Guest Speakers and CHW Project Information
Made in Israel
November 9 - 13, 2025
GUEST SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Ashley Waxman Bakshi – DAY 1
Canadian Activist, Entrepreneur, & Author
An entrepreneur, content creator, and Zionist activist with over 850,000 followers online. As Israel’s first mainstream YouTube vlogger, she uses her platform to combat disinformation about Israel. With a master’s degree in counterterrorism and experience in the Israeli Air Force and Ministry of Defense, Ashley acts with passion to fight anti-Israel narratives.
Since October 7, following the kidnapping of her cousin, Agam Berger, by Hamas, Ashley has led global efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages, amplifying their voices and advocating for justice on the world stage.
Rolene Marks – DAY 2
JOURNALIST, ADVOCATE, WIZO CHAIRPERSON of HASBARA DIVISION
Rolene Marks is a passionate advocate for Israel and appears on radio, television and in print. She is a member of the Media Team Israel an advocacy body that fights media bias as well as Truth be Told. She is the Chairperson of WIZO’s Hasbara Division.
Hana Rado – DAY 2
Social entrepreneur and co-founder of tech19
Hana Rado is a social entrepreneur, founder and chairwoman of the six social businesses: Supersonas – a project for social equality at points of impact, Midbar 19 in Mitzpe Ramon, Lev 19 in Safed, Negev 19 in the Western Negev, Tech19 in Yeruham and Spring Valley in Emek HaMa’ayon. Today, Rado heads the social business group “Group 19”, promoting quality employment for women in Israel’s distant geographical periphery.
Rado previously served as CFO, COO and Vice Chairwoman of the advertising company, McCann Tel Aviv Group. In 2012, as part of her work at McCann, she initiated and founded McCann Valley, a new media agency in Mitzpe Ramon with the idea of creating jobs in the periphery: “After the social protest in 2011, I realized that something had to be done to build a country with more options for future generations, and that’s why I connected my great love to Mitzpe Ramon.” Since then, Rado has dedicated her life to two main areas: promoting women to key positions and decision-making junctures, and promoting quality employment for women in Israel’s geographical periphery. In 2016, she founded Midbar 19, a quality employment project for women in Mitzpe Ramon, which later became the first project in the group of social ventures, Group 19. According to the workers at Midbar 19, this place of employment has changed their lives and the lives of their families.
Rado earned a BSc in Biology and a teaching certificate from Tel Aviv University. She worked as a teacher while studying programming. She then earned an MBA with a specialization in finance, also from Tel Aviv University.
Inbar cohen – DAY 2
co-founder and CEO of tech19
Inbar Cohen is co-Founder and CEO of Tech19. Previous to Tech
19, Inbar worked in management roles at Intel for more than
20 years. Inbar holds an MBA from Ben Gurion University and
BA in Technology Management and Marketing from Sapir
College.
Adeena Sussman – Day 3
Cookbook Author & Chef
Adeena Sussman is the author of the instant New York Times bestselling cookbook Shabbat: Recipes and Rituals From My Table To Yours. The book celebrates weekend meals both traditional and modern and is at once a practical guide to Shabbat cooking and Adeena’s personal exploration of the meaning of Shabbat in modern times.
Shabbat is the follow up to Sababa: Fresh, Sunny Flavors From My Israeli Kitchen, which was named a Best Fall 2019 cookbook by The New York Times, Bon Appetit, and Food & Wine.
The co-author of 15 cookbooks, Adeena’s three most recent collaborations with Chrissy Teigen, were New York Times Best-sellers.
She also authors xoxo Adeena, a weekly Substack newsletter.
A lifelong visitor to Israel who has been writing about that country’s food culture for almost 20 years, Adeena cooks and writes in Tel Aviv, where she lives in the shadow of that city’s Carmel Market with her husband, Jay Shofet.
Prof. Yoram Weiss – Day 4
Director General, Hadassah Medical Organization
Previously he held the positions of Director of the Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein Kerem Campus; Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology (2009-2014); and Director of the Center for Surgical Critical Care Medicine (2006-2009).
Professor Weiss received his MD from the Israel Institute of Technology – Technion, Haifa, Israel in 1990. Prof. Weiss trained in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at Hadassah and the University of Pennsylvania.
Prof. Weiss joined the Hadassah Central Administration in October 2013. At first, as the Medical Director, his principal responsibility was the reorganization of the Operating Rooms. In February 2014, he assumed the full responsibility of managing the entire Medical Center on the Ein Kerem campus. In June of this year, Prof. Yoram Weiss, MD, was officially named as the new director general of the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) in Jerusalem, the home of Hadassah’s two hospitals, Hadassah Ein Kerem and Hadassah Mount Scopus.
Lili Ben Ami – Day 4
Founder & CEO, Michal Sela Forum
Lili’s trailblazing initiatives and advocacy have changed the discourse around domestic violence from one of victimhood to one of solutions. Lili has received international attention and countless invitations to speak at high-level events with dignitaries and entrepreneurs.
Lili has been honoured with The Rappaport Prize for Groundbreaking Initiatives as well as a Medal of Distinction from The Peres Centre for Peace and innovation.
Lili holds a Master’s Degree in Education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is a graduate of the prestigious Revivim Program for Outstanding Jewish Educators. She is a former lecturer and advisor specializing on entrepreneurship and education with a gender focus, as well as curricula development.
Shawna Goodman Sone – DAY 5
Cookbook Author & Chef
Shawna Goodman obtained a BA in Art History from McGill University and was awarded the McGill Scarlet Key for outstanding leadership and positive impact. She graduated from the Natural Gourmet Cooking School and the Institute of Culinary Education, both in New York City. Upon graduation, she has given classes, catered, and cooked for clients in New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal, and Israel. She acted as editor of the cookbook, Panache: Montreal’s Flair for Kosher Cooking, a project of the Auxiliary of the Sir Mortimer B. David Jewish General Hospital.
Shawna is currently living in Ra’anana, Israel combining her love for food and philanthropy in creating classes that celebrate Israel’s abundance while raising awareness of local charitable organizations. She is an active member of the Jewish Funders Network and spends her time learning and visiting with various organizations in Israel. Shawna serves as Chair of the Morris & Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation.
Leslie Scanlon – Day 5
Canadian Ambassador to Israel
Leslie Scanlon presented her Credentials to the President of Israel on Monday, 21 April 2025.
Ms. Scanlon has previously served as High Commissioner of Canada to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (2022-2025) and Canadian Ambassador to Poland (2018-2022) where the last part of her assignment was intensely focused on the Canadian response to the war in Ukraine.
Since joining then-External Affairs in 1990, Ms. Scanlon has served abroad in Japan (Trade Commissioner) and France (Minister-Counsellor, Political); in Canada she has served in trade promotion positions on both coasts, in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the International Trade Centre and in Vancouver, British Columbia at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
When back in Canada between assignments abroad she has also served as Director General in several branches of Global Affairs Canada, including most recently in Consular Operations and Mission Operations, where she was responsible for ensuring appropriate management of HR, Finance, Property, etc., in 178 Canadian missions overseas.
Ms. Scanlon graduated from the Carleton University School of Journalism, Ottawa, in 1986, after which she travelled to Japan to work in corporate communications in a Japanese firm. While a Canadian diplomat, she studied at the Harvard Kennedy School, with a focus on Leadership in Crisis, and while at Carleton University she took courses at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs.
She has traveled extensively in Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States and is an avid canoeist, cyclist, hiker and loves a good book. She has also studied cooking in both Japan and Italy.
Ms. Scanlon speaks Japanese, Spanish and French and loves nothing more than spending time with her two grown children.
CHW PROJECT INFORMATION
TECH19 – DAY 2
Tech19 was established to provide quality hi-tech employment opportunities to women in the geographic periphery of Israel. Tech19 provides technical and innovative solutions to fintech, healthcare, and software companies, including prototyping, software, and hardware development. The women employed receive skills training and on-the-job support. They also become role models in their community, acting as an inspiration to the younger generation, while ensuring economic stability for their family.
CLICK HERE to read more.
HAGAL SHELI – DAY 3
For over a decade, HaGal Sheli has empowered and educated youth nationwide to conquer life’s challenges by harnessing the transformative power of surfing, fostering personal growth, resilience, and success.
In the aftermath of the attacks on October 7, HaGal Sheli’s unique surf therapy program was expanded to serve 2,200 trauma therapy participants, including displaced individuals from the Gaza Envelope and northern communities, released hostages, Nova Festival survivors, and soldiers affected by the attacks.
HaGal Sheli plans to open over 96 new trauma groups while maintaining existing ones, enabling them to provide critical support for over 5,500 participants.
Certified surf instructors lead each weekly session throughout the program, supported by trauma specialists, clinical psychologists, educators, and mentors.
CLICK HERE to read more.
HYDROTHERAPY POOLS – HADASSAH HOSPITAL – DAY 4
Hydrotherapy is a water-based physical therapy effective in easing pain and promoting strength and movement throughout the rehabilitation process. Water embraces and supports patients with a soothing, low-impact environment for exercise.
Temperature-controlled treatment in the hydrotherapy pools target an array of patients healing from traumatic injuries and suffering from chronic pains, helping to improve motor skills, strength, and agility. Studies have found that hydrotherapy can be a good supplement to physical therapy in the recovery from an injury or surgery. It is a medication-free and non-invasive option for alleviating symptoms such as muscle pain and joint stiffness.
CLICK HERE to read more.
GANDEL REHABILITATION CENTER – HADASSAH HOSPITAL – DAY 4
To meet the growing demand for advanced rehabilitative services, Hadassah Hospital built the state-of-the-art Gandel Rehabilitation Center (GRC) at Mount Scopus. The rehabilitation center will care for 10,000 patients annually – a 250% increase – offering a host of new, specialized treatments.
CLICK HERE to read more.
MICHAL SELA FORUM – DAY 4
Michal Sela Forum offers innovative programs for the protection and prevention of intimate partner violence represent just 1.14% of the monthly cost of a shelter and have a significant impact and positive impact on women’s healing. MSF Protection Packages represent a revolution in the field of IPV, turning a woman’s home into her shelter rather than making a woman leave her home.
The Michal Sela Canines program provides women under high-risk threat of intimate partner violence with life-saving protection dogs. The dog is given to the woman for life, and he lives with her as a family member 24/7. The dog is a life-saving gift that gives the woman quality of life, and physical and emotional security. This is an innovative project and the first of its kind in Israel. This is a highly impactful program that saves lives and costs a fraction of what it would cost to keep a woman at a domestic abuse shelter for several months.
Michal’s Watch: Provides free “armor” for women under threat of IPV. Essentially turning her home into her shelter, the package includes 24/7 security services, self-defence lessons, and a cease-and-desist letter from a law firm to the threatening party.
CLICK HERE to read more.
CHW NETANYA TECHNOLOGICAL HIGH SCHOOL – DAY 5
CHW Netanya Technological High School offers a second chance to at-risk youth who have fallen through the cracks of traditional educational frameworks. The school offers hands-on vocational training in several tracks, including Hair and Beauty and Hospitality. The flagship Patisserie Program provides students with the emotional support and professional skills to succeed in Israel’s vibrant culinary industry.
CLICK HERE to read more.
CHW HADASSIM CHILDREN AND YOUTH VILLAGE – DAY 5
CHW Hadassim Children and Youth Village was established in 1947 by CHW, to provide a home to orphaned children following World War II. Over the years, CHW Hadassim has grown and evolved into a safe haven for children in need. Today, there are over 1,700 students at CHW Hadassim, with more than 300 children living in dormitories and family units. CHW Hadassim provides emotional, academic, social, and behavioural support for these children, providing them with shelter, food, clothing, and access to social workers, counselors, and therapists. With each passing year, more and more children, the future citizens of the State of Israel, need the life-saving services at CHW Hadassim.
CLICK HERE to read more.
