Omar Elad
CEO
A dedicated member of the transgender community for over two decades, Omer has played a significant role in shaping the community as we know it today. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts from Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design and a Master of Social Work in Clinical Practice from Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Omer's professional background spans the intersection of homelessness and mental health, followed by management roles and diversity and social justice initiatives in non-profit organizations.
Omer's work is driven by a deep-rooted socio-political philosophy grounded in a belief in community and mutual responsibility.
Or Ram
Operations and Finance Manager
"Maayan" project coordinator
A passionate advocate for a gender-diverse world.
Or holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Work and a Master's degree in Gender Studies from the University of Haifa. She has been actively involved in the field of sexuality and gender since 2016, and in recent years has worked as a social worker in the Trans Social Workers services, promoting the community on both an individual and societal level.
Or brings a wealth of experience in management, coordination, and professional training roles.
"To summon something into your life, imagine that it is already there"
Nina Halevy
Trans - Dula project coordinator
Trainer
A mentor, companion, and guide, she makes healthcare services accessible, facilitates trainings for diverse audiences, and is a partner in policy change processes and building responses for the transgender community.
“Gila Project is the home for my activity for the community. It is the compass that directs my work from short term fine tuning to deep structural change. Our collaborative work is my inspiration and my model for how people can do meaningful work together in an attentive and inclusive way, with the organization itself never taking precedence over its own values and work nor the friendships that rise from it”
Jesse Brandt
Trans Training Institute Coordinator
Jesse is an activist, speaker, educator, community organizer, and advocate both within and beyond the transgender community.
Outside of his role at Gila, he serves as the Accessibility Coordinator for the Trans Community at IGY and is the Editor-in-Chief of Trans Wiki - the official information repository of the transgender community in Israel.
Jesse's work is driven by a deep belief in equal opportunities and upholding human rights, including animal rights.
Nai Ben-Danan
Customer Relations Coordinator
A father to the adorable Gili, Nai is an educator and social worker with a background in mental health rehabilitation. Having immigrated to Israel from Australia 11 years ago, Nai has dedicated his time to social and community activism.
For over five years, Nai has held various roles working with and for the transgender community.
Jesse Brandt
Trans Training Institute Coordinator
Jesse is an activist, speaker, educator, community organizer, and advocate both within and beyond the transgender community.
Outside of his role at Gila, he serves as the Accessibility Coordinator for the Trans Community at IGY and is the Editor-in-Chief of Trans Wiki - the official information repository of the transgender community in Israel.
Jesse's work is driven by a deep belief in equal opportunities and upholding human rights, including animal rights.
Thomas Vinters
Resource Development Coordinator
Thomas is a passionate activist with a focus on community, social, environmental, and sustainability issues, and the intersections between them. He holds a degree in Visual Communication from Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, with a love for photography, archives, and an unexpected connection to the alternative drag scene in Jerusalem and beyond.
"Solidarity and persistence are the two things that humans excel at more than anything else. These are the tools that have allowed us to survive throughout human history - and these are the tools that we can use to shape it."
Board of Directors
Tal Stiener
Executive Board Member
Lawyer and CEO of the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel.
"Where there is struggle, there is hope"
Tamar Ben David
Chairperson
A feminist-queer activist and daughter of the late Avital Rokach. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Jewish Thought, a Master's degree in Cultural Studies, and is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Foreign Literature at Ben-Gurion University. In the past, she researched narratives of gender-based violence and is currently researching transgender literature. In parallel, she writes occasional opinion and commentary articles and is an independent lecturer.
"I believe in our power as an organized and solidary community, first and foremost within itself but also outwards. A community that works for gender equality as part of a deep vision of justice and a life of well-being for all."
Ofer Yehuda
Executive Board and Finance Member
Held various roles on the Executive Board over the years. In recent years, he has worked as the Director of the Training Center at the IGY organization, while also working as a therapist and reflexology lecturer at a clinic in Tel Aviv and at Ridman College.
"The Gila Project is an opportunity to engage in social activism as a community and from a feminist-queer perspective."
