OUR BOARD
The people behind the mission.
Sunbird’s board brings together leaders committed to transparency, ethical governance, and community-driven change in Palestine.
Mara Lee Durrell
BOARD MEMBER
Mara is the Executive Director of WWQ, an international NGO embedding trauma-informed, play-based programs in vulnerable communities worldwide. For nearly a decade, she served as CEO of the PeaceWorks Foundation and the OneVoice Movement, empowering a new generation of civic leaders across Palestinian and Israeli societies. A former Obama Administration appointee at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Mara has worked directly on conflict resolution in Israel and Palestine since 2014 — living in the region and helping support the creation of pioneering Palestinian youth leadership initiatives. She is based in New York.
Raghda Karajah
BOARD MEMBER
Raghda is a seasoned public policy and governance expert based in San Francisco, whose work is grounded in community engagement, legislative practice, and institutional development. She is dedicated to advancing effective governance models that center the needs and voices of the public. Through her engagement in state-building initiatives in Palestine, Raghda is committed to fostering sustainable self-governance in her homeland — envisioning a future where Palestinian civil society shapes its own destiny through effective policy advocacy. She holds an M.A. in Conflict Resolution from American University's School of International Service.
Michele Arnison
BOARD MEMBER
Michele is Director of Management Consulting at BDO USA, where she helps organizations improve profitability and performance through data-driven analysis and strategic focus. Her background spans general management at a Fortune 200 company, Big-4 auditing, and senior financial leadership across multiple industries. A graduate of the University of Chicago, Michele brings rigorous operational and governance expertise to the Sunbird board — and a deep commitment to organizations that center accountability and lasting impact.
Amal Hjouj
BOARD MEMBER
Amal is a project manager at Momentum Labs, a Ramallah-based consultancy and startup studio, where she leads research focused on the Palestinian economy, private sector development, and civil society impact. Her clients include businesses, government entities, and international development agencies. As a researcher, Amal is particularly interested in women and youth empowerment, civil society impact analysis, and political psychology — contributing to publications including This Week in Palestine and The Palestinian Tech Ecosystem. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology and International Relations from East Carolina University and is based in Ramallah.
Interested in joining our board?
We welcome leaders who share our commitment to Palestinian civil society, transparency, and community-driven change.