Who We Are

Ian Rathmell

President

Ian joined the Emanuel board as Treasurer in 2021. A CFA charter holder and Graduate of the AICD Company Directors course, Ian holds a MA in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and a BA in finance from Louisiana State University.

Ian oversees the client group operations, in Australia, for Dimensional Fund Advisors which works with financial professionals to deliver better results and help them grow successful, client-focused businesses. Dimensional is an investment firm with 40 years of history applying academic research to practical investing with over AUD$1.1T assets under management.

After relocating from America, Ian immediately connected with our Emanuel Synagogue, its values, and celebration of the LGBTQ+ members. Ian grew up in a family with a deep history of lay leaders in the Jewish community. Ian held leadership positions in his local B’nai B’rith Youth Organisation (BBYO) and his University Jewish Fraternity, Sigma Alpha Mu.

Lauren Cavana

Lauren Cavana has over 16 years’ experience in Human Resources and is inspired by growing and creating shared value for people and for organisations. Lauren’s experience spans across global live entertainment, technology, marketing, data, retail and HR service businesses.

Lauren grew up with Emanuel Synagogue, attending the preschool and high school and having her Bat Mitzvah with Rabbi Kamins with a family of her own now it’s important to her to contribute to the community.

Daniel Deutsch

Daniel has built a 20-year career across advertising, corporate affairs and strategic communications, working with organisations to shape how they and their initiatives are understood by their audiences. He is the founder and director of Affect Communications, a strategic communications and advisory firm specialising in positioning, advocacy, issues management and campaigns.

Daniel has a long history of involvement in the Jewish community, including with CSG, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and Maccabi.

Shoshana Gottlieb-Beker

Shoshana Gottlieb-Beker is the Head of Jewish Academic Learning (Years 7-12) at Masada College. She has a BA (1st Class Honours) in Creative Writing and Political Science from UTS, a Certificate of Jewish Learning and Pedagogy from the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, and is currently completing her Masters of Teaching (Secondary English).

In her spare time, Shoshana runs the Instagram account JewishMemesOnly, with which she strives to make Jewish learning fun, accessible and a little irreverent, and has amassed over 50k followers across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. She currently co-hosts Season 4 of Ashamed To Admit, a podcast with The Jewish Independent, and was named one of JNF’s 2026 Top 36 Under 36.

Daniel Hochberg

The son of Holocaust survivors. Danny was a youth leader & active parent of Habonim Dror including Mazkir of NZ Habonim and President of the Parents and Friends of Sydney Habonim.

A Coogee Synagogue Board member for over 8 years, a host of the Progressive UIA and the JCA. Long term involvement and leadership roles with Maccabi culminating in his role as President of Maccabi NSW. He was a Governor of the JCA, and a member of the Maccabi Australia Board. Currently a committee member of Maccabi Lawn Bowls Guild.

In 2016 he received the Shofar Award for outstanding service to the Jewish Community, from the JCA. Chair of the Shoah Remembrance Committee for 6 years and a current NSWJBD Deputy. Currently Co-President of the UPJ. Vice President of the Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants. Board member of the Sydney Jewish Museum. Over 30 years experience in small business.

Amanda Lyras

Amanda is a Partner at a leading Australian law firm. She specialises in employment, whistleblowing, discrimination and employee privacy and has a wealth of knowledge about employment and human resources management across organisations, as well as governance issues, succession, culture and relevant areas of legal risk.

Amanda is also a member of the Law Society of New South Wales’ Employment Law and Diversity and Inclusion committees and contributes to policy initiatives and thought leadership in those areas for the legal profession.

Amanda and her family have celebrated a number of momentous life milestones at the Synagogue.