BOARD / MANAGEMENT
BOARD MEMBERS
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Board Chair - Deborah HartDeborah has been the HCNZ chair since September 2019 and has extensive community involvement. She is passionate about growing HCNZ and ensuring that every child learns about the Holocaust. Deborah is a NZ expert delegate to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
A former lawyer, Deborah is currently undertaking the independent review of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme and chaired the independent review of New Zealand’s electoral laws. She is a Panel Member of the Human Rights Review Tribunal and former executive director of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of NZ. Deborah is mum to 3 adult boys – Nathan, Jason and Sam and nana to Hadar and Shalev. She lives in Auckland with her partner John, Falafel the Wonder Cat, and Sheba their dog. More information: www.deborahhartconsulting.co.nz |
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Deputy Chair - Assoc Prof. Dr. Giacomo LichtnerGiacomo Lichtner is an Associate Professor of History at Victoria University of Wellington, and the current Deputy Chair of the HCNZ Board. Giacomo teaches Holocaust history and has published widely on the representation of the Holocaust in cinema. His research focuses on how public narratives of the Holocaust are constructed not only through the media, but also through official commemorations, museums, monuments, and school curricula.
Since 2003, Giacomo has consistently contributed to HCNZ and other groups, offering lectures, film screenings, continuing education courses, and historical consultancy around the history of the Holocaust, antisemitism and their contemporary relevance, about which he regularly writes in the New Zealand media. |
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Treasurer - Gil SalzGil Salz, born in Israel, is married to Inbal and is a father of three children. Gil dedicated five years as an IDF Armor Combat Officer and volunteered in various community settings. Gil holds an MBA in Finance and Accounting and has demonstrated his financial skills in diverse roles, including serving as the CFO of Hadassah Academic College (HAC), a prestigious educational institution in Jerusalem with thousands of students and staff. At HAC, Gil successfully handled and managed a budget of over 100M NIS. He was responsible for banks, cash flow, investments, students' fees and wages, and various other financial activities.
During his secondment in New Orleans, Gil designed and implemented a finance and donations structure for a non-profit organization. For the past eight years, Gil has been based in Wellington, where he founded and currently manages Coffix Wellington. |
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Nicole GreensidesA History and Social Studies teacher who attended the 2015 Yad Vashem Seminar, Nicole believes strongly in the power of Holocaust education to teach about antisemitism, racism, democracy, and human rights. She lives in Whanganui with her husband, Peter.
A Board member since 2022, the strengths Nicole brings to the Board are knowledge and experience of the NZ curriculum and NCEA. She is willing to contribute to the Centre in multiple ways, including helping develop online ready-to-use teaching resources, to help it grow and affect change. She is passionate about the Centre’s mission and is committed to seeing its education, bearing witness, and advocacy work thrive. Nicole regards the work of the Centre, and in particular education, more vital than ever. |
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Leora HirshI grew up in the Wellington Jewish community, with my parents and two brothers. I’m a second-generation Holocaust survivor. My father escaped Nazi Germany as a toddler, with his parents and brother. I currently live in rural South Auckland, with my husband and various animals and have two adult children.
Professionally, I have always worked in either the not-for-profit sector or government. Currently I am a manager within an Internal Affairs business group that administers millions of Crown and New Zealand lottery grants funding. I have extensive experience in grant making and also in grant seeking. My background is in youth and community development. I hold a postgraduate diploma in Not-for-Profit Management and a graduate certificate in Leading Change for Good. I have held governance roles here and in Australia, including as a board member for youth organisations, arts organisations, and a school Board of Trustees. I am very interested in the work of the Holocaust Centre and welcome the chance to support the Centre by sitting on the Board. |
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Ben KepesA son of Holocaust survivors. Ben is a professional board member, a globally-recognized technology commentator, and an entrepreneur.
Ben has served on the boards of a number of non-profit, privately held and listed companies in New Zealand and the UK. He has won a number of accolades including being a recipient of the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award in 2016 and being recognised as a Chartered Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors in 2021. |
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Rachel KorpusI have worked in the Jewish community for 30 years. Early on with Jewish youth, The Maon Trust, The Erman Trust, and was president of the Zionist Federation for 10 years. I live in Auckland with my husband Avi and our two children, Joshua and Sara. We own & operate a nationwide fashion apparel business.
I wish to continue to serve on the HCNZ board and broaden my commitment to Holocaust education with my business acumen and community networks. I want to continue the work the current HCNZ board has started in planning a Holocaust Education centre in Auckland in the new Jewish Community Centre. I believe my deep connection to the Auckland Jewish community combined with 30 years of community work can continue to add value to this project. |
STAFF
EDUCATION
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OPERATIONS
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PROJECTS
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PCVE EDUCATION PROJECT
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CONSTITUTION
ANNUAL REPORT
