Members of the Jewish Education Foundation represent a cross section of the community, with deep experience in the issues under discussion. They do not speak for any school they may be or have been affiliated with.
Jewish Education Foundation Directors
Alan Schwartz AO
Jewish Education Foundation Chair
Alan Schwartz led the merger of Jewish Community Services and Montefiore Homes to create Jewish Care and was its inaugural President. He is the Managing Director of Trawalla Group which manages his family’s investments and a Board member of his family’s philanthropic arm – the Trawalla Foundation.
Alan is the past Chair of Philanthropy Australia and a former Council member of Swinburne University. In recognition of his contribution to community and business, Alan was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2003, followed by an Order of Australia (AM) in 2007.
Alan graduated from Monash University with degrees in Economics and Law (Honours) and during his first year at Monash co-authored a best- selling economics textbook, The Australian Economy.
Kate Beaconsfield
Kate Beaconsfield is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Ripe Maternity, an Australian fashion business she established 30 years ago. She has extensive experience in business strategy, product development, international distribution, and building and managing a successful Australian brand.
Kate has a longstanding commitment to the Jewish and broader community and is passionate about the role community organisations can play in creating opportunities and changing lives. She has more than 20 years’ experience in community governance and currently serves on several not-for-profit boards, including Bialik College, Flying Fox, Maccabi Aquatics and the Hide N Seek Foundation. She was the first woman to serve as President of Bialik College Council and has maintained a strong involvement in Jewish education over many years.
Her four children attended Bialik College throughout their entire schooling, further strengthening her longstanding connection to Jewish education.
Kate particularly enjoys mentoring young women in business and supporting the next generation of community leaders. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physio) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Nathan Cher
Nathan is a Tech Entrepreneur & Investor who has been a founder and director of a number of companies (listed and unlisted) in the areas of Technology, FinTech, Property and Venture Capital in Australia and Israel.
Nathan serves as a director of the AJF (Australian Jewish Funders), he is the Victorian Chairperson of the ORAH Project.
He has served on boards of Jewish Communal organisations and working groups, and together with his wife Camit, supports a wide range of charities and causes.
Marcus Jankie
Marcus Jankie is Managing Director and Partner at Up Property, with over 15 years’ experience in property development and construction. His career spans Australia and New York, where he gained broad experience across the property industry.
Marcus joined The King David School Council in 2025 and leads its Capital Improvement and Growth portfolio. With three children attending the school, he has a strong personal commitment to the future of Jewish education and making it accessible to more families.
Graham Goldsmith AO
Graham Goldsmith is currently Chairman of SEEK Limited, Deputy Chairman of Djerriwarrh Investments Ltd and a Panel Member of Adara Partners. He is also Chairman of Armitage Associates and a board member or consultant with a number of family offices.
He is also a director of Stars Foundation Ltd. Graham was previously a Council Member and then Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology over the period 2010-2019, and a Council Member, Treasurer, Vice President and President of Bialik College over the period 2000-2014.
Mark Harrison
Mark Harrison has almost twenty-five years’ experience in the Australian property and propertyfinance sectors. He joined Wingate in 2008 as Managing Director, Property and has overseen the growth of the firm’s property division into one of Australia’s most active real estate debt and equity investors.
Mark was a Board member at The King David School for 13 years from 2007-2020 and President for six years from 2012-2018. During his time as a Board member, Mark was also part of the Finance Sub-committee, the Property Sub-committee and served on the King David Foundation.
Lisa Kennett OAM
Lisa Kennett is an experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director of Boards, bringing to the table her years of experience as a Commercial Barrister and Solicitor, Conflict Resolution Advisor and Facilitator of Negotiation Skills Workshops.
She was the President of Mount Scopus Memorial College for 7 years and is currently the President of Jewish Care, as well as a member of the Advisory Board for the Community Security Group and the Allocations Committee for Orah in Victoria. Lisa is passionate about facilitating positive change for the communities in which we live, which is why she has embraced this Working Group.
Caroline Tait
Caroline is a corporate lawyer with almost 20 years’ experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, and equity capital markets matters. Caroline is currently a special counsel at King & Wood Mallesons and has also practised as an attorney in New York and has held senior in-house positions including at a global investment bank.
Caroline graduated from Monash University with a degree in Law (First Class Honours) and Business (Banking and Finance) and attended Jewish Day Schools for both her primary and secondary education. Caroline and her husband have two children who attend Mount Scopus Memorial College. Caroline is actively involved at the school – she has been a member of the School Council for the past 5 years and also serves on various school committees.
Kevin Slomoi OAM
Kevin is a Chartered Accountant. He is currently a principal at KS Advisory, previously a partner at GMK Partners Pty Ltd for 24 years and Deloitte for 4 years.
Kevin specialises in consulting to high-net-worth families and is a member of family advisory boards. He has been actively involved in communal affairs and has been a:
Treasurer, Australian Southern African Business Council, Victorian Chapter, 1992-1994.
Director/Treasurer of Australia/ Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC ) since 1999,
Member of Project Fortify Committee (CSG) for 2019-2021,
Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mt Scopus Memorial College, 2003-2007,
Member of Finance Committee, Mt Scopus Memorial College, 1996-2003,
Member of Finance Committee, Jewish Care, 2001-2004,
Board Member, Jewish Community Services, 1997-2000,
Treasurer, Australian Southern African Business Council, Victorian Chapter, 1992-1994.
Jewish Education Foundation Observers
Romy Grace
Romy Grace is Director, Institutional Capital and Head of Responsible Investment at MaxCap, where she draws on more than 15 years of experience spanning funds management, real estate investment, capital raising, corporate law and sustainability/ESG.
Before joining MaxCap, Romy worked at IIG, an impact investment fund manager specialising in real estate, initially as Legal Counsel and later in Investor Relations. She began her career at Arnold Bloch Leibler, and was a solicitor in the commercial litigation team.
Romy sat on the Property Council of Australia’s National Division Council and Chaired the Debt Markets Committee 2024-2026. She currently sits on the CEFC-led Women in Sustainable Finance Committee.
Romy attended Mount Scopus College for her primary and secondary education, before going on to complete a Bachelor of Arts/Laws (Honours) at Monash University, majoring in Jewish Civilisation and studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as part of her degree. She is also a Graduate of the Governance Institute of Australia.
Romy served on the Board of the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (Vic) from 2020 to 2023, and is an alumna of the Jewish Care Victoria Yesod Program and the Stand Up Fellowship.
Romy and her husband have three children, who attend King David School.
Ben Kave
Ben is Deputy Director of the Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and a Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Department of Critical Care at the University of Melbourne. He brings experience in clinical leadership, governance, research and healthcare innovation, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ben served on the Board of Leibler Yavneh College from 2017 to 2026. A former student of Mount Scopus College, he has a longstanding connection to Jewish education, with children currently attending both Mount Scopus and Leibler Yavneh College. His broader governance experience includes serving on the AMA Victoria State Council and Cabrini Health’s Patient Experience and Clinical Governance Committee.