An Evening of Courage, Resilience and Hope with Liat Cohen Raviv

Join us for a thought-provoking evening with Liat Cohen Raviv, a resident of Metula, Israel's northernmost border town, Wednesday 26 August.

Through powerful personal stories, Liat will explore themes of resilience, identity and our shared responsibility as a global Jewish community. The evening will examine the realities of rising antisemitism in Australia alongside the ongoing challenges faced by communities in northern Israel as they rebuild following conflict.

As the keynote speaker for the WIZO NSW Major Campaign, Liat is helping raise vital funds to support the lifesaving work of a WIZO Centre in Nahariya. We are deeply grateful to WIZO NSW for making Liat available to join us here on the Gold Coast.

Drawing on her first hand experiences living in Metula, Liat will provide a unique and deeply personal perspective on life along Israel's northern border. Her insights will bring to life the urgency of rebuilding these communities, while inspiring us to consider how each of us can help strengthen Israel's future.

This promises to be an engaging, moving and inspiring evening that will leave guests reflecting on one important question: Where is your True North?

Liat Cohen Raviv is a leading voice in civic resilience and social impact in Israel and globally.

With over 25 years of experience guiding communities and institutions through complex change, her leadership has gained international recognition, including a central speaking role at the 2026 annual AIPAC Policy Conference, where she received a standing ovation for her powerful message.

She is the founder and volunteer Chair of Matzpinim, a groundbreaking civic movement she has led for the past two and a half years, mobilizing thousands of citizens and building cross sector partnerships that are shaping both regional recovery and national-level policy in Northern Israel matzpinim.com  

She was recently recognised for this work, by Globes as one of Israel's 50 Most Influential Women for 2025. She is also a recipient of the Peres Centre for Peace and Innovation 'Knights Award'.

Alongside her civic leadership, Liat works as a strategic advisor specialising in systems change and capacity building, partnering with government ministries, philanthropic foundations, and local authorities across Israel.

She is also among the founding team of the global leadership program Diller Teen Fellows and served as CEO for over a decade, leading its expansion across 32 Jewish Communities in five continents.  She is a Wexner alumna and a member of the civic spokesperson team for Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  What makes Liat's perspective truly unique is that it is not only strategic - it is deeply lived.

 As a resident of Metula, Israel's northernmost community, surrounded by the Lebanese border on three sides, she brings first-hand insight into what it means to lead, rebuild, and sustain hope under prolonged uncertainty.

Her voice resonates at this moment in time, offering not only inspiration, but clear, grounded understanding of how individuals and communities move from a waiting to action, and from crisis to renewal.
 

Please note: the exact venue will be shared two days prior to the event. The event will be held in the Surfers Paradise vicinity.