, fellowship.

He was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2019.

He was awarded a Knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in October 2020.

He has wide interests in the arts and has published four books of poetry through Melbourne University Press and has recently co-authored with Charles Clarke, a former senior UK Cabinet Minister, a book, The University Challenge: Changing universities in a changing world.

Recreation: Poetry; fly fishing

Tim Costello is recognised as one of Australia’s leading voices on social justice issues, having spearheaded public debates on gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation, and substance abuse. 

Tim is also involved in…

• The Community Council of Australia. 
• Alliance for Gambling Reform
• Senior Fellow for Centre for Public Christianity 

Prior to World Vision, Tim served as a Baptist Minister in St Kilda and at Collins St Baptist Church.

Tim has authored Another Way to Love, Streets of Hope: Finding God in St Kilda, Tips from a Travelling Soul Searcher, Wanna Bet? Winners and Losers in Gambling’s Luck Myth (co-written with Royce Millar), and Hope (2013), Faith (2016) and in 2019 published a memoir called A Lot with a Little.

In 2004, Tim was named Victorian of the Year, made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2005, and named Victorian Australian of the Year in 2006.

He was the first and, to date, the only foreign-born US ambassador to Israel.

Born in London in 1951, Martin grew up in Sydney, Australia. He graduated from the University of Sydney in 1972. In 1973 he spent time volunteering on a kibbutz in Israel during the Yom Kippur War. He returned to Australia and enrolled at the Australian National University where he received a PhD in international relations in 1977.

Martin emigrated to the US in 1982 and began working as a deputy research director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). From 1985, he served eight years as the founding Executive Director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

He has been an adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and has also taught at Columbia University, the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, and Macquarie University in Sydney.

Martin has served Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama in various roles. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for the non-profit America Abroad Media.

After receiving his BA in Economics and International Relations from the London School of Economics, Mark took an MA in Political Science at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Following his studies, he performed his military service before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

His distinguished career with the Ministry has seen him posted to Peru, Norway, and New York, before being appointed as Ambassador to Ireland, and later as Ambassador to the Republic of India and, concurrently, Non-Resident Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. His career also spans acting as a Policy Advisor to the then-Foreign Minister of Israel Shimon Peres, and heading a prestigious non-profit foundation, the Jerusalem Foundation.

Before his posting to Australia, Mark served as Deputy Director General of the Foreign Ministry and Head of Asia and Pacific Division.