Naama Katz
Katz has been active in social organizations for many years. She was the director of the Student Union at the Hebrew University, the director of The Green Movement (an environmental lobby group) and coordinated the “Young Neighbors” project for the Jerusalem Municipality. Katz also served as coordinator of the Urban Clinic at the Hebrew University, directed community building programs at Oranim College (a teaching college in northern Israel), and today is director of the French Hill Community Administration in Jerusalem. Katz is one of the founders of 15 Minutes, and still serves on the executive committee. During the social protests of 2011 she promoted public transportation.
"I believe in the power of citizen activism to make real changes, and believe in the ability of quality public transportation to close social gaps."
Ehud Uziel
Uziel is one of the founders of 15 Minutes and was very active in the organization’s first years in Jerusalem. He has extensive experience in managing public campaigns, new media and websites, and promoting policy in the Knesset (both public initiatives and internal). For the past 12 years Uziel has been closely involved in various social struggles in Israel. He earned his MA in Public Policy from the Hebrew University and has written numerous policy papers and strategic plans that advance the rights of public transportation passengers. "I believe that a combination of grassroots activism and considerate, national policies will succeed in placing public transportation at the top of the country’s priorities. When the state does invest in large infrastructure projects, it’s important that a trusted middleman will serve as the mediator between construction and development and the average citizen."
Attorney Galit Ofer
Ofer has been practicing law for the past 17 years, and working on environmental protection, infrastructure and energy for the last five. Though she currently works in private practice, in the past she served as the Director of the Environmental Clinic in the Law faculties at Bar-Ilan University and Tel Aviv University. Through these positions Ofer was involved in initiating legislation and promoting environmental and urban policy, including serving as legal adviser to the Transport Organizations Forum, as well as managed 15 Minutes’ Small Claims-Big Impact project. "I believe that strengthening public transportation is the best way to improve the lives of disadvantaged populations and promote an environmental and urban agenda."
Oded Gvaram
Gvaram has been a community worker and social activist for several years. At 15 Minutes he lead activities around “Rav-Kav” bus passes: writing position papers, representing the organization at Knesset committee meetings, and recruiting additional activists. In addition, Gvaram led the charge in protesting against MK Israel Katz (Minister of Transportation) in order to increase public awareness of the deficiencies and faults in our public transportation budget.
"I believe as a longtime activist in the organization that it is time to step up and contribute more. I contribute my experience in leading social struggles and developing communities."
Omer Cohen
Cohen earned his B.A. in Communication and Political Science and M.A. in Urban and Regional Planning. He then worked in the Tel Aviv Community at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) as an information and public relations coordinator and later as a planning coordinator, where he focused extensively on sustainable transportation issues, working closely with local and district planning committees. Cohen served as a member of the Board of Directors of "Israel for Bicycles" and as a public representative of "Tel Aviv-Jaffa Bicycle Center" as part of a planning committee in the Tel Aviv municipality for planning bike paths.
"I believe in public advocacy for policy changes in sustainable planning and transportation planning. When different organizations can connect and work together, including with activists on the ground, and when we can combine passionate people from different fields and areas of expertise, we will succeed in achieving our shared goals."
Dr. Emily Silverman
Dr. Silverman is a faculty member at the Hebrew University Geography Department where she teaches courses in housing policy and urban regeneration, social aspects of planning, and community development. Emily holds a Ph.D. in social policy from the London School of Economics, a master’s degree in public policy from Tel Aviv University, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Swarthmore College in the United States. She is the founder and Academic Director of the Urban Clinic at the Hebrew University, a founding member of the Coalition for Affordable Housing in Israel, was the first director of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel’s Tel Aviv community action center, and has been a founder and board member of Transport Today and Tomorrow.
Ben Yishai Danieli
Danieli is a 31 year old from Jerusalem. He's currently a student of urban design at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, works for the Society for Ecology and Environmental Sciences and is a frequent public transportation passenger. As part of his volunteer work at 15 Minutes, he was involved at the “Yuvalim” community center in Jerusalem, which is an initiative of the Ministry of Transportation. In the past year and a half, the members of the Executive Committee have enabled Danieli to help plan both the current and long- term activities of 15 minutes. He has experience in developing urban projects as well as working in the environmental field and is excited to contribute to the improvement of public transport in Israel.
Anna Biletzky-Sorujon Chairman of the Audit Committee
Anna works on a voluntary basis to promote public transportation in Ramat Gan as part of 15 Minutes, and in the past worked as a project manager for Transportation Today and Tomorrow. She has been active in the field of environmental protection since 2007, in the role of coordinator and local spokesperson in the Green Course organization, and later in various positions for other social organizations. She has a M.A. in Sociology with specialization in Environmental Planning and Policy. You can contact Anna by email at anna.biletsk@gmail.com