As the Executive Director of the Astra Centre, I am privileged to lead one of Cape Town’s most established and impactful Jewish social welfare organisations.

My professional journey has always been guided by values of dignity, inclusion, and service, and Astra allows me to live those values every day by enabling members of our community with intellectual and mental health challenges to reach their full potential.

Astra Centre was founded in 1950, and today it is recognised locally and internationally. Under my leadership, we have not only safeguarded this legacy but also re-energised it, ensuring that the services remain relevant, sustainable, and forward-looking.

I believe I was nominated for the Jewish Achiever Awards because of my commitment to action. My role has required strategic vision, operational resilience, and constant advocacy for those whose voices are too often unheard. Leading Astra has meant balancing financial sustainability with human dignity, developing new partnerships, and ensuring that every individual we see is seen not as a “case” but as a person of worth and promise.

What would make me a worthy winner in the eyes of the judges is not only the impact Astra delivers, but the way in which I have worked to amplify that impact. I have led efforts to modernise our approach, create long-term sustainability, and enhance visibility of people with disabilities within the Jewish and broader Cape Town community. My leadership has been about stewardship – honouring 75 years of history – but also about courageous change: ensuring that Astra is not only a place of sheltered employment, but a platform for empowerment, growth, and integration.

A worthy winner is someone who embodies their values, uplifts others, and creates ripples of positive change.

Through Astra, I have had the privilege of transforming lives in tangible ways: enabling independence, fostering community inclusion, and ensuring that vulnerable members of our community are embraced with dignity and love.

I am proud of what we have achieved, but even more inspired by what lies ahead. Winning this award would not be recognition for me alone, but for every client, staff member, volunteer, and supporter who together make Astra a beacon of possibility. I believe my leadership demonstrates the kind of vision, compassion, and impact that this award seeks to honour.

My vision for myself is to continue growing as a leader who combines compassion with strategy, ensuring that my work always uplifts people.

My vision for Astra Centre is to expand its reach and impact: to create more opportunities for independence, employment, and community living for people with intellectual and mental health challenges.

My vision for South Africa is a society that embraces diversity, reduces inequality, and provides opportunities for all.