Champions of Change: International Women's Day 2026 at Emanuel Synagogue

Celebrated filmmaker Cate Shortland (Somersault, Lore, Berlin Syndrome, Marvel Studios' Black Widow, The Slap), acclaimed journalist Zara Seidler (The Daily Aus), tireless humanitarian Alethea Gold (SmartAID) and Internet sensation Shoshana Gottlieb-Beker (@JewishMemesOnly) join Emanuel Synagogue's Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio OAM on Sunday, 8 March for a highly anticipated follow-up to last year's sold-out inaugural International Women's Day celebration of Jewish excellence.

To set us off on the right foot, our guest of honour, the New York Times best-selling author and journalist, Marisa Meltzer (It Girl, Glossy, This Is Big, How Sassy Changed My Life, Girl Power), who is here on a short visit from her native Manhattan, will open proceedings with a keynote address that recalls pivotal moments from her illustrious career with her trademark wit and charm.

As creative champions of change, each remarkable Jewish woman on this year's panel will share how they've used their power as storytellers to reshape their respective fields – arts, culture, media, education and aid – and write a new narrative for the women and girls who will follow them.

At the conclusion of the panel discussion, the audience will be invited to ask questions, and door prizes will be announced before we transition to a bountiful morning tea spread prepared by Nora’s Kitchen, with a generous selection of favourites from Sweet Chick.

Once the mingling is underway, you can choose to participate in one of two activities.

• CARE BAG PACKING FOR SHARE THE DIGNITY – Assemble bags with essentials like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, period products, and more, directly supporting Share the Dignity's mission for women experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or doing it tough.
  

• MOTHER NATURE MEDITATION – A Jewish mystical meditation led by Rabbi Dr Orna Triguboff, a teacher of Kabbalah and Jewish meditation and mindfulness, where you will learn five tips for wellbeing connected to the Shechinah, the Divine Presence, as presented in the Kabbalah.

Expect a morning of inspiration and connection as we look toward the future with hope and resolve to create a world that is inclusive, accepting and full of opportunity for the next generation of Jewish women.

PROUDLY PRESENTED BY EMANUEL SYNAGOGUE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WIZO.

OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER





MARISA MELTZER is a journalist based in New York who, for over two decades, has covered beauty, fashion, wellness, and celebrity for top national publications, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller It Girl, Glossy, This Is Big, How Sassy Changed My Life, and Girl Power, and lives in Manhattan.


OUR PANELLISTS



CATE SHORTLAND is an Australian Director and Screenwriter. Her debut film, Somersault (2004), premiered in the Un Certain Regard at Cannes Film Festival. She co-wrote and directed Lore (2012), which premiered in Competition at Sydney Film Festival and won the Audience Award at Locarno; directed Berlin Syndrome (2017), which premiered at Sundance Film Festival and screened at the Berlinale; and directed Black Widow (2021) for Marvel Studios. Cate adapted the episode ‘Rosie’ from Christos Tsiolkas’ novel The Slap for ABC TV, which was nominated for a BAFTA and Emmy Award, and won an AWGIE in 2012 for best adapted miniseries. Cate’s TV miniseries writing credits include The Devil’s Playground, Deadline Gallipoli and The Kettering Incident. Cate has directed a number of television series, including set-up director and multiple episodes of The Secret Life of Us, and the 2 x one-hour miniseries The Silence. More recently, Cate directed on the Showtime series Three Women and two episodes of The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox for Knox Robinson Productions/Hulu.




ZARA SEIDLER is the creator of The Daily Aus, a social-first news service that has transformed how young Australians access news. Motivated to better inform her peers and promote a healthier democracy, she engages over 2.5 million young people each month via social media, newsletters, podcasts and a website. Zara has also co-authored the book No Silly Questions, designed to help young people understand the world around them. She is also a regular commentator on ABC’s News Breakfast and The Today Show. She was recognised in the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list in 2022 and the inaugural Forbes Australia 30 Under 30 list in 2024.




ALETHEA GOLD was Fashion Editor of Studio Bambini for 14 years. She freelanced for Italian Vogue Bambini and Harper’s Bazaar (guest editor for Mode Jnr), styled campaigns for Guess Kids USA and Sundeck surf, produced fashion shows featuring 180 models, and dressed TV stars, earning her the title "Guru of Children's Fashion" in Australian media. Nine years ago, she reinvented herself with a radical new mission, turning her lens from models to humanity. She traded high fashion for high stakes and glamour for grit. Her humanitarian work began with the documentary Unsung Heroes, followed by the Children of the World trilogy: Children of China (Beijing Olympics launch, funding HIV-affected kids' art therapy camps), Children of South Africa (FIFA World Cup launch, supporting township youth sports), and Children of Israel (backing Ethiopian refugee kids' sports), endorsed by Nelson Mandela, Sting, Jackie Chan, and Sir Bob Geldof. Today, as Chairperson and Global Goodwill Ambassador for SmartAID, Alethea responds to crises in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Tonga, Turkey and beyond using cutting-edge technology to deliver clean water, solar tech, and phone chargers to the world's most desperate communities when they need them most. Together with her SmartAID team, she has opened over 158 STEM centres across Africa, aiming to reach every African country by year-end.




SHOSHANA GOTTLIEB-BEKER is a writer and Jewish educator based in Sydney. She spends her time watching and discussing film and television, reading Jewish books and making memes on Instagram. When not posting on the internet, Shoshana is a Jewish Studies teacher and a regular guest at Limmud festivals around the world. She studied politics and screenwriting at UTS, and Jewish studies and pedagogy at Pardes Institute in Jerusalem. Shoshana is also the co-host of the newest season of the podcast Ashamed to Admit, and was one of JNF's 2025 Top 36 Under 36 Jewish Changemakers.


OUR MODERATOR



RABBI JACQUELINE NINIO OAM was ordained in 1998 when she became the seventh Australian-born progressive rabbi and the third Australian-born female rabbi. Rabbi Ninio joined Emanuel Synagogue in 1998 and is the congregation’s first female rabbi. She is interested in midrash and liturgy and has a passion for storytelling. Rabbi Ninio believes in the centrality and importance of community and providing a place where people feel valued, included and treasured. In 2024, Rabbi Ninio became the first female rabbi to be awarded an Order of Australia for her service to the Jewish community.

EVENT PRESENTERS




EMANUEL SYNAGOGUE – Emanuel Synagogue is a vibrant and inclusive Jewish community located in Woollahra, NSW. Committed to fostering a sense of belonging, connection, and Jewish identity, Emanuel Synagogue offers a wide range of services, cultural programs and education for individuals and families of all backgrounds. 

WIZO, the Women’s International Zionist Organisation, is the largest social welfare organisation in Israel, supporting women, children, families and the elderly. WIZO operates emergency daycare centres, builds life-saving bomb shelters and supports displaced families. Its mission is to provide welfare, advance the status of women, and strengthen the bond between world Jewry and Israel. WIZO is dedicated to social change, education and empowerment in Israeli society.

OUR SUPPORTERS

SWEET CHICK is an artisanal bakery and boutique catering company based in Surry Hills, Sydney. Founded by Rebecca Balkin in her parents’ home kitchen, Sweet Chick is now approaching its tenth year in business. The bakery specialises in handcrafted baked goods, including cakes, biscuits, confectionery, savoury tarts and traditional Jewish desserts. Using only high-quality ingredients, Sweet Chick is known for delivering exceptional products to its community.

AMONG EQUALS merges art and community with fashion and the ancient practice of Bilum weaving. Each bag is a wonderful work of art, handwoven by an artisan in Papua New Guinea. The design captures her spiritual and cultural heritage. Among Equals' mission is to drive change by empowering communities of artisan weavers, and they believe that colour, art, fashion, and craft can serve as a platform for inspired storytelling and hope. Founded in 2015 by Caroline Sherman, the brand aims to empower these women by providing sustainable income and by honouring their traditional weaving techniques and cultural heritage. 

Created with care and led by science, JSHealth Vitamins is an innovative health brand on a mission to help women reclaim the sense of wellness and confidence they deserve. The brand was born as an extension of Jessica Sepel’s Healthy Life philosophy. Jess always had an innate calling to create vitamins and supplements, and after listening to the health goals of her community, she knew she wanted to create a range of targeted formulas. The JSHealth Vitamins comprehensive product range is designed to help women care for themselves from the inside and out.

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