Tania Hammer was born in Sydney Australia, emigrated to New York when she was 22, got married, had a child, moved around a bit until she found her footing in Far Rockaway after she got divorced. Although Tania doesn't have any academic degrees, her community activism should earn her a PHD. Thousands of Shabbat guests and singles groups could attest to this! Tania made Aliya in 2016 and now lives with her daughter Grace and her dog Milly in Jerusalem.
Naomi Levin is a communications professional, former sports and political reporter and was news editor of the Australian Jewish News from 2009-11. Naomi has been published in The Age, The Australian, The Herald Sun, ABC Online and many other publications. Naomi is currently chief operating office of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria.
Sharon Lowe is the Founder and President of The Social Blueprint, a Board Member of CCare, and former management consultant and Founder of Habitat Heroes. Sharon believes that by collaborating with other organisations we can strengthen our community.
Judy Lipson is the sole survivor of three sisters, losing her sister Jane in 1981 at age twenty-two in an automobile accident, and nine years later her sister Margie at age thirty- five after a twenty year battle with anorexia and bulimia. For thirty years Judy suppressed her grief and in 2011 founded Celebration of Sisters, an annual ice skating fundraiser to commemorate the lives and memories of her beloved sisters Margie and Jane to benefit Massachusetts General Hospital. Skating is a sport the Lipson sisters shared and brought Judy full circle back to her sisters.
Judy published articles for The Open to Hope Foundation, The Centering Organization, Grief Healing, and Love and Loss. Massachusetts General Hospital and SKATING Magazine featured numerous pieces on Judy’s philanthropic work. Judy has appeared as a guest on The Open To Hope, The Morning Glory, Surviving Sibling Loss, Where’s The Grief, Good Grief and U.S. Figure Skating Voices From The Ice Podcasts.
Her passion for figure skating secured the recipient of U.S. Figure Skating Association 2020 Get Up Award. Judy’s memoir, Celebration of Sisters: It Is Never Too Late To Grieve, released December 2021 by WriteLife Publishing. www.judylipson.org
Kerry Gonski is the Chair of the Australian Jewish Fertility Network (AJFN), a charity whose mission is to ensure that no Jewish Australian ever feels alone on their fertility journey and that finance is never a barrier to building a family. AJFN provides means tested financial grants towards fertility treatments and psychology services, peer-driven emotional support, as well as educational resources and advocacy work. If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out in the strictest of confidence at support@ajfn.org.au.
Nomi Kaltmann is a lawyer and the Australian correspondent at Tablet Magazine. She is also the inaugural president and founder of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance Australia (JOFA).
Tanya Rodolitz was born in Eastern Europe. She had no idea that she would someday not only become an American but also convert to Judaism.
Nicolas has extensive experience in the industry as an award-winning author, teacher of professional and creative writing at Swinburne University, RMIT and other institutions; past Chair of Writers Victoria; workshop facilitator; owner of a corporate writing business; and many other positions and endeavours. He is currently undertaking a PhD in creative writing.
Hannah is currently finishing her BA in History and Politics at the University of Melbourne. She was a madricha in Habonim Dror and her passions include animal rights, roller skating and deep diving the submerged terrains of the human condition.