General Assembly & Board

Iris Taib serves on the Board of Directors of the Taib Foundation, supporting its work in education, philanthropy, and social impact. She contributes to advancing strategic initiatives, strengthening the Foundation’s partnerships, and developing programs that drive positive change in Israeli society.

Meital Taib Mor serves as a member of the Kfar Shmaryahu Local Council, where she promotes public and community initiatives at the local level.
She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Taib Foundation, contributing to the Foundation’s work in education and leadership and helping strengthen Israel’s social and educational ecosystem.

Dr. Merav Galili leads corporate strategy, investment portfolio governance, and innovation across the Taib Group’s companies in Africa, Europe, and Israel. She is an active member of several investment committees across the Group.
Meirav brings nearly 30 years of experience in senior investment management and business development roles. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Varda Bernstein is a senior executive with extensive experience leading international initiatives in education, business development, and strategic management in emerging markets, particularly in Africa.
From 2012 to 2024, she served as Senior Advisor for the Education Sector at Focus Education Swiss AG, part of the Mitrelli Group. In this role, she led large-scale educational initiatives, supported international projects, and advanced strategic partnerships focused on strengthening education and vocational training systems.

itzhak (Itzik) Cohen is a businessman with extensive experience in business development across Africa. For over a decade, he has managed CMR, an investment company specializing in real estate and technology.
Until 2021, he served as a Managing Partner at the Mitrelli Group, where he spent more than 15 years leading the initiation and development of large-scale projects in numerous countries, primarily across Africa.

Ofra Elul is the Founder and CEO of Peres Academic Center and a prominent figure in Israeli higher education.
For more than three decades, she has led the establishment and development of one of Israel’s largest academic institutions, driven by a vision of making quality higher education accessible, promoting academic excellence, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and strengthening the connection between academia and the professional world.

Dr. Amit Shadman is the Regional Archaeologist for Israel’s Central District at the Israel Antiquities Authority. He has extensive experience in managing archaeological excavations, research, and heritage site preservation, leading initiatives that integrate cultural heritage conservation with development and regional planning.

His work involves collaboration with government agencies, research institutions, and local authorities to promote and preserve Israel’s archaeological heritage.

Yair Mor is a licensed specialist in rehabilitation psychology with additional training in educational psychology. He serves as the lead psychologist in the Oncology Department at Sheba Medical Center – Tel Hashomer.
He specializes in supporting patients and their families through illness, life crises, and rehabilitation, integrating a range of therapeutic approaches tailored to each patient’s individual needs.

Itai Polak serves as Global Strategy Manager at Mobileye, a global leader in advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous driving technology.
In this role, he leads business strategy initiatives, develops international partnerships, and analyzes trends in the global automotive industry, driving innovation and growth in the smart mobility sector.

Joseph Zherzhevsky is a businessman with extensive experience in international business development and strategic partnerships, particularly in the Chinese market.

Throughout his career, he has advanced international business ventures, built long-term relationships, and connected companies and organizations operating across global markets.

Shmuel Tal is the Founder, Owner, and Publisher of Cigar Magazine – The Good Life Magazine. Under his leadership, Cigar has evolved from a boutique publication into a multifaceted lifestyle and content brand, encompassing a print magazine, digital platforms, a members’ club, exclusive events, and boutique travel experiences in Israel and around the world.
As a publisher and content creator, Tal introduces readers to the people, places, and stories behind the worlds of wine, gastronomy, hospitality, travel, cigars, and luxury lifestyle.
His vision is to establish Cigar as a leading Israeli platform for the art of living well, connecting content, people, and experiences.