Team
DeserTech Manager
Sivan Cohen Shachari
For the past 15 years, Sivan has been involved in community and educational development in many formal and informal arenas, out of the agenda that processes of leadership and leadership design are an engine for social change in the Israeli society. In her role as DeserTech Manager, she is involved in the development of the desert technologies ecosystem. In her previous positions, she worked at Bina organization, leading the gap year program. She was also a teacher and led teams in various settings. In addition, Sivan was involved in the establishment of many communities in the Negev and led policy change initiatives in the areas of regional development. Sivan holds a bachelor's degree from Ben Gurion University of the Negev and lives in the Negev for the past 12 years.
International Ecosystem Development
Sinai Gohar Barak
Sinai is the ecosystem development manager of the DeserTech community, forming new strategic partnerships, and leading open innovation processes with organizations who are interested in exploring and implementing desert technologies. Prior to joining the Israel Innovation Institute, Sinai was the director of the social innovation unit at SIT, working closely with non-profit organizations such as municipalities, government offices, academia, and NGO’s. Sinai is an experienced Innovation facilitator; she holds a BA in Sociology and lives in a southern Kibbutz.
Head of Israeli Ecosystem
Lior Sharon
As the head of the Israeli ecosystem, Lior is responsible for creating opportunities, connections and collaborations for Israeli startups and local academic bodies. Additionally, she develops relationships with a variety of desertification technology stakeholders. In addition to managing projects in the community, Lior raises awareness of opportunities and challenges in technological innovation in the desert in general and Negev in particular. In addition to having a bachelor's degree in politics & government, Lior also earned an entrepreneurship certificate from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's Center for Entrepreneurship. In addition to marketing and product development, Lior has managed social impact programs. Today Lior lives in Be'er Sheva.
Head of Business Development
Israel Ben Shitrit
Israel Ben Shitrit is the business development manager of DeserTech. In his role, he promotes the connections and collaborations made between the different players dealing with desertification, into concrete deals.
Israel Ben Shitrit lives in Yeruham, he breathes business development, entrepreneurship, and mentoring. Israel has rich experience in these fields, after being a business development manager at SMBIT and managing accelerators from the design phase to product development. In addition, Israel is deeply familiar with the ecosystem in the Negev and is connected to local venture capital funds, associations, development and innovation bodies, government officials, and representatives of civil society. Israel is a man of the people.
CEO Merage Foundation
Nicole Hod Stroh
