Board of Directors

Michal Eitan, Chair, is a leading consultant and educator in entrepreneurship and innovation processes, with emphasis on government policies and private sector strategies regarding sustainability. She has played a key role as a VP of operations and part of the founding team of Checkpoint – one of the most successful start-up companies in Israel. Michal has served as director of the “Israel 2028″ project – the leading Israeli futuristic strategic planning process regarding economic and social strategies. Her academic background includes sociology, business administration, an MA in Urban Planning, and substantial studies in sustainability and environmental leadership. 

Baker A'wawdy is the director general of the Galilee Society, the Arab National Society for Health Research and Services.  His background is in education and management, and previously Baker served on a five-year planning project for the Arab education system at the Hebrew University's Center for Research and Advancement of Education.  He holds an MA in Public Policy from Tel Aviv University and an MA in Management, Systems and Programs from the University of Haifa's School of Education.

Gidi Bashan, a forester, is the director of Community and Forest (Mountain Region) of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and manager of the JNF Sataf site for restoration of ancient agriculture in the Judean Hills.  Gidi is active in the non-profit organizations Green Staff and Ein Hamevaser, and holds a BA in environmental sciences.

Amalia Bryl is a businesswoman and educational activist.  She is a member of the board of directors of MTI Computers, and was formerly in charge of transactions in the capital markets and investments division of Bank Hapoalim and Bank Discount.  Amalia holds a BA in law and a Master’s Degree in business administration, and is studying towards a doctorate in business strategy.

Dr. Nadav Davidovitch is an associate professor of Health Systems Management at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.  He earned both an MD degree and a PhD in the History of Science from Tel Aviv University.  Nadav specializes in epidemiology, and among his research interests are environmental health policy, health and immigration, complementary and alternative medicine in the US and Israel, and public health ethics.

Yair Engel, anindustrial designer, is the founder of the Kayama Center for Sustainable Design in Israel.  He is a graduate of the Bezalel School of Art and Design. 

Dr. Ravit Hananel is a researcher and lecturer in the fields of politics, society and planning, with a specialty in land and public policy.  A 6^th Year Heschel Environmental Fellow, Ravit coordinates the land project for the Mizrahi Democratic Rainbow movement.

Hanoch Ilsar is the founding director of the Israel Society of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (ISEES).  Hanoch holds an M.Sc. in Environmental Change and Management from Oxford University and an LL.B. in Law and Philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  A veteran activist for the environment in Israel, Hanoch is a graduate of Heschel's Environmental Fellows program, former head of the air quality and energy division of the Israel Union for Environmental Defense, and co-founder of the Hebrew University chapter of the Green Course student organization.

Dr. Roni Lev lecturers in biotechnology and sustainable design, instructs teachers in ecology and nature studies, and coordinates joint Jewish-Arab educational projects.  He holds a Master's Degree in Agricultural Sciences and a Doctorate in Ecology.

Rachel Merchav is a landscape architect and the former head architect of the Israel National Parks Authority.

Ruth Schwartz is the founding coordinator of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel's new division of energy and infrastructure. Among her previous professional positions, she served as the team director for the Jerusalem planning office.  Ruth earned an MA in Municipal and Regional Planning from the Technion and an MA in Public Policy from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.

Ruth Shevach-Gatraid is the Projects and Environment Director of "MAALA – Business for Social Responsibility".

Dalit Simchoni Bar owns the Iceberg Natural Ice-cream Company, and holds an MA degree in theater.

Raviv Tamir is a principal program manager for telecommunication platforms at Microsoft Corporation.  He serves on the Heschel Center's board in the framework of his participation in The Penni and Stephen Weinberg Center for Lay Leadership's Synergy Program, which builds bridges between industry leaders and the non-profit sector.      

Ahuva Windsor is an environmental psychologist and consultant.  As the owner of Windsor Social-Environmental Research and Consulting, Ahuva is involved in social impact assessments of environmental interventions, research on environmental issues, and public participation in physical and social planning.  She has a PhD in Environmental Psychology from City University of New York, and an MA from Wayne State University in Michigan.