The Team
Dana Shapira
CEO
Dana Shapira was born and raised in Be’er-Sheva. She joined the Be’er-Sheva Foundation in 2015, having fulfilled a number of significant roles in the social world. Dana has a BA in Politics and Government and an MA in Communication from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Maayan Ben Hail
Project Coordinator & Administrator
Maayan joined the Be’er-Sheva Foundation in 2019. She holds a BA in East Asian Studies from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The Board
Ofra Chen
Chairwoman
Ms. Ofra Chen joined the Be’er-Sheva Foundation in 2010 as a member of the Board of Directors, and was appointed as Chair of the Foundation in 2014.
During her professional career, Chen has filled a broad range of positions, including voluntary functions as the Chair of the Be’er-Sheva Foundation, Public Director of the Arad Economic Company, member of the management of the Manufacturers Association, and a member of the Israeli Export Institute.
In 2008, Chen was promoted to CEO of Negev Industrial Minerals Ltd. Prior to that, for four years, she had been Comptroller of Rotem Amfert Negev of the Israel Chemicals Group. Earlier, Chen was Deputy Director for Finance and Human Resources Negev of Negev Industrial Minerals Ltd.
Ms. Chen holds a BA in Economics with a specialization in Accounting and Business Administration, and an MBA in Marketing (with honors) ,both from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be’er-Sheva.
Iris Bitton
Board Member
Ms. Iris Bitton joined the Be’er-Sheva Foundation in 2007 as a member of the Board.
Iris served as a principal of a specialty high school in Be’er-Sheva for social sciences and the arts for 14 years. She also served as chairman of the City’s Committee for High School principals. Iris began her career in the Ministry of Education, and she has been working in various capacities in the system for 25 years.
Today, she currently supervises elementary schools for the Ministry of Education.
Iris has a BA in Education from Kaye Academic College of Education and an MBA from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, both degrees with honors.
Avi Heller
Board Member
Mr. Avi Heller joined the Be’er-Sheva Foundation in 2019 as a member of the Board.
In 1965 Heller joined the Israel Defense Forces, and continued to serve until 1989. Heller began his public career at the Ministry of the Interior from 1989-2015, and he worked in various capacities in the system for 26 years. In his last position he was in charge of the southern district for the Ministry of Interior and as a chairman of the City Planning and Construction.
Heller is active in voluntary public activities in several organizations: IDF Veterans Association, Association for the Elderly in Be’er-Sheva, the Struma Museum and more.
