Alumni

Alumni

Olive Tree Scholarship Programme Alumni
1st Cohort (2004/07) Degree(s) & Current Occupation
Adwan Adwan (Journalism with Psychology) went on to gain MA International Journalism at City University, 2010 (self financed), now TV sports reporter covering the English Premie
Hazem Akkila (Computer Systems Engineering) went on to gain MSc  International Business Economics, with distinction, at City U in 2010, supporting himself through working as Sales Manager at Carphone Warehouse. Seeking career post in international finance.
Mahmoud Al-Ashi (Communications Engineering) went onto postgraduate study in Engineering at Newcastle University, with scholarship, before returning to Gaza (2010) where he married and began a family
Khaled Jamoos (Computer Systems Engineering) lives in Belfast and works as Report Analyst at Almac Group pharmaceutical company.
Omar Quqas (Computer Systems Engineering) Worked in London and Jerusalem before gaining a scholarship to take MSc in Cognitive Computing - Goldsmiths College, University of London (2010-11)
Firas Khalil (Computer Systems Engineering) Working for Real Estate Company Abu Dhabi.
Loai Haddad (Economics) Having gained work experience in London, returned to Gaza in 2010 and worked as an Economic Development Project Manager for the Union of Agricultural Work Committees and a Value Chain Analyst for World Vision as well as in Monitoring and Evaluation of economic development projects. Gained a scholarship from the International Labor Organisation to study an MSc in Applied Labor Economics for Development at the University of Turin in Italy and an Executive Master at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris "Sciences-Po" in France (2011-12)
Ranin Boulos (Sociology and Media Studies) Attained fame in, among other roles, a part in the Israeli equivalent of 'Big Brother', as well as working in marketing in London and Jerusalem.
Gilad Halpern (Journalism and Social Science), went on to acquire a post-grad degree in Political Studies, in Paris where he was also foreign correspondent for vnet.co.il, the largest news site in Israel. He now works for the news network France24, where among other things he co-authors the blog "Israel Post".
Shahaf Ifhar (Sociology) Founding member of a new Israeli NGO called The Ceasefire Within; a musician (www.ifhar.com), and working at Bookworm, a bookshop and publishing house in Tel Aviv.
Dimi Reider (Journalism & Social Science) Contributor to the New York Times, The Guardian, Foreign Policy, Index on Censorship, Jerusalem Post and Haaretz, where he also worked as staff writer for two years. Co-founder and contributing editor at +972 Magazine. Gained Chevening scholarship to take MSc in Middle East Politics at SOAS 2011-12.
Eran Zucker (Business Studies)
Jotam Halevy (Psychology) went on to enroll for a doctorate in Psychology at Tel Aviv University while also working with problem kids in poor neighbourhoods. Still plays base guitar with band when he can.
Steve Nalbandian (Bio-Medical Engineering)
Yael Litmanovitz (Jounrnalism with Psychology) MSc Evidence Based Social Intervention, Oxford as a Weidenfeld scholar. DPhil in same department titled 'Police training in democratic societies'. Member of development team for Health Talk Israel. Previously project officer at Amnesty International - Israel Section.
Yonathan Paz (International Politics) Went on to work in Israel in Channel 2 News and at the Academy-Community Partnership for social change. Was involved in different peace building organisations. Gained a scholarship to take MSc in Development Studies at the LSE (2009-10). Worked for the UN in Vienna and assisted research in Oxfords department of International Development.
2nd Cohort
(2006-09)
Degree(s) and Current Occupation
Aviad Hadar (Psychology) Awarded City University doctoral scholarship and undertaking research in Cognitive Neuroscience Research. Aviad already has peer reviewed and published articles in high ranking neuroscience journals such as Brain Stimulation and Biological Psychology.
Maty Baratz (International Politics) returned to Israel where he has worked both for the government and in the private sector in security-related jobs.
Evegny Savin (Computer Systems Engineering) went on to become Application Support Analyst at UBS, London and recently started a new job for MF Global as 'trading systems analyst'.
Stav Shaffir (Journalism/Sociology) Went on to study Philosophy of Ideas at Tel Aviv academy and work as journalist for Yedioth Acharonot. Became prominent in Israel (and international media) as leader of Israeli social justice movement ("the tent protest") 2011 links: Haaretz, El Pais, Guardian.
Tal Rubin (International Politics) having completed two years working for human rights in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories as Coordinator of the Freedom of Movement Department at HaMoked, has won Sir Sigmund Warburg scholarship to study for an MSc in Human Rights at LSE.
Mazen Zoabi (Psychology) he has been working, mostly in London, as a translator/production assistant for television and documentary productions, including for Channel 4 and the BBC. Mazen is now seeking a career in Communications.
Jayyab Abu Safia (Journalism), now a TV presenter and Journalist for Al-alamia.
May Zawahreh (International Politics) worked for the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah in 2009 before changing tack and embarking on a career in health care.
Khalil Bitar (International Politics) Monitoring and Evaluation Program Officer for West Bank educational program (The Model Schools Network Program) at AMIDEAST/USAID for two years before gaining scholarship to take MSc in Development Management and Evaluation at the Institute of Development Policy and Management in Belgium.
Razan Makhlouf (Sociology & Media Studies) went on to work as a Research Assistant on the Jerusalem module of Cambridge and Exeter Universities Conflict in Cities (ESRC funded) project. She also works as a freelance photographer.
Montaser Abdi (Communications Engineering) awarded PhD scholarship and Teaching Assistantship at City University where he engaged in research
Wael Alsusi (Multimedia & Internet Systems) working freelance in graphic and web design
3rd Cohort (2009-11) Degree(s) and Current Occupation
Yoav Galai (International Politics) is returning to Israel to take up a place at Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva to study for an MA in the Politics of Conflict. He also continues his work as a photojournalist.
Shay Zavaro (International Politics) Proceeding to post grad studies in International Economics at Kings College London.
Eti Shechtman (International Politics) Eti gave the graduand speech at the Social Sciences graduation ceremony in summer 2011, since then she has begun to resume work as a news journalist, her profession in the IDF and before winning her Olive Tree Scholarship
Noam Rabinovich (International Politics) Awarded a scholarship, based on her first day at City, to study for an MA in Political Science, with a concentration on Politics and Communication, at Tel Aviv University. While studying she is working at a Public Relations and strategic consultancy firm in Tel Aviv, called Bibi PR (the CEO is Yael Bibi, no relation to the Netanyahu). They deal exclusively with political-social-corporation accounts, like Tel Aviv mayor, Israel railways, the New Jerusalem Foundation, Hahystadrut, and others.
Lior Amihai (International Politics and Sociology) spent the summer of his graduation in London, working and doing all the site-seeing he never managed during the 3-year degree programme; then returned to Israel to begin a career most likely in politics and conflict mediation.
Elizabeth Jadon (Law) Elizabeth is set to complete her law degree to 2012 and while doing so intends to set up a pilot run of a Legal Advice Clinic at Northampton Square staffed by City Law students and faculty advisers. In summer 2011 she wrote a 'Shadow Report' submitted by the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions to the United Nations Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights 47th Session analysing Israel's compliance with the International Convention on Economic Social and Cultural Rights.
Ahmed Ziat (International Politics) completed his BA in English Language and Literature at An-Najah University as well as his BSc in International Politics at City. Now the development, fund raising and major donor relations intern at Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Relations).
Enas Al Bittar (Business Management) has returned to Gaza to complete a degree she had begun before winning an Olive Tree scholarship, also in Business. As of summer 2012 she will begin work with Ernst and Young with the graduate trainee programme.
Haneen Njoum (Biomedical Engineering) has worked as a Medical Co-ordinator at Kuwait Oil Company Medical Department and just starting her position as a PhD researcher, on a City University London scholarship, undertaking a project in tissue engineering.

Layaly Hamayel (Psychology) since becoming a graduate, Layaly has been working as a medical transalator, a youth worker for children with disabilities, and travelling.
Rima Al Rakhawi (Journalism) works as a News Editor with 'Arabstoday' news agency in London.