Meet the new CEO at JCA
Sydney’s JCA has announced the appointment of Bruce Goldsmith as its new CEO.
Bruce joins JCA as an experienced leader with over 25 years across the technological, engineering and telecommunications industries coupled with a strong community background.
Bruce Goldsmith
Bruce was born in Christchurch, New Zealand and his formative years there were coloured by a large close family and extensive involvement in the small, tight-knit Canterbury Hebrew Congregation. Bruce was a keen Habonim attendee and subsequently travelled to Israel where he met his wife (of 30 years) Shelley while harvesting bananas on kibbutz.
Bruce studied Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration in NZ, Robotics & Automation in the UK and established his own startup in Silicon Valley in the US. Bruce has been involved in the hi- tech and telecommunications sector for large parts of his career including significant involvement more recently with the Israeli tech sector.
On his return to Australia from the US, Bruce joined Vodafone and then Telstra, some years later, holding senior Sales and Management roles in both companies. In more recent years, Bruce has been involved in investment banking and mergers & acquisitions within Australia – raising growth capital for tech sector companies.
Stephen Chipkin, President of JCA said: “We are delighted with the appointment of Bruce as the new CEO of JCA. He is ideally placed to build on the strong platform that we successfully established over the past three years under the leadership of Daniel Grynberg. 2016 saw record levels of fundraising and we are enjoying high levels of energy and engagement internally and externally (including with the Next Generation under our “Jumpstart” banner) and excellent relationships with our member organisations. There is strong momentum and renewed interest in what JCA does and can do to help secure the future of our local community. ”
“Bruce has a range of skills ideal for the role”, Chipkin added. “He brings business, stakeholder management and strategic experience as well as a strong community involvement. All those skills will be called into very good use as we undertake a range of exciting initiatives in the areas of Engagement and in Fundraising. This is an exciting time for Bruce to be joining JCA and I am sure that the whole community joins me in wishing Bruce every success in his new role”.
Bruce Goldsmith said: “I am delighted to join the team at JCA and look forward to meeting the many stakeholders who make up our diverse community and to finding innovative ways to more deeply engage those who currently sit on the periphery of our world. While the JCA model is to be admired, I believe we can do even more to improve our effectiveness and to improve the reach of our 23 constituent member organisations for the benefit of those in our community who need it most.”
In his spare time, Bruce is a keen fisherman. He enjoys golf, rugby, soccer and cricket and coaches women’s over 45’s soccer. Bruce is passionate about the arts and has over the years especially enjoyed following the sporting, musical, dance and extra-curricular activities and careers of his four children Sam, Hannah, Dana and Tammy through Masada College and beyond.
He is currently a member at North Shore Temple Emanuel in Chatswood and as a board member has been extensively involved in the Transition Team as they seek to evolve their religious leadership.
JCA is excited to welcome Bruce into the organisation, confident in the strategic and operational value he will bring to the JCA team and to the community.
Mazel Tov Bruce and to the JCA!
Stephen and I have known Bruce and his family for many years and the JCA couldn’t have appointed anyone more qualified for the job. Bruce is a committed Jew, hard working and a mensch.