Israeli expert on Europe to speak in Melbourne
Israel’s future relations with the European Union will be the key topic under discussion when a leading Israeli political economist gives a breakfast briefing in Melbourne this week.
Professor Alfred Tovias, Director of the Leonard Davis Institute for International Relations at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, will speak at the Beth Weizmann Community Centre on Thursday, August 7.
“Professor Tovias is arguably Israel’s foremost authority on the European Union and his expertise is sought by major institutions worldwide,” said Dr Danny Lamm, President of the State Zionist Council of Victoria which will co-host the briefing session with Australian Friends of the Hebrew University.
From August 7-8, Professor Tovias will be among 40 high-profile international figures attending the 75th anniversary conference of the Australian Institute for International Affairs to be held in Melbourne.
His work on subjects ranging from the EU’s trade policies in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries, to its role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, has been published extensively and his fluency in five languages – English, Hebrew, Spanish, French and German – has won him a wide audience.
A graduate of Barcelona University, Professor Tovias received his PhD in economics from the University of Geneva in 1974.
From 1999-2000, he served as Chairman of the Israeli Association for the Study of European Integration and was a visiting lecturer and research fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Currently, Professor Tovias also holds the Walter Rathenau Chair in European Economics at the Hebrew University and the Jean Monnet Chair in External Economic Relations of the EU – the only academic position of its kind in Israel.
He has been a consultant to UNCTAD and the World Bank, and a research fellow for the Centre for European Policy Studies, Brussels.
Professor Tovias’s briefing session will be held at the Ground Floor Auditorium, Beth Weizmann Community Centre, on Thursday, August 7 from 7.45 am – 9 am.
For more information contact:
SZCV Executive Director, Ginette Searle 9272 5544
SZCV Director of Public Affairs, Elly Shalev 9272 5519
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The State Zionist Council of Victoria leads and encourages Jewish and Zionist activity and expression within Victoria, to represent the Jewish community, to promote and communicate Israel’s interests within the broader Victorian community and to promote Victoria’s relationship with Israel.
For more information, please visit the State Zionist Council of Victoria website www.szcvic.org