Joe Gersh Biography
Joseph Gersh AM is an Australian businessman who works as a manager for Australia’s public and private companies. He is also the Gersh Investment Partners Limited (GIPL) founder and executive chairman. Gersh has been recognized as an influential figure in the business community, especially in Melbourne, with interests in real estate, banking and the arts.
Joe Gersh
He is also a prominent member of the Jewish community in Australia. He currently serves on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) board as a direct ministerial appointment. He was awarded the Australian Order in 2006 for his service to business, government, the arts, and the community.
Joe Gersh Personal
With four children, he’s separated.
Joe Gersh Education
Gersh attended Melbourne University and graduated with a LLB (Honors) Bachelor of Commerce in 1979. He is a Mount Scopus Memorial College graduate where he was captain of the school in 1972.
Joe Gersh Career
From 1982 to 1999, he was formerly a senior partner and Chairman of the Management Committee at Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) law firm in Melbourne. From 1995–1996 he was appointed Director of the Federal Airports Corporation. Gersh is a foundation manager of Australia’s Payments System Board’s The Reserve Bank. In July 2000, he established Gersh Investment Partners Limited and Gersh Advisory. From July 2003 to December 2012, Gersh was Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation’s inaugural chairman.
He was a member of the Australia Reserve Bank’s Payments System Board from 1998 to 2013. In 2008, Gersh paid $20 million to recover GIPL from the company for failing Gold Coast finance MFS. GIPL was sold to MFS at an implied value of $100 million in August 2007. GIPL established an alliance with Supalai Public Company Limited in May 2013 with the company estimating to spend $60 million of its annual overseas budget on Australia. He was appointed to the ABC Board in May 2018.
He appeared in the ABC scandal before the Senate Select Committee in November 2018, Mr Gersh played a special role in the turmoil that engulfed the ABC-he was chosen by the board to meet with Michelle Guthrie to discuss Justin Milne’s allegations of inappropriate behaviour. He asked Ms Guthrie several times at that meeting-at the A1 Canteen in Sydney, near the Ultimo HQ of the ABC-if she wanted to file a formal complaint against Mr Milne, and she refused.
He also asked Ms. Guthrie if she wanted to resign, saying “no” Mr Gersh continues to say that he believes that the ABC board is working in a collegial and respectful way. He admits it might be an additional member with extensive media or digital transformation experience.
Joe Gersh The arts And Community
Gersh is an arts supporter specializing in promoting Melbourne as a cultural center. Since 2003, he has been a Sydney Institute Director. He was the Australia Council for the Arts ‘ Deputy Chairman from 2006–2009. From 2005–2006, he also held honorary positions as chairman of the National Institute of Circus Arts and from December 2000–2009, chairman of Artbank, the government art rental body.
He was a prominent figure in the Jewish community and from 1990 to 1993 was president of the Victoria Jewish Community Council and from 1987 to 1992 he was vice president of the Australian Institute of Jewish Affairs. He also continues to serve as Mount Scopus College’s life councilor.