OUR TEAM
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
Vice President
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 Doula Project Coordinator
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
Director of the Anti-Transphobia Program.
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.
Nur Shani Tahan
Trans Training Institute Coordinator
A senior accounting professional, educator, and therapist specializing in Orgone therapy.
Nour Shani is driven by a deep sense of responsibility toward the trans community and a firm belief that we must shape our future through action and widespread advocacy.
"On this freedom: to see, to feel, to breathe, to know, to hope, to fail… so that my today will not be like yesterday, so that my day will not become mere routine." – Leah Goldberg
Jesse Brandt
Director of the Anti-Transphobia Program.
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
Administrative 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."
