Joe Gersh
Joseph Gersh | |
|---|---|
| Born | Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, board member |
| Known for | Founder and Executive Chairman of Gersh Investment Partners Limited; Ministerial appointment on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Board |
Joseph Gersh AM is a prominent Australian entrepreneur and board member across numerous public and private enterprises. He founded Gersh Investment Partners Limited (GIPL), where he serves as Executive Chairman, overseeing ventures in sectors such as real estate, banking, and the arts. As a significant contributor to Melbourne's corporate landscape, Gersh also holds a Ministerial appointment on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Board.
In recognition of his impactful work in business, government, the arts, and community service, he was honored with the Order of Australia in 2006.
Education
Gersh completed his secondary education at Mount Scopus Memorial College in 1972 before attaining a Bachelor of Commerce and an LLB with Honors from the University of Melbourne in 1979.
Career
Between 1982 and 1999, Gersh was the senior partner and chaired the Management Committee at Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL), a leading law firm based in Melbourne. His directorship roles include serving on the Federal Airports Corporation board from 1995 to 1996 and being a founding member of the Reserve Bank of Australia's Payments System Board.
In 2000, he launched Gersh Investment Partners Limited along with Gersh Advisory. He was the inaugural Chairman of the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation from 2003 until 2012. His tenure on the Reserve Bank of Australia's Payments System Board spanned from 1998 through to 2013.
In a strategic move in 2008, Gersh reacquired GIPL by investing $20 million after it had been sold to MFS Limited in 2007 at an estimated valuation of $100 million; MFS had encountered financial difficulties. Later, in 2013, GIPL entered into a partnership with Thailand’s Supalai Public Company Limited to commit $60 million annually toward real estate investments within Australia.
Gersh joined the ABC Board in May 2018 and was instrumental during the governance challenges faced by ABC later that year. He engaged directly with then-CEO Michelle Guthrie amid controversies involving Justin Milne, facilitating dialogue regarding formal complaints and executive leadership matters. Throughout this period, he highlighted the board’s collaborative approach and advocated for including members with expertise in media or digital fields.
The arts
Gersh is an active patron of the arts, particularly dedicated to establishing Melbourne as a cultural hub. Since 2003, he has been a Director at the Sydney Institute. Between 2006 and 2009, he fulfilled the role of Deputy Chairman at the Australia Council for the Arts. His leadership experience extends to chairing the National Institute of Circus Arts from 2005 to 2006 and overseeing Artbank, Australia's government art rental organization, from 2000 until 2009.
Community
Within the Jewish community, Gersh has held influential positions including President of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria from 1990 to 1993 and Vice President of the Australian Institute of Jewish Affairs between 1987 and 1992. He continues his involvement as a life-councilor at Mount Scopus Memorial College.
Personal
Gersh is separated and is a father to four children.