Executive Director & Cofounder

Lama Amr

Lama is BuildPalestine’s Executive Director where she leads the organization’s initiatives to empower social entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey. Lama has coached over 80 projects to raise $1M+ through crowdfunding. Under her leadership, BuildPalestine has become the central hub for social entrepreneurship in Palestine. Lama has also co-founded the Founder Institute chapter in Palestine, where 27 tech startups have graduated across five cohorts. With a strong passion for enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem, Lama is dedicated to strengthening opportunities for growth and social impact in the region.

Born and raised in Dura (outside of Hebron), Lama holds a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting from Birzeit University. In her personal life, she enjoys nature photography and video making.

Finance & HR Manager

Rand Shomali

Rand is BuildPalestine’s Finance and HR Manager, leading the organization’s financial and human resources functions to ensure efficiency, compliance, and sustainable growth. She oversees budgeting, financial planning, reporting, procurement, and internal controls, while also managing HR operations including contracts, policies, payroll, performance processes, and organizational systems that strengthen team structure and accountability.

In addition to her internal responsibilities, Rand supports social entrepreneurs in developing sound financial strategies, managing budgets, strengthening reporting systems, and ensuring compliance with donor and regulatory requirements. She provides hands-on guidance to help enterprises build sustainable models and create lasting social impact.

Before joining BuildPalestine, Rand gained valuable experience in compliance and audit at Deloitte, where she deepened her expertise in financial planning, reporting, internal controls, and regulatory adherence. She holds a BA in Finance and Banking from Birzeit University.

Beyond work, Rand enjoys cooking, traveling, and exploring nature, whether through hiking or simply appreciating the outdoors.

Community Coordinator

Tasnim Khlaif

Tasnim is BuildPalestine’s Community Coordinator, leading content creation and storytelling to highlight the organisation’s impact. With experience in content development, event coordination, and community engagement, she brings ideas to life through powerful visuals and narratives. She holds a degree in media and journalism from Birzeit University and is passionate about amplifying voices that often go unheard. Beyond work, her camera is always by her side, capturing untold stories of resilience, beauty, and defiance—whether in Palestine or anywhere else in the world.

Communications & Partnerships Manager

Anam Raheem

Anam leads communications and community engagement at BuildPalestine. She brings over a decade of experience across social innovation, job creation, and entrepreneurship in the Arab region, with deep on-the-ground expertise shaped by five years living and working in Gaza at Gaza Sky Geeks, Gaza’s leading tech accelerator. Anam’s work sits at the intersection of narrative, strategy, and movement-building, with a focus on resourcing Palestinian-led solutions and long-term economic dignity. She holds a BA from Georgetown University. Outside of work, Anam finds grounding in creative writing, yoga, and being in nature.

Program Coordinator

Manar Jawabreh

Manar is a Program Coordinator at BuildPalestine, supporting the organization’s mission to empower Palestinian communities. She holds a BA in English Literature & Translation from Birzeit University and brings valuable experience in coordination, STEAM education, and community engagement from her previous roles at A.M Qattan Foundation and Palestinian Center for Peace and Democracy. Manar has significantly contributed to enhancing and delivering educational and community-focused projects. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring music, engaging with art, and staying active.

Portfolio Manager

Nasser Kishek

Nasser is a Portfolio Manager at BuildPalestine, supporting social enterprises in strengthening their business models and achieving financial sustainability. He works closely with founders to identify operational and financial gaps, develop structured growth plans, and strategically deploy grant funding to support long-term resilience and impact.

He holds a BA in Accounting and a Master’s degree in Business Analytics, and previously worked in as a Credit and Financial Analyst at Bank of Palestine, assessing businesses of various sizes across multiple sectors and developing strong expertise in financial evaluation and risk analysis.

Outside of work, Nasser enjoys fitness, watching movies, and exploring new places.

Hurjay Platform Lead

Mohammed Tomaizeh

Mohammed is Hurjay’s Platform Lead at BuildPalestine, where he is responsible for developing and launching the platform, which aims to redefine the concept of funding in Palestine. In his role, Mohammad leads the efforts to help Palestinian civil society organizations diversify their revenue sources and build independent, resilient funding models enabling them to sustain their impact, protect their agency, and reduce dependency on traditional aid.

Mohammed holds a degree in Computer Science from Birzeit University and has been active in international technology and entrepreneurship programs. His team won Best Team at the Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp in Paris, and he has been recognized in initiatives and programs in USA, Greece, Belgium, Spain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait.

In his personal life, Mohammed enjoys traveling, exploring nature, and going on hiking adventures.

Web Developer

Mohammed Al-Madhoun

Designer

Mahran Ismail

Program Coordinator

Tamara AlQubaj

Tamara serves as a Program Coordinator at BuildPalestine, focusing on grants compliance and documentation, coordinating with Rise grantees to ensure adherence to donor requirements, while also contributing to membership development and providing cross-functional operational support across programs and partners. Tamara holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Planning and Fundraising from Arab American University and a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a minor in English Translation from Birzeit University. Her experience spans program coordination, compliance, donor reporting, and stakeholder engagement across organizations such as Amideast, the U.S. Embassy’s American Spaces, and EPCGF.

Program Coordinator

Fares Farraj

Fares Farraj is a Program Coordinator at BuildPalestine, supporting the delivery of programs that empower Palestinian social entrepreneurs and communities. He holds an MA in Digital Media, Culture, and Society from the University of Manchester and a BSc in Psychology from the University of Salford. Fares brings experience in coordinating multi-stage initiatives, organising public events, and supporting participants and partners across projects in the UK and Palestine. His work focuses on effective program coordination, community engagement, and ensuring initiatives are delivered with structure and impact. Outside of work, he is involved in Palestinian dabke as both a dancer and facilitator, engaging communities through cultural practice.