1. To create a generation of leaders who know how to work across political divides from a young age.
2. To extend MIT’s cutting-edge technological education to communities who could not previously access it.
3. To promote STEM education and tech-sector leadership among women and minority groups in Palestine and Israel.
4. To inspire our alumni to create and shape a more just society.
Gigi is a founding partner of NFX (www.nfx.com), a $150m leading seed venture firm in Silicon Valley and Israel. He is a founder and investor in many technology start ups such as Playtika, Kenshoo, Plarium, MyHeritage, Optimove, Houseparty, R2Net, SimilarWeb, NanoRep, Replay Technology, SpaceApe, inceptionVR and others. Gigi serves on the Supervisory Board of Bertelsmann as well as on the EMEA client advisory council of Facebook.
Shayma is a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Tel Aviv. She completed her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the Technion in Haifa. After graduating from MEET in 2008, she came back to MEET as an instructor during the 2016 Summer Program.
Anat is the co-founder and CEO of Ukko Inc., a biotech startup backed by top-tier Silicon Valley VCs which is solving food allergies and sensitivities. Previously, Anat was an Investment Partner at Innovation Endeavors, a venture firm backed by Alphabet’s Eric Schmidt. Anat also worked for Israel’s State Attorney, on Capitol Hill and with the World Bank. She received her PhD from MIT, an MPA from Columbia University and a law degree from Hebrew University.
Adi Soffer Teeni is the General Manager of Facebook Israel. She joined Facebook Israel in 2014 to build and grow the company’s Israeli office. Soffer Teeni began her career in 1997 as the CEO of Wall Street Israel, an international school of English. In 2001, she became CEO of Kidum Group, the country’s largest private education company. In 2008, she was appointed as General Manager of 888.com.She is a member of the Board of Directors of Unistream, MEET, Shecodes and Yozmot Atid, and is part of the advisory board for “KamaTach”.. Soffer Teeni holds a bachelor’s degree in Law from Tel Aviv University and an MBA from the university’s Kellogg-Recanati International Executive MBA program.
Wael is of Lebanese and Palestinian descent. Currently the Head of Data at WhatsApp, Wael previously worked for Senator Hillary Clinton in DC, worked 9 years as a Senior Quantitative Analyst and Engineer for Google Ads, and a year as Data Lead for Emerging Experiences at YouTube. Currently, he advises startups and works with a number of non-profits. Some issues he cares a lot about are diversity, education and female empowerment. Wael currently resides in the Bay Area with his wife Vivian and his son Ziad.
Assaf is a serial entrepreneur who builds and runs complex, value-driven organizations. After co-founding MEET, Assaf founded several startups and social ventures to modernize the automotive industry space. Currently, Assaf serves on the board of Colmobil Corp, Israel’s largest car importer, distributor and retailer ($3B sales), In parallel, Assaf is also the Co-Founder of Mint Kitchen, a new Fast-Casual Israeli food concept in New York, and helped launch Future Mobility Israel - a think tank + policy lobby group with a vision to eliminate Israel's traffic and congestion.
Born and raised in Nazareth, Israel.
Mrs. Younis holds a B.Sc. Degree in civil engineering from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology. Together with her husband founded “Alpha Omega Ltd.” Currently, she is serving as board member in multiple NGO’s that promote her belief in the 3E’s – Education, Employment & Entrepreneurship. Mrs. Younis’ aspiration is to promote entrepreneurship among the younger generation, encouraging them to pursue their dreams for a brighter tomorrow. In turn, she believes, this would have a great impact on Nazareth.
It would transform this diverse city into a modern and technological place. Reem and Imad share three children: Dima, Jude and Nada.
Yaron Binur is a three-time founder who innovates in technology, education, and social change. He is a co-founder and currently the Chairman of the Board of MEET. Yaron co-founded two startups: Up2 and Redbeacon; the latter, a home-services marketplace, was acquired by Home Depot in 2012. He launched his career at Google after graduating from MIT in 2005.
Rafiq Masri is a Palestinian-American entrepreneur. Rafiq is an experienced CEO and Founder in the information technology industry. Rafiq serves as the chairman of Palestinian Economic Development Foundation (PalEco), and is on the board of Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP), World Venture Group (WVG), and Search for Common Ground. Rafiq completed post graduate studies in business and software engineering at both Harvard and George Mason University. Rafiq is committed to efforts to build and support the Palestinian economy as a paramount requirement to any future peace and stability.
Yohanan is a co-founder of Simpo
(previously ActionBar), a start-up that allows product managers quickly integrate different tools and non-core features into their apps without using development resources. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration and Network Science from IDC Herzliya. After graduating from MEET in 2006, he came back as a coordinator and business instructor.
Subhi was Born and raised in Jerusalem
he left to pursue his B.Sc in Computer Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology. After graduating from MEET in 2008, he
has since been involved with several startups. Most recently he's been heading the engineering team at Codecov. Subhi came back to MEET as a CS instructor for Y2 during the 2018 Summer Program.
Haim Erlich provides executive leadership in all aspects of MEET’s program design and implementation, bringing his rich background in organizational leadership and many years as an educator to MEET. Prior to MEET, Haim was the CEO of Yesh Din where he helped expand the organization. Previously, he was the Coordinator for Development and Policy Advocacy for Ir Amim and the National Education Manager of the Hila Program for Disaffected Youth. For seven years, Haim was the Principal of the Nisui High School, one of Israel’s best and most unique high schools.
Mustafa Hussein leads MEET’s highly selective recruitment process and student program. Under his leadership, MEET consistently recruits a deeply diverse and talented applicant pool comprised of the region’s top students and young leaders. Mustafa co-developed and implements MEET’s Deeper Understanding curricula. Mustafa is qualified as a Computer Graphics Engineer, and previously worked for the Children Cancer Unit at Hadassah, Ein Karem Hospital. Beyond MEET, Mustafa’s interests include photography and graphic design.
Ada Harverd works closely with MEET’s CEO to manage resource development, and administrative, logistical, financial and legal responsibilities which allows MEET to run effectively and efficiently. Ada has experience in the Israeli high-tech world and has previously worked at G.ho.st, an Israeli-Palestinian joint-venture start-up, among others. Ada has a B.A. from Brandeis University. Outside of MEET, Ada enjoys time with her husband and three children, baking and long-distance running.
Etai is responsible for MEET’s overseas donor relations, fundraising and creative development strategies. He has previously served in campaigning, resource development and advisory capacities at a variety of organizations and projects, including Burning Man, the New Israel Fund, the Global Hunger Foundation, Bienvenidos, and the San Francisco Children’s Day School.
He graduated with honors from San Francisco State University (B.A. in Psychology), and holds an M.B.A. in Nonprofit Management from the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, CA.
On a mission to create spaces for Israeli and Palestinian young adults to develop personally and professionally, Marah returned to MEET to manage the alumni network. Building on her studies in Sociology and Business Administration, MEET experience, and consecutive founding and leading socially involved movements, Marah strives to lead the alumni network to the next level of growth and impact.
As the co-manager of the MEET alumni program, Marah is responsible for devising, implementing, and evaluating strategic plans for MEET's alumni network, as well as for financial and content management of alumni programming.
Uriel is the Alumni Network's co-manager. After graduating from the program in 2012, Uriel Came back to work in MEET in 2017 as a student program coordinator. Wanting to give back to the program, and giving the students the same tools and process he went through as a student. Going through this experience Uriel decided to do his BA at the Hebrew University in Education and Political Science.
Because being a MEET student, and then a student coordinator was so meaningful for him, taking on the role of Alumni co-manager is closure for Uriel, and he is looking forward to better connecting the Alumni Network with MEET's Vision.
Dana is MEET's CSR Program Manager, working on forging relationships with the local high-tech industry that support both MEET's educational and RD strategic goals.
Dana is a Biomedical Engineer and an MBA graduate (both from Tel Aviv university). Before joining MEET She filled senior positions in the bio-med/medical device industry as product and clinical trials manager.She was born and raised in Haifa, lived in Tel Aviv for a decade and recently came back from living in San Francisco for 7 years.
Mykel, who has lived in Lebanon, Zambia, the UK, and Burundi, moved to Jerusalem in 2018 to be with his partner. He works closely with the RD and Educational teams to ensure that MEET is well represented on all social media platforms in order that we might reach those who are best suited to our program, and maintain an ongoing relationship with our alumni and supporters.
Mykel has a BA and MA in Applied Drama, and co-founded a theatre company in 2014 which raises awareness of Modern Day Slavery. He is passionate about social justice, nature, art, and his dog, Don.
Asaf is a member of the RD team, in charge of grant writing, as well as stewarding and cultivating MEET's connection with its current and potential partners and donors. Asaf holds a BA in comparative literature from the Hebrew University, where he also wrote his MA thesis. Asaf wrote speeches for public figures, he cycles to work everyday and occasionally publishes literary criticism essays.
Iky made aliyah in 2016 after living both in the United States and Mexico. Currently finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and the History of Israel in the University of Haifa, Iky is very active in local and national politics. He started working with MEET as a USAID compliance officer, helping MEET with the various requirements that the position brings. His hobbies include playing bass guitar and drums, video games and cooking.
Since graduating from MEET's Student Program in 2013, Celina has served in the vital roles of Alumni Program Coordinator and Student Program Coordinator, and was most recently appointed the Jerusalem Hub Manager. This is one of the most important roles at MEET, which includes overseeing student recruitment, educational curriculum development, and all team building activities for a student body of almost 100 students coming from Jerusalem and the West Bank. Celina holds a BA in Accounting and Business from the University of Bethlehem, and is active in facilitating youth volunteerism in her native Bethlehem.
Growing up in Jerusalem, Dor studied Acting and Theatre. He has a rich background as an educator, mentor for teachers, coordinator, and advisor with his diverse experiences in the field of education.
During his time at MEET, Dor managed and developed the MEETx pilot program - the hybrid hub, while overseeing the MEET recruitment of students, staff, and instructors. Since MEET moved to all-hubs-hybrid-model, Dor serves as the first year long project manager, managing the development and growth for MEET's 120 freshmen and their staff. He believes in overcoming the challenge of reaching out to everyone of the students, and helping teachers perform as better role models.
.JPG)
Graduated with a double-major in Psychology and English Language and Literature from the University of Haifa. Currently a student of a Master's degree in English language and literature. Experience in the field of education, since she's been working at an English centre for two years now as well as volunteered at a centre for kids that come from difficult backgrounds.
Abdelrahman "Abed" Abu Rmeileh manages MEET's all aspects of logistics for our Jerusalem Hub and our Student Program. Abed is a multi-lingual Palestinian from Jerusalem, and holds an M.A. in Business and Economics from Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus. He has extensive procurement and logistics experience acquired at local and international companies and non-profits, and a strong background in finance, business, economics, and management. He is also the brother of one of MEET's alumni, and possibly Chelsea FC's biggest supporter.
Ahmad coordinates various aspects of MEET’s Student Program at our Jerusalem hub. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Al Quds University in East Jerusalem. He has extensive background in project and program coordination, including at the Al Quds Charitable Society, Hokkaido Medical Institution, and the Palestinian Child Club. He has a rich record of volunteer work at the Shufat refugee camp. He was also a participant in the Seeds for Peace program, which awarded him the title of Peace Ambassador in the Middle East in 2007.
Dima graduated from MEET in 2020, and is very excited to give back to the program.
She likes the sun, the beach, the movies and people that like to laugh!
Layan works as a Student Program Coordinator in the Jerusalem hub and CS instructor for Y1 and Y2 students. She recently started her Master's degree in Education in Science and Technology, majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Computer Science at the Technion after she finished her BS.c. in Industrial Engineering and Management at the Technion. Layan cares about the community and loves to volunteer; she volunteered in Rotaract, Shecodes, and QueenB.
Lilach works as a coordinator and a facilitator in the Nazareth hub. She possesses a lot of meaningful experience in group training, production, and education through volunteering as a counsellor in a developing leadership and conflict resolution skills program. Lilach enjoys reading books, theatre, and good jokes.
Aya graduated from Beit Berl with a BE.D.F.A in Film studies and worked in the film industry as a Film Editor.
Currently a student at Tel Aviv University for Executive MA in Educational management and leadership, hoping to bring dialogue and Participatory leadership into the educational systems. Aya is also an active board member of Amutat Midburn and a volunteer in it's production team every year since 2015.
Tasneem is a student program coordinator in MEETx, who works closely with students of the program. She recently started her Master's degree in English Literature at The University of Haifa, after finishing her bachelor's in said subject in addition to Asian Studies.
Tasneem also speaks 4 languages, so if you speak Korean, make sure to say Hi!
Sophie grew up in Alabama, and in August 2018 started pursuing her B.Sc in Biological engineering and Computer Science. At the end of 2019 Sophie became the MEET student coordinator at MISTI
Graduated MEET in 2017 and has been involved with MEET ever since. Loai works as a website developer in his free time, and loves drinking coffee, producing music, and working on impactful projects.
For our Article 46 Certification, see here
For our 2021 Certification of Proper Management, see here
(R.A.)’s Equivalency Determination certification see here
MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) is MIT’s pioneering international education program. Rooted in the Mens et Manus tradition, MISTI matches MIT students with tailored internship, research and teaching opportunities abroad. We also facilitate international faculty collaborations and develop partnerships with leading companies, research institutes and universities around the world.
Since 2004, MIT has been a key founding partner in critical ways, providing MEET with access to volunteer instructors, a pool of international mentors who assist in drafting and updating our educational curriculum, and direct funding.
Head Office
P.O.B. 820, Jerusalem 91007
Tel: 02-627-2188 – Fax: 02-627-2081
Or feel free to send us a message and we'll get back to you ASAP!
