A few months ago, Revital Poleg, Wikimedia Israel ED, informed the board that she had decided to retire. Revital joined Wikimedia Israel after long and extensive career years in the private, public, political and social sectors. She held a number of positions as a diplomat, as Chief of Staff for the Knesset Speaker, as one of the founders of the Peres Peace Center, and in her previous position as the Head of the Jewish Agency Mission to Brazil. It was a great privilege that she decided that her last position would be at Wikimedia Israel.
Revital joined Wikimedia Israel just a month before Covid-19 changed everything that we knew about our operations, our employees, our volunteers, and our fundraising. With a very short transition, she managed to stabilize the organization, adopt many of our programs and activities into the "new" digital way, accomplish our annual plan and targets, and more. And in two years of economic uncertainty and changes in the policy and focus of many of the philanthropic funds and private donors - she succeeded in meeting the fundraising goals and ensuring the ongoing activities of the organization.
Revital’s role in WMIL was beyond that of an employee, but a true leader and belief in Wikimedia’s values and mission. Her round-the-clock investment and great love for the movement, organization, its employees, and volunteers, serve proof. The Board, and I personally, would like to thank Revital for her great contribution that brought us! May this retirement be the best part of your life.
While Revital is leaving, On behalf of our board, I am delighted to announce that Michal Wander Schwarz, will be the new Executive Director of Wikimedia Israel (yes, also our first ED before Revital was named Michal!).
Michal has nearly twenty years of experience in non-profit organizations - she founded and managed the Interdisciplinary Center for At-Risk Children and Youth Studies at Tel Aviv University. She was later the director of the cultural services department in her hometown, where she implemented a new vision and strategic plan for the city’s culture that was executed by forming community teams of volunteers and consultants and initiating partnerships with the business sector. In her last position, Michal served as the developer and founder of community centers while serving as the director of operations and fundraising.
Michal will officially enter her new role on Jan 25th.
