Practical Feminism
In May, the Tel Aviv University Alumni Organization and the TAU Aurion Global Leadership Community hosted a special conference on Practical Feminism, led by Chair of the Board of Governors, Dafna Meitar Nechmad, and attended by Professor Ariel Porat, President of Tel Aviv University. The event took place at ANU – Museum of the Jewish People and was moderated by journalist and attorney Tamar Almog.
The conference featured a series of panels with leading voices from business, academia, culture, and civil society, exploring topics such as feminism as a brand, women as drivers of change, and the role of art in creating social impact. The event concluded with a guided tour of the exhibition A Lens of Her Own.
The opening session featured remarks by Dafna Meitar Nehmad, Chair of the Board of Governors of Tel Aviv University and alumna of the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social Sciences, and by Prof. Ariel Porat, President of Tel Aviv University.
The keynote lecture, “Feminism: The Status of a Brand,” was delivered by Etty Abadi, CEO of McCann Tel Aviv and alumna of the Faculty of Humanities and the Coller School of Management at Tel Aviv University.
A panel titled “Women as Agents of Change” followed, moderated by Tamar Almog, legal affairs commentator and Head of the Legal Affairs Desk at Kan News, and alumna of the Faculty of Law at Tel Aviv University. Panelists included:
· Esther Barak-Landes, attorney, entrepreneur, and venture capital investor, alumna of the Faculty of Law
· Liran Liberman, CEO of Humanz, alumnus of the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Coller School of Management
· Adv. Hanan Alsanah, Co-CEO of Itach-Maaki – Women Lawyers for Social Justice and doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Law
The conference also featured a one-on-one conversation on higher education and social mobility between Prof. Noga Kronfeld-Schor, Rector of Tel Aviv University, and Prof. Neta Ziv, Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Community.
The closing panel, “Art as a Catalyst for Social Change,” was moderated by Roni Gilat-Baharaff, Managing Director of Christie’s Israel and alumna of the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Social Sciences. Participants included:
· Sari Golan, Chief Curator of the Ramat Gan Museum of Israeli Art and alumna of the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Arts
· Sigalit Landau, internationally acclaimed Israeli sculptor and multimedia artist
· Dr. Ruth Marcus, art historian, researcher, founder of the Association for the Research of Women and Gender in Art in Israel, and alumna of the Faculty of Arts
· Yifat Gurion, Co-Founder of the Fresh Paint Group
Following the conference, participants enjoyed a guided tour of A Lens of Her Own, led by Michal Houminer, Curator at ANU – Museum of the Jewish People and alumna of the Steve
Tisch School of Film and Television. The exhibition brings together works by 20 pioneering and 20 contemporary Israeli and international women photographers.
The conference welcomed many distinguished alumnae and leaders from business, philanthropy, academia, culture, media, and public service, reflecting the strength and influence of Tel Aviv University’s alumni community.
Prof. Ariel Porat, President of Tel Aviv University:
“The journey toward equal representation of women in leadership positions within academia is long, but it is essential. When I assumed my role, the overwhelming majority of senior leadership positions were held by men—a reality we can no longer accept today. At Tel Aviv University, we have demonstrated that changing norms and creating role models, including a female Rector, female Vice Presidents, Deans, and senior faculty members, generates a positive effect that attracts young women researchers and students to science and technology. We have made significant progress, but the mission is not yet complete. Our challenge is to continue increasing the number of women pursuing advanced degrees in the sciences and joining academic faculties across all disciplines. Advancing women in academia is not only a matter of equality—it strengthens the quality of academia itself. I believe and hope that outstanding women will be among the leading candidates to serve as the next President of the University.”
Dafna Meitar Nechmad, Chair of the Board of Governors:
“At Tel Aviv University, we work year-round to advance research, policy, and public discourse on gender equality through the Gender@TAU initiative. For us, feminism is far more than a brand or an ideology—it is a fundamental value and the belief that women deserve equal opportunities and freedom of choice. As Gloria Steinem said, ‘The struggle for equality does not belong to one feminist or one organization, but to the collective efforts of everyone who cares about human rights.’ History shows that meaningful change is built through consistent effort over time. Especially during periods of uncertainty and upheaval, it is our responsibility to foster strong female leadership in academia and beyond—for the benefit of future generations.”
