Ilham Shahbari

Ilham Shahbari brings extensive experience in public policy, government and social development. Throughout her career, she has worked at the intersection of research, decision-making and implementation, leading complex national initiatives and cross-sector partnerships that expand opportunities for children, families and communities.

Before joining the Van Leer Foundation, she held senior policy and leadership roles in the Israeli public sector, including at the Ministry for Social Equality. Her work has focused on shaping and advancing national policy priorities, building cross-government and cross-sector partnerships, and translating complex policy agendas into practical, scalable solutions. She has worked extensively with government ministries, local authorities, academia and civil society to strengthen implementation and drive systemic change.

She holds a PhD in Peace Studies from the University of Bradford, along with two master’s degrees: one in Educational Management and an executive master’s degree in Public Policy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.