Board Members
Laura Taitz BCom, MBA
Laura is the co-founder of MedEarth. Laura is an experienced IT professional and is the founder of Fraction PM. Laura has held various roles in IT product and project management in start-ups as well as in established organisations such as Envizi by IBM, Dimension Data and Perpetual. Laura has consulted to not-for-profits including Asthma Foundation NSW, BlackDog Institute and Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation. Laura is a director of Sayo Kumbasi House, is a past director of the National Council of Jewish Women NSW and was the co-founder and inaugural Chairperson of the MUM FOR MUM program in Australia.
Brett Rubin BCom (Hons in tax), CPA
Brett has over 30 years’ experience in commerce, particularly in the retail and franchising space. He’s transformed traditional brick-and-mortar retail businesses into thriving digitised, multi-channel sales enterprises. Brett is the founder of The Bottom Line. Brett is an expert at transforming business operations to drive growth, increase operational efficiency, and improve bottom-line profitability. He has built countless KPI reports, unique digital dashboards, and sales and inventory reports using business intelligence software. he has worked in a number of industries including health, retail and franchising and brings a wealth of knowledge in relation to finance and logistics.
David Hirsch BCom (Marketing), BA (Psychology)
David is the Head of Marketing at QBE in Australia with a remit across commercial and consumer insurance products. David has previously held digital and marketing roles at Bupa, Visa, Westpac, Medibank, NobleOak, Roses Only and other ventures. David is passionate about health care and aligns this passion in his career and personal life through his participation in surfing, cycling and the occasional competitive event. He is also a Life Saver at Coogee Surf Club and actively involved in their Nippers program.
Dr Jonny Taitz MBChB, FRACP, FCP(SA), FAAQHC
Jonny is a consultant general paediatrician in private practice, he is an honorary paediatrician at the Sydney Children’s Hospital and was until recently the clinical advisor to the Paediatric safety program at the NSW Clinical Excellence Commission. Jonny is also a board member of Jewish Care. Jonny did his paediatric training at Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town and at Sydney Children’s Hospital where he then worked as a consultant paediatrician and Assistant Director of Clinical Operations. Jonny was Director of Medical Services at Royal North Shore Hospital. Jonny was awarded a Harkness Fellowship in quality and safety and spent a year at Harvard Medical School, Boston. Jonny was a member of Variety The Children’s Charity medical grants committee and was a long standing board member and former Vice Chairperson of the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.
Dr Benjamin Challis B.Med B.MedSci
Ben graduated from the University of Newcastle as a Bachelor of Medicine, and Bachelor of Medical Science. Ben works at Royal North Shore Hospital where he is currently a radiation oncology trainee. Ben is also currently studying a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine through James Cook University. Ben is a Clinical Associate Lecturer, a Doctor of Medicine Clinical Skills Tutor and a Northern Clinical School Doctor of Medicine Learning Supervisor at the University of Sydney. Ben completed the Observership Program in 2022.
Cayley Smith BCom, CA
Cayley is a Commercial Finance Manager with over ten years experience in FMCG at Johnson & Johnson and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. She has held many roles with experience in business strategy and revenue growth management. Cayley has worked extensively with not-for-profit organisations to support strategic initiatives, including leading the Johnson & Johnson Talent for Good Team in 2022, serving on JCA committees and completing The Observership Program in 2017.
Josue Castro BA (Politics & International Relations), MBA
Josue is a public sector leader with 14 years’ experience advising government clients on strategy design, effective program governance, stakeholder engagement and complex project delivery. Josue has lead projects for NSW Greater Sydney’s commission, NSW Treasury, NSW Dept. of Premier & Cabinet, NSW Trade & Investment and Dept. of Foreign Affairs & Trade.
Stephanie Grace B Design Computing
Stephanie is currently Program Manager, IBM Sustainability and ESG. Stephanie’s background is in design thinking and user centred design.
Steve Williams MWHS AIHS Member/COHSPrac
Steve is an experienced health and safety professional with over 30 years’ experience in various industries including engineering, manufacturing, energy generation and networks, transport and construction. Steve has extensive experience providing a wide range of services including training, (accredited through ASQA), risk assessment facilitation, incident investigation, auditing, implementing behavioural based programs and safety management system review and development. Steve has consulted extensively to NSW Government, and is regularly called to provide expert advice to court. Steve is passionate about all aspects of health and safety. He has previous involvement with the Muscular Dystrophy Association NSW, Variety Club and a long history with Surf Lifesaving in NSW.
Operations Manager
Meltem Shabat
Advisors
Dr Lee Ponsky, Founder, MedWish International
David Solsky, Founder, Envizi, an IBM company
Co-founder
Lara Garfinkel BA, LLB
Lara co-founded MedEarth together with Laura in 2013 and was a board member until February 2017. Lara was most recently a Senior Associate at Herbert Smith Freehills, a leading global law firm, where she worked with the Head of Pro Bono and Community to develop the strategic direction of the firm’s pro bono program. Lara managed all requests for pro bono legal assistance and had responsibility in Australia for pro bono secondments and internal and external pro bono programs and clinics. Lara established a program at Herbert Smith Freehills to provide free legal advice to Indigenous Australians setting up their own business. Lara has a background in corporate law and extensive experience in working with charities and not for profits enabling them to achieve their objectives.