Immerman to step down from Shalom
AFTER almost 30 years as chief executive of The Shalom Institute and Shalom College, Dr Hilton Immerman has announced he will retire at the end of the year.
AFTER almost 30 years as chief executive of The Shalom Institute and Shalom College, Dr Hilton Immerman has announced he will retire at the end of the year.
“Working at Shalom has been much more than an occupation and a passion, it’s been a vocation – a ‘calling’,” he said. “But while I remain as passionate about, and committed to, Shalom as I was when I took on the role, the time is approaching for me to move on to another phase of my life and for a new CEO to take the reins of this amazing organisation.”
Immerman intends to remain both active and proactive as CEO for the 2016 year to enable a smooth transition and the finalisation of an organisational restructure which commenced last year.
Some of the highlights for Shalom during Immerman’s leadership include the introduction, implementation and operation of major community programs such as the Hebrew University’s Melton Adult Education Program, Limmud-Oz, the Sydney Jewish Writers’ Festival, Network, Hillel, Moishe House, PJ Library, Shalom Baby and the Shalom Gamarada Indigenous Scholarship Program.
“The breadth of positive communal feedback we have received about these programs is testament to the impact they have made and the high esteem in which they are held within the community,” said Shalom board president Jonathan Leib.
Immerman has been widely recognised over his tenure, having received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to adult education and leadership development, an Honorary Fellowship from the University of NSW for service to the community and the university, and the Ron Castan Humanitarian Award for promoting Indigenous higher education.
“It is purely as a result of my work with the staff and board of Shalom that I have been privileged to receive some recognition over the years.
“The credit for this must be shared with all members of the great Shalom family because it is our joint achievements which have been recognised,” he said.
Reflecting on the organisation, Immerman said Shalom is “very different” from what it was when he came on board as college master in 1989.
“At the beginning I had a staff of three part-timers – an administrator, a secretary and a bookkeeper,” he said.
“The journey I have undertaken with a succession of dedicated and supportive board members and staff to transform The Shalom Institute into a dynamic organisation with an outstanding team of professionals running world-leading and cutting-edge programs has been a rewarding experience.”
Leib said, “While it will no doubt be difficult to find a successor for such a dedicated and accomplished professional, the state in which Dr Immerman leaves The Shalom Institute, and the substantial notice period he has given to the board, will no doubt make the task more manageable.”
The Shalom Institute board has appointed a subcommittee which will shortly begin work on the process of recruiting a new CEO.
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