Team - IsraAID

Yotam Polizer

CEO

Yotam Polizer is the Global CEO of IsraAID, Israel’s leading humanitarian NGO. Yotam oversees IsraAID’s global operations, strategy and partnerships across 15 countries, including the organization’s ongoing emergency response to the Ukraine crisis – its largest-scale relief effort to date. Over the course of eleven years at IsraAID, Yotam has built and led programs responding to some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian crises. Yotam started at IsraAID leading programs in Japan after the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami, subsequently launching emergency responses in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan, Sierra Leone during the 2014 Ebola crisis, Nepal following the 2015 earthquake, and Greece and Germany during the 2015 Middle Eastern refugee crisis. In 2021, Yotam and partners led the safe evacuation of 167 people at-risk from Afghanistan, including activists, judges, cyclists, members of the Afghan Girls Robotics Team, and more, whose lives were threatened by the Taliban takeover.

Yotam has 15 years’ experience in education, humanitarian aid, and international development. He became IsraAID’s co-CEO in 2017 and Global CEO in 2019.

Tamar Kosky Lazarus

Global Chief Development & Communications Officer (CDCO)

Tamar leads the team at IsraAID which focuses on documenting IsraAID’s work with communities globally and raising funds to ensure its continuation – including working with key humanitarian funders. Tamar has participated in IsraAID missions in Colombia, Dominica, Moldova, Romania, Nepal, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Vanuatu, Greece, and The Bahamas. Tamar has over fifteen years’ experience in fundraising and communications in Israel’s not-for-profit sector. Tamar moved to Israel from London in 2010, where she worked in local government. Tamar has master’s degrees in Middle Eastern Politics and Local Government Management and Policy. She lives in Modiin, with her partner and 3 kids.

Naama Gorodischer

Global Chief Humanitarian & Resilience Officer (CHRO)

Naama Gorodischer has over 16 years of experience in the field of humanitarian aid and community development, with special expertise in emergency response management, forced migration, education and youth at risk in formal and informal education systems.

With a passion for human rights and social justice, Naama, a social activist and youth movement alumna, started her journey volunteering with out-of-home at-risk youth during a ‘year of service’ after high school. That experience led her to establish a community-based school in Uganda, after which she worked in out-of-home care with youth-at-risk. Following her academic studies, she ran a peacebuilding project in Sri-Lanka, and served as IsraAID’s Country Director in Kenya, which led her to develop her career in the field of humanitarian aid and international development. She has extensive experience leading emergency missions and managing programs in over 21 countries in complex settings.

Starting as a young practitioner, Naama swiftly moved up to become Chief Humanitarian and Resilience Programming Officer at IsraAID, the largest non-governmental Israeli humanitarian organization, directly overseeing a staff of 350, spearheading the organization’s strategy and quality programs. Naama has an MA in Community Development Studies and a BA in Sociology and Anthropology.

Shlomit Tron

Global Chief Transformation Officer (CTO)

Shlomit Tron is the Global Chief Transformation Officer (CTO), with over fifteen years’ experience in Human Resource Management in both the business and non-profit sectors. Shlomit spent more than 13 years in the hi-tech and online industries, managing HR in global companies. She holds an MSc. in Organizational Behavior and has vast experience in change management, mentoring leaders and corporate governance. Shlomit was born and raised in Jerusalem but is now proud to live in Tel Aviv with her husband, three children and a cat.

Irina Kegeles

Global Chief Finance Officer (CFO)

Irina has over ten years’ experience in financial management and control and compliance in the non-profit and financial advisory sectors. She moved to Israel from Moscow in 2013, where she worked at a ‘Big Four” accounting firm, specializing in financial advisory, mergers and acquisitions. Upon arrival to Israel, she focused on NGO financial management, working in international non-profits responding to the global refugee crisis. Irina holds a master’s degree in Financial and Strategic Management and lives in Tel Aviv with her husband and two sons.

Michal Bar

Senior Director, Emergencies & Operations

Born and raised in Israel, Michal has over 15 years of experience working in the public sector, including the IDF, the state attorney’s office, the Knesset, and civil society organizations. A member of the Israel Bar association, she holds a Master’s in International Development (Glocal Program) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Michal joined IsraAID in 2017 as the Head of Emergency Response Mission to Dominica. Over the past two years, Michal has been leading the Emergency Programming and Operations department at IsraAID; Michal believes that there is a spark of opportunity in every crisis and that there is a rare momentum to contribute to the affected community’s resilience. Michal, a mother to Noga, divides her time between disaster-affected areas around the world and Tel Aviv, the city she loves to call home.

Michal Strahilevitz

Senior Director of Regions and Resilience Programs

Over the years, Michal has focused on supporting vulnerable communities, particularly those affected by disasters and conflicts, and has led a wide range of projects in areas including livelihoods, women’s empowerment, community development and resilience, DRR, and capacity building. At IsraAID, Michal oversees and directs the organization’s long-term operations around the world. Michal holds a B.B.A. in Business Administration (ESGCI-Paris), an M.A. in International Development Studies (University of Amsterdam), and an M.St. in Human Rights Law (Oxford University).

Amalia Martinez

Organizational Learning Lead Manager

Amalia holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of Buenos Aires and a MA in International Development (Glocal) with a specialization in Gender Studies from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Before joining IsraAID, Amalia worked as an executive in the Public Sector for over 10 years, promoting capacity building in favor of facilitating the implementation of public policies, specializing in economic and organizational strengthening. She has led technological modernization projects, international negotiations for investment projects, including strategic technology transfer for government agencies, and special funding programs for academic and research activities and institutions. Amalia lives with her partner and their dog Marti.

Sita Cacioppe

Director of Technical Sectors

Sita joined IsraAID in 2020 after completing her MBA in Healthcare Innovation at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Israel. She began her career as a Registered Nurse in Australia spending ten years working in Sydney, Perth, and London before moving into the humanitarian sector. Following this move, she spent 9 years with an international medical NGO working around the world including Africa, the Middle East, Ukraine, and Haiti. Sita is passionate about ongoing learning and development within the healthcare sector.

Dr. Ahmad Abu Al- Halaweh

Senior Technical Advisor

Ahmad is a Public Health specialist, with experience in Healthcare Systems Management. He served as Chief of Community Programs and Diabetes at the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem for more than 20 years. In 2005, Ahmad co-founded the Diabetes Palestine Association. He is the focal point for the coordination of cooperation, training, humanitarian assistance, and research with international organizations. In addition, Ahmad serves as the regional representative for STEP (Science Training Encouraging Peace) to support Palestinian students to further their higher education in Israeli Universities.

Avital Furlager

Head of Protection Sector

Avital is a psychotherapist and dance/movement therapist specializing in trauma work with children, adults, and families. She worked as the Senior Protection technical advisor at IsraAID for the past 10 years, and teaches at the University of Haifa, and other academic institutions in Israel. Avital began her work with the refugee community as a mental health clinician with Heartland Alliance at the International FACES refugee clinic in Chicago, IL. With IsraAID, Avital has created and supported the implementation of protection and psychosocial programming in several countries and in the past few years has led the development of content in the Protection sector. Avital likes to dance, practice yoga and meditation, be in nature, and watch movies that make her laugh. Since becoming a mother, she mostly enjoys hanging out with her daughter.

Caroline Wawuda Mwakio

Technical Advisor - Protection

Caroline is a Regional Protection Technical Advisor (TA) at IsraAID. Previously, she served as a Regional MHPSS TA for Tanzania, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, Myanmar, Mexico and Colombia. Her role involves providing technical input on child protection, MHPSS, and GBV to Country Offices to ensure quality programming, multi-sectorial approach to programming and continuous capacity building among staff. She also provides technical input to sector-specific matters that contribute to quality content development. She has a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from School of Medicine, University of Nairobi. She is a clinical psychologist with over 10 years’ experience working with clients in private practice, private sector and public sector. She also worked in Emergency context in South Sudan, Ethiopia and Cameroon.

Mai Leshem

Protection & Emergency Coordinator

Mai is a social worker with a Master’s degree in Child Development. She has extensive experience working with asylum seekers and migrant workers and has a background in emergency operations with the Israel Defence Force.

Antonios Alexandridis

Head of Education Sector

With an academic background in Political Science and Anthropology, Antonios Alexandridis has worked in research and practice in Education and Migration since 2010. He has contributed to impactful research projects with universities and research institutes, focusing on Education Policy and Migration in different contexts, including Greece, Denmark, Lebanon, and Angola. Additionally, before joining IsraAID, Antonios worked as an Education Project and Programme Manager for leading humanitarian organisations, such as Save the Children and UNICEF. In these roles, he has led the design, coordination, implementation, and monitoring & evaluation of Education programmes, ensuring access to quality learning opportunities in humanitarian settings for thousands of refugees and migrants. He has led and co-authored numerous publications in journals such as Forced Migration Review, Journal of Labor and Society, and the Journal of Modern Greek Studies.

Selda Edris

Head of WASH Sector

Selda holds a BSc in Water Industries Engineering and an MSc in Environmental Engineering. Her master’s research focused on the improvement of treated wastewater quality for irrigation in rural areas of Punjab, India, spending time in India researching water quality. Selda volunteered as a water engineer in Uganda, and as a group leader in Tanzania constructing a water system in schools. She has experience in water filtration systems in Amiad Water Systems, as Industrial Wastewater Coordinator in the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and as a teaching assistant in sustainable technology at Tel Aviv University.

Nadav Tal

Head of WASH Sector

Nadav Tal joins IsraAID as Head of the WASH Sector, bringing over 16 years of experience in water resources, environmental health, and regional cooperation.

Nadav lives in Midreshet Ben-Gurion in the Negev with his wife and three children. Although he grew up in Jerusalem, both the desert and the city have deeply influenced his perspective on people, nature, and community.

He holds a BSc in Environmental Health Sciences and an MSc in Desert Studies, specializing in hydrology, from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. His early career included work as a hydrologist and environmental consultant, as well as service as a consultant to the Ministry of Environmental Protection on water and soil pollution issues.

For the past decade, Nadav served as Water Officer and Scientific Director at EcoPeace Middle East, leading water, environmental, and peacebuilding initiatives across the region, including during periods of conflict. This work reinforced his belief that meaningful cooperation is possible when stakeholders share interests and pursue genuine win–win solutions.

In addition to his professional work, Nadav is a certified tour guide in Israel and a teacher of geography and environmental sciences. In 2024, he taught at the Environmental Boarding School in Sde Boker, an experience that was particularly meaningful to him both professionally and personally.

Bosco Mwendwa

WASH Technical Advisor

Bosco is a WASH Specialist supporting the design and technical quality of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs across IsraAID’s work in Africa. With extensive experience implementing WASH initiatives in humanitarian and development settings across several Sub-Saharan countries, he is passionate about helping communities build sustainable and resilient water and sanitation systems. Bosco’s work focuses on climate-resilient water solutions, safe and sustainable sanitation services, and strengthening community resilience through close collaboration with local partners, communities, and local authorities.

Daniel Amoo

Digital Information Officer

Daniel Ayomide Amoo possesses over four years of experience harnessing data and digital technologies to drive impactful solutions for businesses and organisations. His expertise spans software engineering, data analysis and digital innovation, with a proven track record of contributing to both local and international organisations including UNHCR in Geneva, and Second Tree in Greece. In his current role as the Digital Information Officer at IsraAID, Daniel develops innovative applications and digital systems to support the organisation’s humanitarian interventions. His work focuses on creating and implementing tools that empower field teams to respond efficiently to crises and support vulnerable communities worldwide. Daniel holds a first-class Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Covenant University, Nigeria. Beyond his professional commitments, he enjoys reading, playing Monopoly, and volunteering with local NGOs in Ota, Nigeria to support community development projects.

Samantha Deb

Emergency Programming Coordinator

Sam is an experienced humanitarian professional with over a decade of field-level leadership in emergency response across South Sudan, Myanmar, Cameroon, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and Poland. Currently serving as an Emergency Programming Coordinator, Sam has worked with Save the Children and Plan International, leading critical responses and shaping global emergency strategies.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam acted as Head of the Global Technical Team at Plan International, coordinating nine technical task forces and supporting 50 country offices with a global response framework aligned with the Global Humanitarian Response Plan, managing a €100 million response effort.

Sam also spearheaded the design of Ready 2 Respond, an operational response preparedness model adopted across Plan International’s global portfolio of Country Offices, and played key roles in simulation exercises and strategic initiatives, including the Global Food Crisis coordination, representation on the Crisis Management Team for Women in Security, led senior-level simulation exercises such as Red Alert Emergencies and the Leadership in Emergencies learning programmes and led the Humanitarian Scale Up Strategy workshops for Mozambique & Kenya. Sam holds an MSc in Development Management from the London School of Economics.

Victor Diefenbach

Roving Health Officer

Victor Diefenbach studied Emergency and Disaster Management and supports the planning and implementation of health programs in crisis and disaster situations as Roving Health Officer at IsraAID. His work focuses on sustainable, community-based approaches to strengthening local capacities and has taken him to various regions across Africa, Asia, and Europe, where he manages programs addressing crisis response. Based in Switzerland, Victor enjoys mountain sports, particularly splitboard touring in Western Asia and the Alps, and continues to pursue his passion for baking, having grown up in a family bakery.

Tali Groshaus

Director of Emergency & Operations

Tali is Israeli-Argentinian. She holds a B.A. in Society and Politics and an M.A. in International Development. Tali started with IsraAID as Country Director in Guatemala following the eruption of El Fuego volcano in 2018, and later participated in the emergency response in Alta Verapaz after the Eta and Iota storms in 2020. Between then and returning to IsraAID in 2023, Tali was based in Santa Cruz La Laguna, Guatemala where she started a locally-owned tourism business while working as a consultant for a local NGO. Before starting her career in international development, Tali worked in informal education and youth empowerment in Israel.

Laura Di-Castro

Operations Coordinator

Laura Di Castro is a humanitarian professional with over 10 years of experience in international development. She has worked in various roles globally, including four years as IsraAID’s Regional Director for Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Euro-Pacific regions.

Her experience includes leading programs for grassroots organizations, governmental agencies, and international organizations such as FAO, the Italian Cooperation Agency, and IOM, with a focus on West Africa and Central America. Laura holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Reichman University and a Master’s degree in International Development from Sciences Po, Paris.

In her current role, Laura supports the institutionalization of IsraAID’s global operations team, contributing to the organization’s operational growth and efficiency.

Karmit Berlinsky

Senior Emergency Operations Officer

Before joining IsraAID, Karmit worked for many years in hi-tech, mainly in project and product management. After a year of exploring new cultures and volunteering all over the world, Karmit decided to leave the private sector and use her skills and experience in an organization dealing with disaster response. Karmit joined NATAN’s Operations and Logistics Team in 2018, and later joined IsraAID in 2019 when deployed to the Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian. In 2020, she became the Emergency Operations Officer in HQ.

David White

Safety and Security Officer

After working as Security and Operations Manager for an INGO in South Sudan during the civil war, David moved to study at Tel Aviv University where he attained a Master’s in Political Science, specializing in Security and Diplomacy studies. He returned to South Sudan where he worked for several years as a country and then regional-level INGO security manager. A native of Scotland, David joined the IsraAID team in order to continue pursuing his passion for supporting and empowering humanitarian workers to operate in hostile environments, so that those most in need can be reached.

Valerio Carafa

Emergency Operations Officer

Valerio holds three master’s degrees in Political Sciences, Diplomatic Studies, and Public Health. Before joining IsraAID, Valerio worked for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, an international organization founded by a group of Mediterranean national parliaments, including Israel, within the Inter-Parliamentary Union IPU, Geneva. He speaks Italian, English, French, and Spanish. Valerio volunteers at the Italian Relief Corps and is a member of Rotary Club Napoli Parthenope. He loves riding his motorbike, kitesurfing, and sailing. Valerio comes from Napoli, Italy and although he feels like a world citizen, he cannot live without pasta and pizza.

Kareen Zabow

Program Manager, Global & Special Projects

Kareen Zabow is IsraAID’s Programmes Manager for Global & Special Projects, leading the development, quality assurance, and strategic direction of multi‑country humanitarian and development initiatives. She works closely with regional teams and technical experts to advance community‑led resilience, localization, and organizational learning across IsraAID’s global portfolio.

Kareen brings extensive field leadership experience from her years with IsraAID across Africa and the Caribbean. She previously served as Country Director in Mozambique and Sierra Leone, and as Head of Mission in Zimbabwe and Jamaica, overseeing emergency response, recovery, and resilience programming following major disasters . Her earlier work with IsraAID also includes leading a UNICEF‑funded child protection program in Dominica after Hurricane Maria.

Before her current HQ role, Kareen served as Urban Resilience Director for Catholic Relief Services in Sierra Leone, where she led large‑scale climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction programs and helped launch West Africa’s first Water Fund. She also brings experience in conservation and community-based natural resource management from her time with the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary.

Kareen holds a Master’s degree in International Development from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Tel Aviv University. She is passionate about strengthening community resilience, elevating local leadership, and ensuring that humanitarian and development programming is inclusive, sustainable, and grounded in community priorities.

Maia Brandstadter

Senior Programs Officer

Maia has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Buenos Aires in Psychology and a Master’s degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in International Development (Glocal), specializing in Gender and Development. She has extensive experience working in educational and therapeutic programs with at-risk youth, as well as with children and teenagers with psychosocial issues, in Argentina and in Australia. She has volunteered with ARDC promoting access to higher education for refugees in Tel Aviv, and she was the Country Director of a humanitarian aid organization in Israel. She joined IsraAID first as an intern, later working with the Protection team developing a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support online program, before becoming the Programs Officer for Africa & the Pacific.

Anna Bondar

Senior Programs Officer, Ukraine

Anna is originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, and joined IsraAID during the process of moving to Israel. She worked at the JDC for 11 years, starting her career in the humanitarian world as a PR & Missions Manager. Anna then worked as a Jewish Renewal Coordinator with 10 organizations in Central & Western Ukraine. She later became the director of JCC Halom in Kyiv, which she and her team built from scratch.

Leah Hecht

Senior Programs Officer, Europe-Asia-Pacific (Maternity Cover)

Leah Hecht serves as Programmes Officer for the East Asia and Pacific Region at IsraAID, currently providing maternity cover. Originally from Sydney and based in Tel Aviv for the past eight years, Leah brings over a decade of experience in refugee protection, humanitarian programming, and community-led initiatives.

In Israel, she spent four years leading programmes and operations at the African Refugee Development Center (ARDC), followed by work with UNHCR focusing on refugee resettlement. Her professional background also includes experience as a community lawyer in Australia, grounding her work in rights-based and protection-oriented approaches.

Leah is passionate about strengthening programme quality, supporting country teams, and advancing resilience-driven humanitarian responses. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature with her family and their dog, Sonny, and being in the ocean whenever possible.

Ignasi Calbo

Regional Director, Latin America & the Caribbean

Ignasi joined IsraAID with over 17 years of experience as a humanitarian worker and has had the privilege of working in diverse contexts from conflict zones to disaster-stricken areas on four continents. These experiences have not only shaped his professional journey but also deepened his commitment to fostering positive change in communities and those most vulnerable. Over the years, Ignasi had the privilege of working with various organizations, both local and international, in roles ranging from field operations to program management and regional positions, with the most recent one being a Deputy Regional Director for LAC with HIAS. Ignasi is based in Panama, where he loves to hike and discover the wilderness of its beaches and jungles with his family. He is passionate about sports and loves live music and going to concerts.

Juliana Peña

Deputy Regional Director, Latin America & the Caribbean

Juliana holds a bachelor’s degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology and a master’s in Conflict Studies. She started her career in humanitarian response and international development working with SGBV survivors and community leaders in Colombia. She joined IsraAID in 2017 as Country Director in Sierra Leone, working both in SGBV and SRHR (Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights). In 2019, Juliana returned to Colombia, one of her home countries, to lead the emergency response to the migrant crisis, and is now based in HQ.

Dr. Sam Kaplan

Head of Institutional Funding

Sam joins IsraAID after four years of working at the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) where he was responsible for all international fundraising and partnerships. Prior to ACRI, Sam acquired fundraising and donor relations experience, first at a leading UK charity, and more recently at an Israeli NGO that promotes human rights in relation to planning.

Sam is a cultural anthropologist with a strong background in Middle East history and citizenship studies. Upon completion of his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, Sam taught and conducted research at Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University.

Hannah Sharron

Senior Development Officer

Hannah joined IsraAID in 2021 following a Master’s degree in Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at IDC Herzliya, where she developed an interest in humanitarian aid. She is now working on her MA thesis, and also holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Birmingham, UK. Prior to joining IsraAID, Hannah worked for non-profits in Israel, the UK, and the US. Her experiences have instilled in her a lasting enthusiasm not only for grantmaking but also for sustainable, community-led solutions to complex issues.

Daniella Scher

Development Officer

Daniella grew up in South Africa where her passion for and involvement in community outreach was evident from a young age. She moved to Israel in 2017 to pursue her M.A. in Diplomacy and Conflict Studies at Reichman University. Prior to joining IsraAID, Daniella spent four years at Google Research working on projects in the healthcare and crisis response domain. Daniella is happiest in nature, exploring new places, and immersed in a good book.

Ethan Schwartz

Communications Director

Ethan Schwartz is IsraAID’s Communications Director, overseeing the organization’s global storytelling, brand identity, and documentation. Over eight years at IsraAID he has worked in emergency and long-term settings across a range of missions, including Moldova, Ukraine, Mozambique, Kenya, Guatemala, Morocco, and more. Before joining IsraAID, he worked in NGO campaigns and communications and as a freelance journalist and editor.

Ethan studied Religion, Philosophy and Ethics at King’s College London. Born in New York and brought up in London via Harare, Zimbabwe, Ethan moved to Tel Aviv in 2017.

Talia Cohen

Marketing & Communications Officer

Talia joined IsraAID in 2024 as the Marketing and Communications Officer. Originally from London, she holds a BA in Theology and Religion from the University of Birmingham. During her studies, she was involved in student outreach and marketing with Nightline Birmingham, the university’s peer-to-peer Samaritan support service. Talia brings with her a deep interest in meaningful storytelling and the power of communication to drive impact. She is passionate about sharing the voices behind humanitarian work and creating content that reflects the strength and resilience of communities worldwide. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring nature and can often be found at the beach or on a hike.

Kym Donnelly

Human Resources Manager

Kym is an HR professional with over 10 years’ experience in general human resources, with a passion for training and development. Kym is originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, where she studied Industrial Psychology. She has worked in Human Resources in South Africa, Israel and the UK, and across manufacturing, banking, retail and call centers, taking care of Human Resources and Training. She’s passionate about people, learning and development. Kym lives in Givatayim with her husband.

Liri Mor

Learning & Development Officer

Liri is the Learning and Development Officer at IsraAID, drawing on a strong foundation in educational program design, recruitment and evaluations, with years of experience as an instructor for teenagers and young adults. During her B.A. in Eastern Asia and International Relations at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, she developed and led educational programs tailored to diverse student needs. Liri is passionate about fostering personal and professional growth through tailored learning initiatives. In her free time, you’ll most likely find her reading Harry Potter, solving jigsaw puzzles, or planning her next adventure to a remote, untouched destination.

Irit Lopata Kardosh

Human Resources Manager

Irit joins IsraAID with over 13 years of experience in HR management in both the private sector and the public sector, most recently as the HR Manager of the Tel Aviv Safari Zoo and the Wildlife Hospital. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Latin American Studies, a Masters’s Degree in Human Resources Management, and an academic diploma in Translation and Simultaneous Interpretation Spanish-English-Hebrew. Irit was born in Argentina but has lived most of her adult life in Israel. She currently lives in Kiriat Ono with her husband and their two daughters.

Tanya Amiel

Human Resources Director

Before joining IsraAID, Tanya already had 7 years of experience working in HR. She is passionate about people, their well-being, and diverse working environments. Tanya has a degree from Bar Ilan University, majoring in Human Resource Management. After years in the business sector, Tanya wanted to bring her heart to the workplace, as well as her mind.

Rosie Kadory

Administration & Operations Manager

Originally from the UK, Rosie joined the IsraAID team in 2024 as the Global Operations & Administration Manager. She brings a wealth of experience in management and operations, with a diverse background that includes corporate law, compliance, business operations, and investor relations. Rosie spent over five years at one of Israel’s leading law firms and has extensive experience in the VC and technology startup ecosystem. She currently resides in Tel Aviv with her daughter, Maya.

Chanan Golub

Finance FP&A Director

Chanan has joined us in January 2025 as the Finance FP&A Director, he brings over 20 years of expertise in financial planning and analysis; contract and grant management; financial control and monitoring; financial reporting and compliance. He has experience in both the public and private accounting sector, as well as the non-profit multinational agency. Chanan holds an MBA from Bar Ilan University and a Bachelor of Accountancy from The George Washington University. He lives in Modiin with his wife and two kids, besides his passion for finance; Chanan’s other passion is visiting football stadiums around the world.

Kelvin Kipkoech

Senior Finance Officer, Africa

Kelvin is a finance professional with over 10 years’ experience in accounting, financial management, audit, procurement, and budgeting, with a focus on strengthening financial systems and donor compliance. Originally from Kenya, he has worked as an auditor and in finance roles across humanitarian and development settings, supporting multi-country operations and ensuring strong financial governance. He is passionate about accountability, continuous improvement, and enabling mission-driven impact. Kelvin enjoys spontaneous road trips and values time to reflect, reset, and grow.

Ksenia Guz

Senior Finance Officer, Africa

After graduating from Moscow State University, Ksenia joined the Israeli Ministry of Tourism as a Finance and Administrative Manager. Her journey between that role and her current role at IsraAID included two years in Brazil. Ksenia now lives in Ramat Gan with her husband, two sons, and their cat. She loves spending time with her family, traveling, reading, and learning new handicrafts.

Camila Yedid

Senior Finance Officer

Camila was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She holds a BA in International Studies with a specialization in International Development. She began her career as a Humanitarian Assistant Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, later joining monday.com’s Finance Team and the Emergency Response Team where she gained in financial analysis and emergency response planning, and became adept at using data to identify areas for improvement and maximize operational efficiency.

Chava Mugrabi

Accounting Manager

Chava is the Accounting Officer at IsraAID and a certified bookkeeper with over five years of administrative experience in the Israeli education system. Chava was born and raised in Israel. Following a military career as an HR officer, she went on to study Leadership and Educational Management at Bar-Ilan University, working in the informal and special education system for several years. In 2019, Chava made a career change and studied bookkeeping at Mishlav college, graduating with excellence. Chava lives in Modiin with her husband and three kids.

Lior Komorovsky

Procurement and Compliance Manager

Lior has over four years of experience in Procurement and Data Analysis. Recently he worked in Israel’s Municipality Sector. Before that, Lior worked for global Hi-Tech companies in various IT Roles, running IT operations across regions. Lior holds a BA in Business Management and is a certified internal auditor. Lior enjoys theater, chess, early morning jogging, good humor and reading books – he even wrote one himself. Lior lives in Bat-Hefer with his wife, four kids, and their little lovely dog.

Eyal Dardick

Procurement Officer

Before joining IsraAID, Eyal worked in an operation & logistics role in a private company and recently graduated with a Practical Industrial Engineering diploma from Handesaim Tel Aviv College. Originally from kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, Eyal currently lives in Tel Aviv. Eyal speaks English, Hebrew, and Spanish, and in his free time, he finds joy in attending live concerts, cooking, and enjoying good humor.

James Cohen

Chief Development Officer, IsraAID U.S.

James joined IsraAID US from Jewish Family & Children’s Service Boston, where he served as Chief Philanthropy Officer. He previously spent eight years at Keshet, the leading national organization working for LGBTQ equality in Jewish life in the United States. James holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive certification and is a Senior Fellow of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. He serves on the Board of Directors of Second Nurture, an organization that promotes community-based foster care and adoption, and as the Co President of the Community Hevra Kadisha of Greater Boston. He lives in Newton, Massachusetts, with his husband and is the proud parent of two young men.

Yahaira Arias

Fundraising Manager

Born in the Caribbean and raised in the U.S., Yahaira brings over 25 years of experience in executive administration and business operations in nonprofit development. Her career has spanned a wide range of organizations, from government and for-profit ventures to mission-driven nonprofits, with a focus on building systems, coordinating projects, and ensuring things run smoothly behind the scenes. Yahaira values integrity, collaboration, and a good checklist, and is always looking for ways to make processes smoother and teams closer and stronger.

She joined IsraAID US to support both the Development team and Business Operations, where she manages fundraising campaigns, office logistics, meeting and event coordination, and serves as the go-to for systems and process support. Yahaira holds a degree in Accounting and Business Administration. Her work is grounded in a deep belief in the power of planning, organization, communication, and community.

Outside of work, Yahaira enjoys art, music, party planning, learning in general, being an entrepreneur, and spending time with family and friends. She is passionate about inclusive spaces, intentional teamwork, and supporting efforts that make a real impact.

Yossi Eshed

Managing Director, IsraAID Australia

Yossi Eshed is proud to serve as the Managing Director of IsraAID Australia since January 2024.

Yossi and his wife Idit moved to Sydney in September 2015, as he started his position as the fundraising Shaliach (Emissary) for JNF NSW, a position he held until January 2015. Prior moving to Australia Yossi was the Director of Masa Programs division for Habonim Dror World Office, CEO and Head Fundraiser for Yad Yehudit charity, The Jewish Agency’s Aliyah Shaliach (Emissary) for Cape Town, South Africa, Director of the young drivers division in Road Safety NGO Or Yarok, a town council member in his hometown Binyamina and a Director of the marketing department and Editor In Chief in Ha’Aretz Group.

Yossi served as an officer (Captain) in the paratroopers division of the IDF. Yossi and Idit are proud Saba and Savta (Grandparents) of their little granddaughter Nir and parents of Ron, Shir and Guy.

Jennifer Ouaknine

Executive Director, Canada

Jennifer Ouaknine is a purpose-driven leader with a proven track record in fundraising, event strategy, and team leadership. Known for building strong relationships and delivering measurable results, she brings both heart and hustle to every role she takes on.

After nearly eight impactful years as Executive Director of the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) in Toronto — where she worked closely with staff, volunteers, and donors to raise critical funds for cancer research — Jennifer is now leading IsraAID Canada as its Executive Director. In this role, she is proud to represent and support a global team delivering humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and resilience-building programs worldwide.

She is deeply committed to leveraging her experience to expand IsraAID’s impact in Israel, the region, and beyond. Prior to her nonprofit career, Jennifer built a successful career in banking at TD Canada Trust and HSBC Bank Canada, specializing in high-net-worth client services.

Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in business and Labour Relations from York University. Born and raised in Toronto, she lives in Thornhill with her husband and two sons (ages 14 and 17). A passionate traveler and devoted fan of Broadway musicals, she brings creativity, warmth, and a deep sense of purpose to all she does.

Annet Apio

Malawi

Apio Annet is a seasoned leader with more than fifteen years of experience establishing and scaling humanitarian operations, developing systems and processes for humanitarian aid and development programs, and managing teams. Her extensive experience includes work in five African countries: Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and Malawi. She has managed Emergency Operations, youth and Women empowerment, and integrated humanitarian programs, encompassing Child Protection, WASH, and Health, relying on the Resilience framework, the Community-centered approach, and the “Do-No-Harm” principle.

She currently serves as the Country Director of IsraAID Malawi, where she oversees operations with a focus on strategic planning, financial management, fundraising, and partnership development. Annet joined IsraAID in 2018 as the Field Coordinator at the Kakuma Refugee Camp. She subsequently progressed to the roles of Deputy Country Director and Country Director for the Kenya and Uganda country programs. Before her work with IsraAID, she worked with Restless Development (Uganda), the African Union Commission, the University of Oxford, Little Light Uganda, and Reproductive Health Uganda.

Annet holds a Master’s degree in International Development from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Social Administration from Kyambogo University.

Delphine Mugisha

Uganda

Delphine has over 30 years of experience working with the Non-Profit sector in Uganda where she is born and in Tanzania where she lived for seven years. Prior to joining IsraAID she worked with both local and international organizations in Uganda and Tanzania namely; Development network of indigenous voluntary associations (DENIVA), Actionaid International; Uganda, Training center for development cooperation (MS-TCDC), CARE International, Bridges to prosperity and Raising Voices. She also participated in short-term human rights work-related assignments in Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, Niger, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Rwanda and Burundi. She has worked with both development focused and humanitarian organizations hence equipping her with a deep exposure to the humanitarian and development nexus.

She holds an MSc degree in development management from the Open University, UK, and an MSc degree in public health leadership from Uganda Christian university.

Jemimah Owande

Kenya

Jemimah Owande is the Country Director for IsraAID Kenya, Joined IsraAID in 2019 as the Protection Technical specialist for Kenya and Uganda. Jemimah has a passion for ensuring the community she serves thrives and prospers. She has a masters degree on Rural sociology and community development from The University of Nairobi.

Karina Garcia

Colombia

Karina is a Clinical Psychology specialist with a Master’s Degree in Social Development. Karina has extensive experience in local capacity development in communities, more specifically in education, leadership, mental health, community empowerment, and sustainable development. Karina joined IsraAID as an Area Manager with more than 10 years of working for national and international NGOs. Karina enjoys spending time with her partner and her two children, including camping and discovering new places.

Gayle Deighton

Vanuatu

Gayle is a humanitarian and development professional with experience leading, managing, and advising, small and large-scale multi-country programs at executive and senior leadership levels. Among her previous positions, Gayle worked as a Country Director for Hope for the Children Australia in Ethiopia, and as an Organisational Development and Programme Advisor and Director for the Australian Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Gayle holds a B.A. in International Relations from The University of Queensland, Australia, and an M.A. in International Relations from Deakin University, Australia.

Alena Druzhynina

Ukraine

Before becoming IsraAID Ukraine Head of Mission, Alena joined IsraAID as Head of Operations. Prior to this, Alena began her professional career as a program manager at the All-Ukrainian Network of people living with HIV/AIDS. Later, she worked with the American Joint Distribution Committee, ICRC, and the Ministry of Health’s Public Health Center where she focused on project management, civil protection, and expanding access to health for vulnerable populations, accordingly.

Alena currently lives in Kyiv with her family, including her daughter Maya. In her free time, Alena enjoys oil painting.

Elad Orian

Head of Mission, Gaza

Elad Orian is IsraAID’s Head of Mission for Gaza. With a background in physics and environmental science, Elad brings over 15 years of experience in humanitarian work and sustainable development to this role. He previously co-founded and led Comet-ME, an NGO providing renewable energy solutions to off-grid communities. Elad’s expertise in program implementation, partnership building, and navigating complex political environments drives IsraAID’s strategic operations in Gaza.

Iris Rozanes

Head of Mission, Israel

Iris joins us as the Head of Mission for Israel. Over the past 20 years, she has been deeply engaged in the social and public sectors, specializing in team management, finance, human resources, and large-scale projects within the nonprofit sector.

She holds an M.A. in NGO Management from Ben-Gurion University and a B.A. in East Asian Studies (specializing in Chinese!) from Tel Aviv University. Beyond her professional achievements, Iris is committed to service—volunteering as a medic with United Hatzalah and with the Har HaNegev Search & Rescue Police Volunteer Unit.

Iris joined IsraAID Israel Mission in December 2023 as Operations Manager, and since then, she has grown with the mission’s activities, becoming a vital leader and role model for the team. Her positive spirit, desert tranquility, and unstoppable “can-do” approach have won the admiration and affection of colleagues across the board.

Meira Aboulafia

Chairperson

Meira has been active in the world of non-profits for over 30 years. For 15 years, she served as the Coordinator for Special Projects and Events at the JDC-Brookdale Institute, as well as the Manager of their Middle East program, meant to enhance the quality of healthcare systems in the entire region. She co-chaired the Israeli NGO Aid Without Borders from 2000-2002, and has spent the last 10 years fighting for human rights in Israel and the Palestinian territories. In 2015, she won the Times of Israel Humanitarian Award in recognition of her leadership at IsraAID. From 2006-2018, in parallel with her activities at IsraAID, Meira served as CEO and Chairperson of The Israeli Friends of the Tibetan People. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum (IWF) and an active partner in promoting the status of women in Israel and around the world.

Mully Dor

Board Member and Founder

Mully has over 35 years of experience in business management, economics and social sustainable development, and the public and health sector. Born and raised in Israel, he has served as Deputy Mayor of the Ramat-Gan Municipality, Deputy CEO of the Hevrat Ovdim Cooperative, Lecturer and Project Director of the Afro-Asian Institute, Chair of IMC – The Israel Management Center, Chair of Rabin First in Labor (R.A.), and Internal Controller at Clalit Health Services HQ. Today, alongside his role with IsraAID, Mully chairs AJEEC-NISPED and the Beit Zvi School of the Performing Arts. He is additionally Chair of the Board of Directors at the Israel Academic College. In his capacity as founder and board member, Mully has directly assisted in IsraAID’s projects in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, and Japan after the 2012 tsunami.

Edward Rettig

Board Member

Born in the United States, Ed immigrated to Israel in 1972. He holds a law degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and received a Wexner Graduate Fellowship to study at the Hebrew Union College where he received rabbinical ordination. Ed also holds a doctorate in Modern Jewish History from the Hebrew Union College. Ed served as an attorney in the Israel Ministry of Police and on the boards of IsraAID, the Israeli Coalition for International Assistance, and human rights associations in Israel.

Jonathan Barsade

US Board Representative

Jonathan has thirty years of experience as an entrepreneur and an attorney. He is now using those skills to help entrepreneurs create and build their new businesses, and in the world of not-for-profit organizations. Mr. Barsade was the Founder and CEO of EXACTOR INC, the next-generation provider of a fully automated, end-to-end compliance solution for secure, safe, and accurate sales tax record keeping and filing.

Joshua Hantman

Board Member

Joshua, a partner in Number10Strategies and N10S PR, is a strategic communications and political advisor, who has worked on campaigns for high-profile Israeli and international clients, both political and commercial. During his time in government, Josh served as the senior advisor to Ron Dermer, Israel’s ambassador to the US, as well as in Israel’s Ministry of Defense, where he worked closely with then Minister of Defense Ehud Barak. Josh was a Frank Knox Fellow at Harvard University where he graduated with an MA in Middle Eastern Studies. This followed his studies at Oxford University where he received his BA in Oriental Studies.

Dr. Ornit Avidar

Board Member

Ornit is an experienced former diplomat, investor, and mediator with over 20 years of experience in developing international strategic partnerships, solving delicate business issues involving conflicting interest groups, and getting people and technology together to address their needs and common goals. Ornit founded WaterWaysTM Solutions Ltd “WWS” in light of the growing need for clean water in off-grid and rural areas. Currently, she is a lecturer and researcher in Ben-Gurion university of the Negev. She promotes the vision of “Water First” – the need to prioritize the water sector, with the understanding that it is the basis for most Sustainable Development Goals. Ornit has a Ph.D. from Ben-Gurion University in sustainable access to clean water in sub-Saharan Africa and PostDoc from IIASA-International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.

Andrea Lee-Zucker

Board Member

Andrea is a mother of three children, based in the DC area. She is the DC City Ambassador of NEXUS, a global network of young investors and innovators dedicated to bridging communities of wealth and social entrepreneurship. Andrea is also a writer, activist, social entrepreneur, and manager of Antigravity Ventures, an impact fund at The InterTech Group, Inc.

Orit Atzmon

Board Member

Orit Atzmon is a clinical psychologist based in Palo Alto, CA.

Sherry Weinman

Chairperson of U.S. Board

Sherry has been a volunteer leader in the Los Angeles Jewish community for 30 years. As chairperson of the board, Sherry has supervised the start-up of the first U.S. office for IsraAID in Palo Alto, California. Sherry came to IsraAID through her association with AJC, one of IsraAID’s primary American organizational supporters. As a communications professional, Sherry was an executive producer, creator and writer of television news and information programs in Los Angeles and the U.S. for more than 25 years.

Deborah Rudy

Board Member

Deborah is a community activist based in Austin, Texas. She currently chairs Austin’s pro-Israel political network. Her passion is promoting a strong US-Israel relationship, and has been heavily involved in AIPAC leadership positions. Prior to life in Austin, the Rudys lived in Chicago, where Deborah was president of the Stone Jewish Community Center, served on the Board of Directors/Executive Committee of Chicago JCCs, and the board of NCJW, South Cook. She chaired PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) at Temple Anshe Sholom.

Deborah Marcus

Board Member

Deborah Marcus is a 20-year veteran of the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors with deep expertise in fundraising, social impact, nonprofit governance, coalition building, and campaigns that shape a culture of good. In 2025, she joined Paramount, a Skydance company, where she leads the organization’s philanthropic and social impact strategies, working to create a culture of purpose that fosters meaningful connection among employees and with the community.

Previously, Deborah was an executive at CAA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Creative Artists Agency. There, she led initiatives in k-12 education, public health, and combating antisemitism—designing campaigns, producing high-profile events, and developing social impact strategies for both clients and employees.

Before CAA, Deborah served nearly a decade as Executive Director of Communities in Schools of Los Angeles, the nation’s leading high school dropout prevention organization. In 2014, she was appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti to the Los Angeles City Commission on Community and Family Services, where she served as Vice Chair until 2023.

She currently holds multiple leadership positions, including Vice Chair and National Board Member of the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation; Board Member and Development Chair of IsraAid US; Treasurer and Board Member of the LAUSD Education Foundation; and Founding Board Member of the Zioness Action Fund.

Deborah lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two sons.

Eta Somekh

Board Member

Eta enjoyed a career as an artist working in metal. Nowadays, she serves on the board of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a national organization headquartered in Washington D.C, as well as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

She also heads the Somekh Family Foundation. Eta has two children and lives with her husband Sass in Palo Alto, CA.

Kurt Schwartz

Board Member

Kurt has serves as the Director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, which operates the State Emergency Operations Center, coordinates the state’s response to disasters, and ensures the state’s preparedness to withstand, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies and disasters. Mr. Schwartz served in the state’s Executive Office of Public Safety and Security as the state’s Undersecretary for Homeland Security and Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor from 2010 to 2015, and as the Undersecretary for Law Enforcement from 2007 to 2010.

Rick Matros

Chairperson

Rick Matros is President and Chief Executive Officer of Sabra Health Care REIT.

Jonathan Barsade

Board Member

Jonathan has thirty years of experience as an entrepreneur and an attorney. He is now using those skills to help entrepreneurs create and build their new businesses, and in the world of not-for-profit organizations. Mr. Barsade was the Founder and CEO of EXACTOR INC, the next-generation provider of a fully automated, end-to-end compliance solution for secure, safe, and accurate sales tax record keeping and filing.

Hagit Ze’ev

Board Member

Hagit is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with an extensive background in Transpersonal Psychology, Humanistic Existential Psychology, Internal Family Systems, and Mindfulness. Hagit has deployed with IsraAID to Greece and Germany as part of IsraAID’s response to the Middle Eastern refugee crisis, and shared her expertise by leading mindfulness workshops for IsraAID staff from the refugee community. She is the owner of Neshima Healing, focused on self-discovery.

Sheldon Weisel

Emeritus Treasurer & Former Chair

Sheldon has been practicing law in Washington, D.C. for 40 years. During this time, Sheldon represented developers, lenders, investors and others in a broad range of transactions. He has extensive experience in many different real estate sectors including multifamily, retail, office and hotels. He has been recognized by Chambers and the Washington Legal Times as one of the leading real estate lawyers in Washington, DC. Mr. Weisel has a BA and JD from UCLA.

Yarden Golan

Board Member

Yarden Golan is a seasoned strategic advisor and organizational leader with over 15 years of experience spanning government, diplomacy, renewable energy, and nonprofit sectors. Currently serving as a consultant on foreign policy and strategic initiatives, Yarden brings a wealth of expertise in geopolitical analysis, government relations, and operational planning.

Previously, Yarden served as Chief of Staff to Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, where he led the establishment of a new ministry, managed a 24 million NIS budget, and played a pivotal role during the October 7th war, advising on national security and humanitarian efforts. His leadership extended to the U.S. as Chief of Staff to the Israeli Ambassador in Washington, D.C., where he coordinated high-level diplomatic engagements and spearheaded outreach initiatives across diverse American communities.

Yarden also held leadership roles in the private sector, including Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Energix Renewables, where he advanced clean energy initiatives and built strategic partnerships.

A fluent speaker of English and Hebrew, Yarden holds a B.A. in Politics, Diplomacy, and strategy, and has completed executive education at Georgetown University and Harvard University.

Adam Mirels

Board Member

Adam Mirels is an award-winning Producer and the co-founder of Magnetic Labs, a boutique production Company that develops original films in addition to providing private credit against collateralized assets in the media sector.

Adam’s debut feature, Marjorie Prime, won the Alfred P. Sloan Award at the Sundance Film Festival. His second film, Ingrid Goes West, which also premiered at Sundance, went on to win Best Screenplay and the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.

Adam has gone on to produce work from esteemed directors such as Ana Lily Amirpour on Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, as well as launching new talents like Joanna Arnow with her critically acclaimed film The Feeling that the time for Doing Something Has Passed. Adam’s work has played at world class film festivals including TIFF, Sundance, Venice and Cannes.

Born in South Africa, and raised in New York, Adam is graduate of University of Wisconsin – Madison and earned an MBA from London Business School. He is based between New York and Los Angeles.

Elizabeth Ashbourne

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

As Executive Director of PQMD, Elizabeth (EJ) Ashbourne is responsible for furthering PQMD’s commitment to championing and advancing standards in medical supply and service donations. EJ was previously the Managing Partner for EJA Consulting, a small private firm specializing in strategic planning, fundraising, and all aspects of non-profit turn-around. Prior to that, EJ spent 17 years at the World Bank in a number of senior level positions, where she spent many years working to engage the private sector in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Shulamith Bahat

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Shulamith Bahat is CEO of The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot of America, a program and institutional platform of the Israel-based Museum of the Jewish People, partnering with foundations, museums, JCCs, synagogues, cultivating engaged leadership and overseeing development. Shulamith was previously Associate Executive Director of AJC, where she served for 31 years. She was elected as one of the Forward 50 leaders in Jewish life, as the highest ranking woman and Israeli in American Jewish organizations.

Danielle Foreman

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Danielle Foreman is Director of Programs at the Koret Foundation, working closely with the staff and board to advance the Foundation’s grantmaking priorities. She also collaborates with the CEO and the director of finance on Foundation operations and planning. Since 2015, Danielle has also independently consulted with high net worth individuals who want to leverage their new wealth to impact the community. She and her husband live in San Francisco with their twin sons, Zachary and Noah. Danielle enjoys downhill skiing, almost anything outdoors, travel, photography, and art.

Gidi Grinstein

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Gidi Grinstein is the founder of the Reut Institute, Israel’s leading non-governmental research, strategy and leadership group, and President of American Friends of the Reut Institute.

Yossi Jayinski

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Yossi Jayinski has more than 25 years of public accounting experience serving a variety of industries, including not for profit and financial services. He has performed audits of private and public companies, as well as various IPOs, and has served as an adviser for U.S. and international businesses. He has worked with various functional areas such as risk management, operations, finance, accounting and compliance. Other areas of concentration include internal audit co-sourcing/outsourcing, control assessment, project definition, scope and planning, project management, and resource planning.

Doron Krakow

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Doron Krakow is President and CEO of the JCC Association of North America. Doron has more than two decades working in national and international Jewish organizations, with a strong background in fundraising, youth movement work and Israel engagement.

Pastor Becky Keenan

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Pastor Becky Keenan is the president and founder of One With Israel. Pastor Keenan is an active member of AIPAC’s National Council and serves as a commissioner of the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission appointed by Governor Gregg Abbot in April 2016. She also serves as a member of the Governing Board for the Latino Coalition for Israel.

Adam Taylor

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

For over three decades, Adam Taylor has been guiding intellectual property companies, organizations and individuals to manage and extract value from their copyrights, trademarks and patents. For the last twenty-one years, Adam has served as the President/CEO of APM Music, the world’s leading production music company, which since its founding in 1983 has been providing top quality score, themes, background music and songs for hundreds of thousands of TV shows, movies, commercials, videogames, web videos, corporate films and much more. Covering every style from the latest in authentic urban-contemporary and hard-hitting rock alternative music to extraordinary collections of classical recordings and archival recordings going back to the earliest days of the 20th century, APM’s music has helped create the soundtrack of popular culture.

Prior to running APM Music, Adam served as co-founder and President of Taylor/Fox Enterprises, where he partnered with doctors, scientists and inventors to market and deliver their unique, patent-protected inventions to consumers. Before that, as co-founding partner of Goldman/Taylor Entertainment, he developed numerous properties including the primetime television series Confessions of Crime for Lifetime Network, and the PBS series Joseph Campbell – Mythos hosted by Academy Award® winner Susan Sarandon in partnership with the Joseph Campbell Foundation.

Adam began his career at Caswell-Massey, the oldest chemists and perfumers in the U.S. established in 1752, where he served a ten-year post as President/CEO.

Adam serves on the Advisory Board of the Creative Community for Peace and is Chairman of the Council of Advisors for the Zelikow School for Jewish Non-Profit Management.

Becky Kleiner

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Becky is an interior designer and a passionate community leader. Originally from Venezuela, she lives in Palo Alto, CA, with her husband Micky and their three children.

Erik Ludwig

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Erik Ludwig, Ph.D., serves as the President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Orange County. His executive experience spans the Jewish nonprofit field for the past 20 years and has focused on developing Jewish startups and spearheading innovation within traditional institutions. Prior to his role at the Federation, Erik had a seven-year tenure as Director of the Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management at HUC-JIR/Los Angeles and as Chief Operating Officer at Upstart Bay Area before that. Ludwig earned his Ph.D. in Education, Culture, and Society from the University of Utah in 2018. Erik’s research interests include race in education, caring teacher-student relationships, and the effect of school structure on academic achievement. Ludwig received his M.A. from Humboldt State University and his B.S. from the University of Utah.

Adrienne Matros

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Adrienne Matros is a Clinical Psychologist with over 30 years’ experience in the health care industry. Adrienne currently serves on five non-profit boards, including: Children’s Hospital Orange County (CHOC), Merage JCC, JCCA, Aleh-Negev (Israel) and TLC (Tilly’s Life Center). For ten years, she has been planning and coordinating teen trips to numerous countries working with NGOs and indigenous people to assist in creating self sustaining communities. Adrienne resides with her family in Orange County, California.

Gregory Milne

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Gregory Milne is the chief impact and foreign policy officer at the Clinton Foundation. In this role, he oversees the Foundation’s efforts on programmatic impact and evaluation, metrics, and information sharing; he also helps guide international strategy and plays a central role in shaping and executing President Clinton’s foreign policy vision for the Foundation. Previously, he served as the deputy chief of staff and director of policy to President Clinton and chief executive office of the Clinton Foundation’s Haiti program. He is also an adjunct professor at Fordham Law School.

Colin Price

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Prof. Colin Price is a Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Tel Aviv University, and the Head of the Porters School of Environmental Studies. He is a world-renowned atmospheric physicist, specializing in the earth’s weather and climate, with a focus on thunderstorms, climate change and natural hazards. He has published more than 130 scientific papers, and has a team of 10 graduate students and researchers working under his guidance on various scientific research projects.

Jonathan Quarles

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Jonathan Quarles has had a longstanding passion for building businesses and creating change. As a serial entrepreneur, he started his first business as the top-selling paperboy in his neighborhood at the age of 8. Thirty years later, Jonathan has created and developed more than 10 businesses, ranging from a custom T-Shirt operation to a creative printing company. He is an avid angel investor, focusing on fast-growing, disruptive companies with a social impact component.

Amy Rosenblatt Lui

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Amy Rosenblatt Lui is a Philanthropic Advisor with over 30 years of strategic foundation and development experience. Currently she is Executive Director of three Family Foundations – the Beverly Foundation, the Fingerhut Family Foundation and the Ronald Fingerhut Family Foundation. Amy is active as a volunteer in the community and she lives in Minnetonka with her husband and teenage son.

Eric Savitz

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Eric Savitz is senior director of corporate communications at Roku Inc. He was previously a partner in the San Francisco office of Brunswick Group, a London-based corporate communications firm. Eric’s work includes IPO, M&A and activism defense projects; litigation, cyber breach and crisis communications; media relations, media training and writing assignments. Eric spent 29 years as a reporter, columnist, blogger and editor, focused on investing, technology and Silicon Valley. A resident of Palo Alto, and a member of the board of Congregation Etz Chayim, he and his wife Robyn Stanton have three children.

Erin Schrode

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Erin Schrode is a citizen activist, social entrepreneur and storyteller. Since co-founding Turning Green in 2005, she has developed eco education and action platforms to inspire, educate, and mobilize millions of students and the global public. A passionate writer and orator, Erin was on air with ABC News for the election season, speaks internationally, and consults with corporations, governments and organizations – including IKEA, the US State Department, Apple, The Coca-Cola Company, Nestlé, Unilever, Chipotle, United Nations and more. She writes for Cosmopolitan Magazine, Refinery29 and Fusion, among others.

Larry Tobin

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Larry Tobin is the Director of The Shapiro Foundation, a Boston-based foundation particularly focused on the plight of refugees across the globe. The Shapiro Foundation spearheaded local-resettlement efforts in the US & Canada, worked to alleviate the suffering of refugees and asylum-seekers in Greece & Israel, and have invested significantly to ensure that every individuals’ journey is a safe one. Beyond their work with refugees, they also invest heavily in public health, education & basic human rights in The US, Israel, Rwanda, Liberia, Greece and Canada.

Rabbi Josh Weinberg

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Rabbi Josh Weinberg serves as the Vice President of the URJ for Israel and Reform Zionism and is the Executive Director of ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America. He was ordained from the HUC-JIR Israeli Rabbinic Program in Jerusalem, and is currently living in New York. Josh previously served as the Director of the Israel program for the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and as a faculty member of NFTY-EIE High School in Israel teaching Jewish History.

Ron Zamir

IsraAID U.S. Advisory Council Member

Ron Zamir has been the CEO of AllenComm since 2003. Under his leadership AllenComm has grown to be one of the largest instructional design firms in the U.S. and is ranked at the top of their field in areas of instructional design, gamification and learning management for the corporate education market. Ron serves on the Board and is Vice President of the Utah Jewish Federation, is a member of the AIPAC National Council and Chairman of The Utah Israel Economic Council.

Meet the people who find a way.

OUR PEOPLE

Headquarters

Yotam Polizer

Tamar Kosky Lazarus

Naama Gorodischer

Shlomit Tron

Irina Kegeles

Michal Bar

Michal Strahilevitz

Amalia Martinez

Sita Cacioppe

Dr. Ahmad Abu Al- Halaweh

Avital Furlager

Caroline Wawuda Mwakio

Mai Leshem

Antonios Alexandridis

Selda Edris

Nadav Tal

Bosco Mwendwa

Daniel Amoo

Samantha Deb

Victor Diefenbach

Tali Groshaus

Laura Di-Castro

Karmit Berlinsky

David White

Valerio Carafa

Kareen Zabow

Maia Brandstadter

Anna Bondar

Leah Hecht

Ignasi Calbo

Juliana Peña

Dr. Sam Kaplan

Hannah Sharron

Daniella Scher

Ethan Schwartz

Talia Cohen

Kym Donnelly

Liri Mor

Irit Lopata Kardosh

Tanya Amiel

Rosie Kadory

Chanan Golub

Kelvin Kipkoech

Ksenia Guz

Camila Yedid

Chava Mugrabi

Lior Komorovsky

Eyal Dardick

IsraAID U.S.

James Cohen

Yahaira Arias

IsraAID Australia

Yossi Eshed

IsraAID Canada

Jennifer Ouaknine

Heads of Country Offices

Annet Apio

Delphine Mugisha

Jemimah Owande

Karina Garcia

Gayle Deighton

Alena Druzhynina

Elad Orian

Iris Rozanes

Global Board

Meira Aboulafia

Mully Dor

Edward Rettig

Jonathan Barsade

Joshua Hantman

Dr. Ornit Avidar

IsraAID U.S. Board

Andrea Lee-Zucker

Orit Atzmon

Sherry Weinman

Deborah Rudy

Deborah Marcus