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Adi Azaria
CEO, - Adi@kiedf.org
Adi brings close to a decade of experience in impact investment and financial management. Prior to joining KIEDF, Adi functioned as the CFO of Tevet, part of the global JDC organization. In addition to her role as a CFO, Adi was the Founder & Director of JDC’s Impact Investment division. Previously, Adi worked for Social Finance Israel, a member of the Social Finance Global Network.
Adi was the first woman in Israel to launch a social impact bond and design financial mechanisms to solve social problems. Adi is licensed as a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and holds a double major B.A in Accounting and Economics from Tel-Aviv University.
Carl Kaplan
Fomer CEO, Special Consultant - Carl@kiedf.org
Carl Kaplan developed, implemented and has served as consulting Managing Director of the KIEDF) since its inception in late 1993. He owns C.S.K. Consultants Ltd. (CSK), a business consulting and private investment banking firm specializing in Israel-Diaspora economic affairs, and has been associated with ARBA Finance Company Ltd. (ARBA) which provides private merchant banking services to Israeli and international corporate clients. Prior to moving to Israel in 1990 he was a partner in a private Wall Street investment and merchant banking firm specializing in developing U.S.-Israel corporate, capital, marketing and joint-venture relationships. His professional experience includes several years of legal practice in Washington, D.C. He was also instrumental in encouraging the establishment of the Israeli and North American Jewish Forums. He is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a cum laude graduate of the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Law.
Chagit Rubinstein
Vice President of Operations - Chagit@kiedf.org
Chagit Rubinstein oversees new program development and the day to day operations of KIEDF's several microfinance programs which she initiated and developed since joining KIEDF in 2006. Chagit also oversees regulatory developments in ex-banking and credit union initiatives. From 1999 – February 2005 she developed and co-managed Economic Empowerment for Women (EEW), the first microenterprise organization in Israel. She earned an MBA from INSEAD in France and worked previously as a marketing manager for several major Israeli exporters including Delta and Phoenicia. In 2000 she was awarded a Hubert Humphrey Fellowship (Fulbright) to study Microenterprise at American University in Washington DC.
Anna Avital
Strategic Partnerships - Anna@kiedf.org
Since 2008 Anna has been an integral part of the development, operation and expansion of KIEDF’s microfinance and nonbank loan programs. She has extensive experience in grassroots organizing, community development, public relations and advocacy. Anna was the Director of Community Relations at the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, Virginia; Assistant Director of Resource Development at the Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel (SPNI); Public Affairs Officer of the Israeli Consulate – Northwest Region; and Grassroots Campaign Director and Field Officer at the California League of Conservation Voters. She has a BA in Political Science from San Jose State University and an MA in Political Science from Tel Aviv University.
Itzik Bechar
Senior Economic Consultant
Itzik Bechar oversees implementation and management of special projects for KIEDF. He jointly managed the $5.5 m Israel Emergency Campaign Northern Israel small business loan program via JAFI resulting from the 2nd Lebanon War, and the implementation and marketing of the KIEDF-OPIC-Leumi Negev and North SME development program. Itzik earned a B.A. in Economics and Business Management from Bar Ilan University and a M.A. in Health Management (with high honors) from Ben Gurion University. He held senior planning positions in the Israeli Army and served as Head of the Planning Division of "Clalit Health Services", the largest HMO in Israel, with then a budget of NIS 15 Billion and 30,000 employees. Since 2005, Itzik has managed numerous major financial consulting projects for the Ministry of Defense, the Bank of Israel, government companies and private sector clients.
Ala Agbaria
Funds Director - Ala@kiedf.org
Ala Agbaria oversees KIEDF northern operations and credit approvals from the office in Haifa including KIEDF's Northern Initiative with Bank Leumi and KIEDF's previous Israeli Arab small business fund. Ala is a registered accountant and has completed his law studies at Haifa University. He was the original coordinator (2004-2007) of KIEDF's joint Israeli Arab sector fund with CJAED and Mercantile Discount Bank and was responsible for approving business plans under the KIEDF-JAFI initiative following the Second Lebanon War (2007-2010) while assuming his current management responsibilities in the Haifa office.
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