Maria Jiries
CEO
Shittah Institute for Local Policy

Maria Jiries is an expert on local governance, dedicated to strengthening local leadership and empowering municipalities to play a leading role in shaping a democratic, cohesive and shared Israeli society.

Maria is the CEO of the Shittah Institute for Local Policy, an Israeli NGO and think-and-do tank that partners with municipalities to strengthen local democracy and build a more pluralistic, equitable and shared society.

She brings a decade of senior government experience, having served as Chief of Staff to the Director General at the Ministry of Transport and as Head of the Regional Development Division at the Ministry of the Interior, where she was responsible for developing and establishing Israel’s regional clusters model - frameworks that bring together municipalities from diverse sectors and communities to foster economic and social collaboration.

Maria grew up in Rama, a small Arab village in the Galilee, and brings to her work a personal and professional perspective shaped by diversity, partnership and a shared sense of responsibility for Israel’s collective future.