MHoloc&GenStds; BA; GradDip Children’s Literature 

Suzanne (Sue) is the daughter of a survivor. She believes in fostering community tolerance and understanding – living this through roles such as Indigenous Education Mentor and Teaching Associate for History at Monash University.  

Poignantly, Sue was also a member of the State Government’s 2020 Holocaust Education Working Group. In this role, she helped to co-create a platform of curriculum resources to support educators across the state to best deliver Holocaust education for Year 9 and 10 students in Victoria. 

Sue also serves as the International Chair of the Education Working Group for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). 

BA; BSW (Hons) 

Michael, the son of Holocaust survivors – and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors – has dedicated his career to health and community services. 

He is a Senior Advisor with consulting agency Impact Co, which supports the growth of organisations in the disability, health and human services sectors. 

Along with this public service, Michael is a member of several Jewish organisations, serving as the President of Jewish Care Victoria from 2012 to 2019.  

Michael was also a member of the Australian leadership group for the March of the Living in 2014.  

BCom; BIS 

Active at the MHM since 2007, Simon is one of Australia’s leading evangelists of innovative change. He has been delivering keynotes, lectures, workshops and collaboration programs to leadership teams for 20 years. A dedication that has come from growing up with Holocaust survivor grandparents.  

Simon has been advising Australia’s largest technology organisations for 20+ years – and is a co-founder of three companies centred on innovation and disruptive technologies.  

BSc (Monash University) and LLB (Monash University).

Karen has over 32 years’ experience as a lawyer and has worked with Rickards Legal since 2008.

Karen is the daughter of Holocaust survivors, both of whom are thankfully still alive to share their stories and experiences.

Karen has been on the March of the Living youth program in 2014 with her parents where she accompanied them as survivor guides and has served on the March of the Living Board of Members from 2021 to 2022.

Karen feels strongly about keeping the memories and experiences of Holocaust survivors alive and believes that the Melbourne Holocaust Museum is vital to ensure that the legacies of those who died in the Holocaust are remembered.

BACom/BEc; Chartered Accountant (ICAA) 

Richard began his MHM journey as a museum guide while still working in the financial services industry – spending 14 years at investment firm, Canaccord Genuity.  

Before this, Richard was a senior accountant at PWC Australia.  

Richard, a grandson of a survivor, believes in the importance of keeping the memories of the Holocaust victims and their heritage alive.  

Helen, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, began volunteering at MHM in 2002 – becoming Chair of the MHM Foundation from its inception in 2003.  

As the Co-Chair of our capital campaign for the redevelopment project and the main Volunteer Fundraiser for MHM, Helen is vital in helping us continue our legacy.   

In 2020, Helen was awarded an OAM for her continued support, service and impact in the community.  

MBBS, FACEM, FACMT, FRACMA, MBioethics, MHlthServMt, Dip Epi Biostats   

George has a long association with the MHM, serving as a guide and Lodz committee member since 2006. 

Having twice been on the March of the Living, George accompanied his mother – a Holocaust survivor – and supported as an educator on his second experience.  

An emergency physician and toxicologist, George is Head of the Emergency Medicine Stream for the Centre for Critical Care Medicine at the University of Melbourne.  

He is also the Executive Director of Strategy, Quality and Improvement at The Royal Melbourne Hospital.  

MBBS (hons) (Monash University)

Natalie is a medical practitioner who has 30 years experience working in wide-ranging roles, including clinical research, medical education, mental health and more recently in women’s health.

Natalie is passionate about education and is a director of the board of Mount Scopus College.

Natalie is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and has a solemn duty to never forget. She is a dedicated advocate for Holocaust education, to honour and remember those who suffered and perished, and to educate future generations about the dangers of racism and intolerance.

BA, LLB; Accredited Mediator 

Mary provides vast experience to MHM. She has held a variety of roles including Company Director in the private sector, positions within community organisations and 6 years as Governor of Mount Scopus College.  

As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, Mary has always found great purpose in supporting MHM.  

Representing the volunteer guides, Mary also contributes to our governance portfolio – and is a member of the MHM Collections and Acquisition panel. 

Abram is a Holocaust survivor from Lodz, Poland. 

After losing 15 members of his family to the Holocaust, Abram and his wife emigrated to Australia in 1951 in search of a better life.  

His story of survival and resilience is truly remarkable. And he has dedicated his life to sharing it – to ensure the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten. 

Becoming involved in the MHM in its early days, Abram became a Board Director in 1989. 

Abram is also active in the work of The Jewish Cultural Centre and National Library ‘Kadimah’ and Sholem Aleichem College.  

BSc; Cert. III and IV Fitness  

As the granddaughter of long-time volunteer guide and Holocaust survivor Tuvia Lipson, Melanie (Mel) is on the board representing the third generation.  

Mel is responsible for an annual Holocaust remembrance program with Jewish sporting organisation, Maccabi Australia. This initiative was created to assist sporting communities across the country to remember the Holocaust on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).  

Mel is also on the committee that organises the annual commemoration of the Lodz ghetto liquidation.  

BSc (Deakin University)

Natalie Siegel has spent over 25 years working in the charity and community sector, with a particular focus on drug & alcohol, family violence, disability, and employment issues.

As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, she carries a profound sense of responsibility to honour her family’s history and preserve their memory. Natalie’s connection to the MHM finds its roots in her grandmother, Rosa Krakowski, whose impactful work as a guide spanned many years. As a member of the third generation, Natalie is inspired by Rosa’s contributions, and is resolute in upholding her grandmother’s legacy to keep telling the stories and continue to educate.

BEd; BA; GradDip Women’s Studies 

The daughter of a survivor of Nazi Germany, Pauline has held several roles since her journey with MHM began in 1992 – most recently as Co-President of the Board of Management.  

With a global network, Pauline represents Australia in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) plenary meetings in Europe.  

Pauline also spent 17 years with the USC Shoah Foundation Institute as their Regional Consultant for Australia, where she was involved in coordinating the Australian March of the Living from 2003 to 2014.  

Dr Steven Cooke has over 30 years’ experience in the cultural heritage sector across both museums and academia. An internationally recognised expert on the memorialisation of the Holocaust, Steven has published extensively on both the historical evolution of Holocaust museums and memorials, and new approaches to sharing Holocaust survivor testimony. His exceptional work has led the Australian Government to appoint him to the Australian delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, where he represents Australia on the Memorials and Museums Working Group.

From 2002 until 2011 Steven held leadership positions at some of Australia’s most significant cultural heritage sites, including the Shrine of Remembrance. From there, he transitioned into academia where he worked at Deakin University as an Associate Professor and Course Director for the Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies postgraduate programs, helping inspire the next generation of museum professionals.  In 2020 he was the lead investigator on the landmark Gandel Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness in Australia Survey.

Steven believes passionately about the role Holocaust museums can play in educating the whole community about the dangers of racism and antisemitism and in working towards a more cohesive and respectful society.

CPA Program, Deakin University; Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), Monash University

Gary has 20+ years of experience leading teams, departments, and companies. His track record is one of turning around underperforming service delivery and operations functions and driving growth, quality, and cost efficiency. As a leader at the MHM Gary has been focussed on building and driving a high performing team, to: operationalise the new building; re-launch the public museum; uplift core IT systems and oversee the financial management of the organisation. Gary is from a family of holocaust survivors and is passionate about the way the MHM honours those we lost, celebrates the individuals who managed to survive and inspires people in our society to take learnings, so they can better respond to the antisemitism and racism of today.

PhD (Genocide and Religion); BA (Hons I) 

Breann has been working in the cultural sectors, educating on the Holocaust and other human rights issues since 2013. The granddaughter of non-Jewish survivors of Nazi persecution, Breann is focussed on ensuring we communicate the past to ensure a better present and future for all.

Breann also works to spread awareness of human rights issues across multiple platforms. She served on the 2023 Federal Senate Advisory Panel into the Banning of Nazi Symbols, is the host of the 2022 documentary Trafficked to Australia and is a presenter for ABC Radio National’s Religion and Ethics Unit.

As Head of Programming and Exhibitions, Breann leads the strategy and delivery of education, collections and curatorial in order to create meaningful, relevant and lasting experiences for the visitor.

BA(Psych); BBus(Mktg) 

Aviva has over 10 years’ experience across marketing and fundraising leadership roles in the not-for-profit sector. 

As leader of the MHM Engagement and Philanthropy team, Aviva is focused on reaching wider audiences and fulfilling our vision – to inspire a world free of antisemitism, racism and prejudice. 

Working at the MHM allows Aviva to combine two of her greatest passions: the Jewish community and helping to inspire a world free from hate.

BA (Journalism); Diploma of Education (Secondary)

Tracey has over 14 years’ experience in education in teaching and leadership roles in curriculum, student management and pastoral care within the Government school sector and the not-for-profit sector.

Tracey’s educational philosophy centres on the concept of global citizenship and is particularly invested in guiding students to develop their sense of responsibility and agency, and, to understand the importance of empathy cultural awareness, and environmental stewardship within our interconnected world.

She believes that every student has the potential to become a global citizen who not only understands diverse perspectives but also actively seeks to make a positive impact on the world.

As manager of 5 – 12 education at the MHM, Tracey is focused on building the education suite, including programs for students and curriculum resources for teachers to ensure learning about the Holocaust is accessible for all learners.

She considers her role one of great privilege and enormous responsibility.

PhD, Arts-Jewish History & Culture; MArtCur; BEd (Visual Arts)  

Anna – a daughter and grandchild of survivors – brings her professional experience to the MHM, procuring for our collections since 2014. 

She is responsible for managing the MHM Collection, spanning archives, testimonies and our Resource Centre and Library – and for mentoring our interns and PhD students.  

Anna is passionate about promoting and enhancing the research potential of our collection. She also serves as an Honorary Fellow at Deakin University and Vice-President (Victoria) of the Australian Association of Jewish Studies.  

PhD, Classical Hebrew and Biblical Studies: MA; Ancient History

Simon has a passion for Holocaust education and believes strongly in helping to preserve the legacy of our survivors. In his role he creates and oversees programs to enhance broader community understanding of the Holocaust and its lessons.

For six years, Simon served as a sessional lecturer at the University of Sydney, and as an Education Officer at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Simon has developed and taught programs relating to Nazi racial science, Jewish resistance and the history of the Holocaust. Simon’s research interests concern the identification of references to the biblical and rabbinic literature in documents produced during the war.

MArtAdmin; MFA(Res) 

In the arts sector for over 25 years, Sandy has held curatorial, research and program management roles in public galleries, contemporary art spaces and community museums.   

Sandy’s curatorial practice is informed by her deep interest in Jewish history and culture – and her lived experience as a child of Holocaust survivors.  

She is committed to developing exhibitions that provide insight into the Holocaust, while also exploring broader themes on racism and intolerance.  

Before joining the MHM, Sandy was the Curator at the Jewish Museum of Australia.