Hear Israel’s Top Diplomat in Australia at UIA QLD Gala Dinner
UIA QLD is counting down until its 2019 Gala Dinner Event with headline speaker H.E Mark Sofer – Ambassador of Israel to Australia on Sunday 3 March in Brisbane.
Mark Sofer
Ambassador Mark Sofer’s distinguished career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has seen him being posted to Peru, Norway and New York, before being appointed as Ambassador to Ireland, and later as Ambassador to the Republic of India as well as Non-Resident Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. His career also includes acting as a Policy Advisor to the then-Foreign Minister of Israel Shimon Peres, and heading a prestigious non-profit foundation – the Jerusalem Foundation. Before his posting to Australia, Sofer served as Deputy Director General of the Foreign Ministry and Head of Asia and Pacific Division.
Joining Sofer as the second guest speaker is UIA success story, Nataly Zagaya. Born in Israel to Ethiopian parents who made Aliyah as part of Operation Moses in 1984, Nataly participated in UIA’s flagship project Net@. By empowering youth from Israel’s peripheries, this reputable program turns high risk into hi-tech, thus enabling her to join elite units in the IDF. Nataly represents one of the thousands of youth from disadvantaged populations living on the geographic and social periphery that Keren Hayesod – UIA, together with you as our partners, support.
Through technological education, personal development and social activism, Net@ creates new opportunities for disadvantaged children in years 5 to 12 and increases prospects for social mobility. The program currently operates in 21 locations serving thousands of children annually.
The 2019 Gala Event will be a unique opportunity for the local Jewish Community to come together and make a difference For the People of Israel.
Our 2019 Campaign will once again focus on support for the most vulnerable people on the periphery in Israel. Not only will it identify the different programs and avenues in which we provide support, but also celebrate the vibrancy and layers of the Israeli melting pot and how UIA projects are tapping into modern and new and contemporary areas, whilst still retaining our core values and dedication to our mission. Essentially, our projects return to the fundamental premise of empowering the People of Israel – not only continuing to bring them to Israel, but provide them with a multitude of programs and tools for a brighter future.
UIA CEO Yair Miller OAM said: “Our Campaign this year will further cement our unwavering partnership with the People of Israel. It is timely to have an incredible line up of speakers for this year. We are bringing relevant, powerful and inspiring speakers who can inform and entertain our donors, as we continue to empower and enable our beneficiaries. Our events will remind us of the truly amazing scope and scale of the global UIA family, and deepen understanding of our outstanding programs across Israel.”
To book for the UIA QLD Gala Dinner Event and for location details, visit uiaaustralia.org.au/our-events/qld or contact (07) 3229 4462, admin@uiaqld.org.au
Follow UIA on Facebook for updates on our 2019 Campaign: facebook.com/uiaaus
