Born and raised in Israel, Maya Abarbanel holds MA in non profit management from Ben Gurion University and BA in Media & Mass Communications, specializing in Journalism and Education from Sapir Academic College. She is also certified as a mediator and is currently working on her master's thesis, researching implementation of Strategy at the nonprofit sector in Israel.
At the age of 18 Maya joined the IDF for three years service in the home front command as a Search & Rescue officer. Her passion for working with the media and the love for her country, led her to return to military service (after six years), this time for a year at the IDF spokespersons unit at the rank of Captain.
Maya has, for many years, pursued a career in the informal education sector, training groups and conducting PR. She volunteered (along with her husband) for a two year position as an emissary of the Jewish Agency for communities in Akron and Canton, Ohio, USA.
Maya is a graduate of ROI 120- global summit for young Jewish innovators and a member of the Global Emerging Leaders Forum of JAFI's board of governance.
Maya is currently the Executive Director of Parallel Lives, a nonprofit organization aimed to strengthen Jewish identity by creating personal, ongoing connections between Israeli young adults and their Diaspora peers.
Maya is married to Lior and a mother to Eli.
