Jo Silver

Jo Silver was one of the Founding Directors of the Online Hate Prevention Institute and has served in a range of roles including as Chair and Treasurer. Jo is a strategy and planning consultant. She previously served as CEO of Stand Up (a Jewish social justice charity focused on Refugee Programs, Indigenous Partnerships and Education), in corporate planning for local government, and as a project officer for the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (the peak Jewish community organisation in Victoria).

Jo has held a number of leadership roles across a range of charities including serving as Vice President of the Australian Parents’ Council, a member of the board of Spiritual Health Victoria and Secretary of the Jewish Muslim Christian Association (JCMA). Jo holds an MBA from Middlesex University and a Diploma of Applied Science (Prosthetics & Orthotics) from La Trobe University.

Rita Dimasi

Rita Dimasi has held a number of media and communications roles across a range of commercial and not-for-profit organisations. In addition to her work in Australia she was worked in Switzerland and across Europe. Rita is Executive Director of the Melbourne Forum and consults to a range of clients includes include a Commonwealth Research Centre at Melbourne University.

Rita’s career includes ten years working with the European Tennis Association, most of them as an events manager. She served as Chief Operating Officer and Editor in Chief of artHub, an arts sector focused media organisations based in Melbourne and with publications in Australia, the UK and USA. She has also worked as an editor for a range of other print and online publications. Rita holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English Language and Literature/Letters, French and Italian from the University of Melbourne.

Mark Civitella

Mark Civitella served as a Chair of OHPI. He lectures and speaks widely at universities and conferences; comments in media and works as a strategic communication consultant. He is a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia. Mark has expertise in countering violent extremism and political communications as well as issue and crisis management. Mark has consulted widely and worked with Monash University’s Global Terrorism Research Centre, Victorian Multicultural Commission, Victorian Imams Network, and trained religious and cultural leaders. Mark has formerly been a director of communication and research companies. Mark holds a B.A. (Monash University); Diploma in General and Comparative Literature (Monash University); Graduate Diploma in Public Relations (RMIT University); he was during his time on the board a Doctoral Candidate.

Prof. David Wishart

Prof. David Wishart served as Secretary. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Law School, La Trobe University. His expertise includes Corporations Law, Constitutional Law, and issues relating to law and Indigenous peoples, technology and regulation. David is a member of the La Trobe Law Tech Group and Executive Editor of the journal Law in Context. He is a former head of the La Trobe Law School and also led the research training for students in the Law School’s honours program. David has led the Online Hate Prevention Institute’s work on submissions to government consultations and has testified before parliament on matters relating to vilification laws. David holds a Bachelor of Commerce, LLB(Hons), LLM, and PhD.

Baden Hughes

Baden has been variously involved with OHPI since its formation: he served as cofounding director and company secretary between January 2012 and October 2013; served as director between November 2014 and November 2016; and as a director and volunteer Chief Technology Officer between March 2021 and October 2021. Baden has spent over 25 years working in technology leadership roles across a range of diverse ventures: machine learning, document storage/encryption, energy analytics, video analytics and image processing, semantic technologies, real-time distributed data analysis, software security and assurance, network operations and services, and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). In addition, he has spent over 15 years working in management consulting in enterprise ICT / investment strategy and assurance particularly in law enforcement, justice, emergency management and public safety and security domains, including providing advice to statutory office holders and cabinet ministers. He has also worked for over 10 years as a strategic program manager in vocational and higher education, information/publishing, and cultural collections.

Martin Splitter

Martin Splitter has been involved with OHPI as a Director from November 2016 to August 2021 and served as Chair of the Board of Directors for most of that time, he is OHPI’s longest serving Chair. He has a lifetime of leadership experience in community and not-for-profit organisations. His previous roles include CEO, Hadassah Australia; executive member and Education Committee Chair, The King David School Council; board member, Victorian Union for Progressive Judaism; President, Photo Marketing Association Australia and Vice President, Photo Marketing Association International; youth leader, scout leader and Queens Scout. He is also a musician, composer, performer, director, and producer. Martin is Managing Director of Signarama (St Kilda) and ImageWorks, responsible for all aspects of sales, marketing, financial management, HR and training, IT and project management.  He studied Electrical Engineering at Monash University and holds a Cert IV in Training and as well as various industry qualifications.

Junaid Cheema

Junaid Cheema served as a Director and Treasurer. He is a senior executive at the Australian Taxation Office. Prior to working at the ATO he spent four years in Canberra working for the Commonwealth Parliament and various Government Departments. He is a former member of the Board of the Islamic Council of Victoria. He holds a bachelors of Information Technology from the University of Canberra.

Simon Morrison‐Baldwin

Simon Morrison‐Baldwin served as a Director of OHPI. He is an actor and drag performer with an interest in queer politics, gender discrimination and entertainment law. He holds a Juris Doctor from Monash University, a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting) from the Victorian College of the Arts,  and a BA (English & Womens’ Studies) from the University of Western Australia.

Noel Hadjimichael

Noel Hadjimichael is CEO of the NSW Parents’ Council Inc. He previously served as a Team Leader is a Commonwealth Government Agency, CEO of Apex Australia and Apex Foundation Limited, Deputy Executive Director of the Constitution Education Fund, a Law and Business Management Lecturer at the University of Western Sydney, a lawyer, and with the State Chamber of Commerce, the Local Government Association of NSW, and as the Government Relations and Compliance Manager with a major bank. He is a Former Vice President of the Rotary Club of Sydney, Former Board Member of the Customer Council Sydney Water, Former Board Member of the Energy and Water Ombudsman Scheme NSW, and former Vice President of the Parents Council of New South Wales. He is a Unit Support Volunteer for the Australian Navy Cadets. Noel holds a Bachelor of Economics and Masters in Public Policy from the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Peter Hersh

Peter Hersh served as a Director and Treasurer of OHPI. He is a Chartered Accountant in practice and currently Treasurer of the Friends of the Technion NSW; a member of the Board of Governors of the Technion University; a Board member of TSA Environmental Research Limited, and past treasurer of the Zionist Federation of Australia. He holds a B. Com. and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and the Taxation Institute of Australia.

Prof John Rosenberg

Professor John Rosenberg served as a Director and Chair of OHPI. He is now a consultant and was previously a Senior Deputy Vice-chancellor and Vice-president of La Trobe University. He also previously served as Deputy Vice-chancellor (Academic) at Deakin University and Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University. Prof Rosenberg holds a PhD in Computer Science from Monash University. Prof Rosenberg is a founder of Kehilat Nitzan, Melbourne’s Conservative synagogue. He nows acts as an independent consultant on higher education.

Dr Ron Weiser AM

Dr Ron Weiser was a Director of OHPI. He is a practicing dentist. He is the Hon. Life President of the Zionist Council of NSW and Immediate Past President of Zionist Federation of Australia. He is a Committee Member of the board of Governors of the Jewish Agency. He is a Member of the Order of Australia for “service to the community through leadership roles with the Zionist Federation of Australia, to the promotion and development of Australia-Israel relations, and to youth”. He is also a recipient of the Jerusalem Prize and of the Herzl Award for leadership and service to the Jewish World. Dr Weiser holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Sydney.

Bernard Korbman OAM

Bernard Korbman was a Director and Chair of OHPI. He is Managing Director of the Advocacy Consulting Group. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Melbourne Jewish Holocaust Museum and Research Centre, as a teacher, coordinator, and acting deputy school principle for the Victorian Education Department and as President of Australian Society of Polish Jews and Their Descendants. Bernard holds a Fine Arts degree, Diploma of Education, Graduate Diploma of Media Studies, and Master of Education degree. Bernard served as OHPI’s first Chairperson.

James Altman OAM

James Altman was a Director and Treasurer of OHPI. He has previously served as President of B’nai B’rith Australia and New Zealand, a member of the Board of Governors of B’nai B’rith International and Treasurer of Courage to Care (NSW). He is a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia “for service to the Jewish Community and through fostering intercultural understanding”. He has also served as honorary treasurer for the Refugee Council of Australia, and as a trustee of the Australian Refugee Foundation. Mr Altman served as a founding Director and the first Treasurer of OHPI.

Manny Waks

Manny Waks was a Director of OHPI. He was Assistant Director in the Australian Government’s Office of Transport Security. He is the Founder & Executive Director of the Capital Jewish Forum, a former President of the ACT Jewish Community, a former Vice President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and a former Governor of the New South Wales Jewish Communal Appeal Board of Governors. Manny is a former Executive Officer of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission.  He holds a BA in International Relations from La Trobe University.

Daniel Goodhardt

Daniel Goodhardt was a Director of OHPI. He was Head of Information at the Community Security Group (Victoria) and Youth Liaison for the Zionist Federation of Australia. Formerly a researcher at the B’nai B’rith Anti‐Defamation Commission and a presenter of the “Click Against Hate” program. Daniel holds a Masters in counter terrorism studies from Monash University.