Diane Shteinman AM

Diane Shteinman’s connection with WIZO began as a young girl of about 10. Visiting her grandmother she would read her WIZO magazines with great curiosity. Even now, her feelings for anything connected with Israel and WIZO surpass the feelings for the facts and dates of her positions in WIZO.

Apart from this she was impressed by the vital membership structure of WIZO in Australia. Thousands of women in different states meeting in groups of similar age and interest, co ordinated by state executives and administered by a federal body.

In her early years of being a WIZO member she and her husband became very involved in the establishment of Masada College, the first Jewish Day School in the north of Sydney.

As her children matured she was able to take a role in the NSW State Executive, encouraged by Josie Lacey, then WIZO NSW President. Eventually she reached the position of Federal Secretary for 6 years under Federal President Nellie Weiss.

In 1995 Diane was elected to be President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry ( ECAJ), the first woman to hold that position.

She is now an Honorary Member of the ECAJ.