The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities is pleased to announce the appointment of Esther Sivan, attorney at law, to the position of CEO of the Academy. Sivan took office on January 1, 2025, replacing Galia Finzi, the outgoing CEO, who has served in that role since 2017.

 

Sivan, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in law and a Master’s degree in public policy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, brings to the position over two decades of experience in management and the leading of meaningful social initiatives in Israel. In her previous role, she was the head Shatil, an organization that provides support and consulting services to organizations for social change.

 

Sivan has served in executive roles throughout her professional career, including legal adviser to the Israel Women’s Network and society and culture program director at Yad Hanadiv. She also served as executive director of Bizchut, the Center for Human Rights of People with Disabilities. Sivan lives in Jerusalem and is the mother of two daughters.

 

“I welcome Esther Sivan to the Academy,” said Academy President Prof. David Harel. “During these complex times, when Israel faces unprecedented defense, economic, and social challenges from without, and ongoing attempts to harm the independence of the academic system from within, it is particularly important to strengthen the position of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities as an independent national institution that advances scientific excellence. Esther’s abundant experience in managing complex organizations and leading meaningful processes of change, together with her deep commitment to promoting excellence and equality, will contribute greatly to the ongoing development and strengthening of the Academy.

 

“I would like to thank Galia Finzi from the bottom of my heart for her twenty years of work at the Academy, and especially for her eight years of dedicated tenure as CEO, during which she led the Academy with wisdom, diligence, and professionalism while significantly promoting its scientific and public activity in Israel and abroad. I will miss her greatly.”