Barbie Golan
Marketing Manager


Barbie Golan
Marketing ManagerBarbie Golan is a strategic marketing and communications leader with over 16 years of experience spanning venture-backed startups, consumer brands, education and the not-for-profit sector.
She spent a decade in New York leading creative and marketing teams supporting more than 20 portfolio companies for a venture fund, helping build brands, digital experiences and growth strategies through to unicorn-stage businesses.
Since relocating to Sydney in 2020, Barbie has led marketing and communications for a leading Orthodox Jewish day school, driving a comprehensive brand repositioning, streamlining communications across stakeholder groups and helping strengthen the school’s market position.
Her expertise includes brand strategy, stakeholder engagement, integrated marketing, communications, lead generation and building high-performing in-house marketing teams the deliver measurable impact.
Britt Miller
Support & Engagement Manager, Victoria


Britt Miller
Support & Engagement Manager, VictoriaBritt has worked extensively in mental health and community services, providing counselling and support across a range of organisations, including Cancer Council, Beyond Blue, 1800RESPECT, and Mind Australia.
Britt has a special interest in infertility and is deeply passionate about supporting individuals and couples navigating the complexities of fertility challenges. Drawing on both her professional experience and her own journey through infertility, pregnancy loss, and multiple rounds of IVF, she understands the importance of compassionate, empathetic support, meaningful connection, and community.
AJFN provided support to Britt during her own fertility experience, and she feels privileged to now be part of the organisation that helped her through such a significant chapter of her life. She is honoured to support others as they navigate their fertility pathways and to walk alongside them during what she appreciated can often be a challenging and deeply personal experience.
Above all, Britt is incredibly grateful to be the mother of two daughters.
Daniel Ross
AJFN Director & Treasurer


Daniel Ross
AJFN Director & TreasurerDaniel is a senior finance leader with experience working with startups, venture capital funds, family offices and ASX listed businesses.
He began his career at PwC, working across Audit and Transaction Services, before building a hybrid accounting and legal services business that was sold in 2025. Now consulting privately, Daniel draws on his experience in executive leadership, finance, governance and operations to support organisations through periods of growth and change.
Daniel joined AJFN in 2026. He is a Chartered Accountant and AJFN’s Treasurer.
Gemma Avner
Project Coordinator, NSW


Gemma Avner
Project Coordinator, NSWGemma brings a background in community engagement, events, relationship management and administration, combined with a genuine passion for supporting Jewish families. Before taking time away from the workforce to raise her two young children, Gemma worked at Moriah College, helping foster a strong sense of community through both the Jewish Life and Enrolments & Engagement departments.
Having experienced a challenging fertility journey, Gemma appreciates the difference that compassionate, practical support can make during life’s most significant moments. Gemma is excited to join the AJFN team and help young Jewish adults access trusted health information, build meaningful connections and feel supported along the way.
Jessi Cohen
Head of Support


Jessi Cohen
Head of SupportJessi has worked as a psychotherapist, extensively in mental health support, with a focus on counselling and supporting those who are most vulnerable in the community. After completing her Masters degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy, she developed short courses and support programs to assist those struggling with anger management, relationships, and domestic violence, as well as starting her own private practice.
She has previously worked as a ghost writer and an editor of memoir / testimony with a focus on the narratives of Holocaust survivors. Jessi is passionate about the fertility space, connecting with others and honouring their stories. Her professional and personal experience equip her wonderfully to providing meaningful support and comfort to those on their fertility journey. She is honoured to stand alongside families during the process. Jessi feels blessed to be the mum of two young boys.
Justine Saidman
Chief Executive Officer


Justine Saidman
Chief Executive OfficerJustine is a passionate and well respected leader within our Australian Jewish Community. For 7 years she was the director of PJ Library, and was instrumental in helping them expand from NSW into VIC and New Zealand. Justine has a Certificate in Jewish Leadership from Spertus in Chicago, and a Masters in Jewish Education from Hebrew University amongst other qualifications, as well as being part of the Leadership Team for Launchpad Leadership.
Justine is directly influenced by three things: her deep Jewish values, her desire to invest and grow community, and her love of learning. These pillars have guided her strong belief that no one should feel disconnected from community or alone, that we should all actively lean into community and that belonging is paramount to the thriving of the Jewish people and to the individual’s sense of self and well-being. Justine’s philosophy is anchored in an attitude of inclusion for the benefit of the individual and the community.
Justine’s greatest treasures are her three children, and she keenly appreciates the importance that Jewish community places on having children. Her central motivator as CEO is to help others build Jewish families and to support and comfort those who have a challenging fertility journey.
Kate Mohr
AJFN Board Director (Melbourne)


Kate Mohr
AJFN Board Director (Melbourne)Kate Mohr is an Australian born lawyer, philanthropist and passionate change maker based in Melbourne, Australia. Kate’s passion for charitable work began in her university days when studying Arts/Law at Monash University. During this time Kate volunteered at legal resource centres in and around Melbourne giving pro-bono legal advice to many disadvantaged members of the community. The ability to connect and contribute was game changing and fostered a love of hands-on community focused work which has continued to evolve in various settings over the years.
Since starting a family Kate has focused much of her time and energy on community engagement, fulfilling roles as a Director of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and chairing its Devleopment Board and more recently joining the board of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia (Vic). Kate has evolved into a compassionate, energetic and motivated leader who is driven by a passion to give back and make the world a better, healthier and safer place.
Kate has a passion for health, wellness, travel and adventure, and loves exploring the world with her husband and 3 children.
Kate Samowitz
AJFN Board Director


Kate Samowitz
AJFN Board DirectorKate is a Senior Executive with 20 years of experience across global consumer brands (Automotive, Financial Services). Over the past 10 years she has held various positions both professional and volunteer across a range of leading Communal organisations. She has developed an passion for not for profit and desire to play an active role in building a strong & united Jewish Community.
Blessed with 3 miracle babies and having endured her own infertility journey, Kate understands first hand that the path to building a family can be challenging. She feels strongly about opening up the conversation so that others do not feel without hope or unable to continue due to financial overwhelm.
Kate has been serving as a passionate AJFN ambassador and volunteer for 10 years across a range of portfolios; Marketing Committee Chair (2020-2024), Fertility companion, Events Committee member and is now excited to bring her strategic focus to Marketing & Communal engagement to position AJFN for its next phase of growth.
Kerry Gonski
AJFN Board Chair & Director, Marketing and Events Committees


Kerry Gonski
AJFN Board Chair & Director, Marketing and Events CommitteesKerry has been involved with the AJFN since 2016, and became the inaugural Board Chair in 2018.
After she and her husband had their own challenging fertility journey they understood firsthand the emotional, physical and financial toll this can take on a relationship. They wanted to ensure that others had a place and a people to turn to for support.
Kerry is a passionate relationship nurturer with senior executive experience (in sales, marketing and fundraising) and broad networks in corporate and for-purpose arenas; having worked at Unilever, Variety – the Children’s Charity and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.
Nicola Tkachenko
Support & Engagement Manager, NSW


Nicola Tkachenko
Support & Engagement Manager, NSWNicki is passionate about her role as AJFN’s Support & Engagement Manager in Sydney. Originally from London, she worked as a Solicitor before becoming actively involved in community organisations in both London and Sydney. Today, she is dedicated to walking alongside individuals and couples on their fertility journeys, while also strengthening AJFN’s engagement across the community.
Nicki’s own life experiences — including a fertility journey, immigration, and health challenges — have given her deep empathy and a non-judgemental approach. She is married and the proud mother of two boys.