Sonia Gomes de Mesquita served as the Chief Programs Officer of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), the leading umbrella organization of Jewish communities around the world from 2013-2019, and Chief Operating Officer of World ORT, the world’s largest Jewish education and training organization from 1999-2013.

Sonia is a senior executive with more than 20 years’ experience and success as an organizational leader in the non-profit and public sectors,  acquiring extensive knowledge and experience in operational management on a global level, by serving under these roles in London, New York and Israel.

During this time period, Sonia has played a key role in the overall development, strategic planning, and management of the organizations, while spearheading groundbreaking initiatives and educational projects across multiple countries worldwide. Under the WJC, Sonia led the following international programs: WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps; Counter Delegitimization of the State of Israel; Counter Anti-Semitism; Combatting Anti-Semitism in Sports; International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians; Israel Council on Foreign Relations; International Yiddish Center; and Communications and PR in Israel.

Previously as Chief Operating Officer & Acting Director General of World ORT, Sonia was responsible for the management of internal operations including serving as intermediary between organizational departments, overseeing the submission of projects and reports to international ORT organizations, US Federations, major donors, foundation and corporations including responsibility for all donor relations’ management, supervising relationships with fundraising countries and overseeing fundraising activities within the headquarters in the UK and in regional offices in the USA and Western Europe.

Additionally, Sonia holds several key positions in the non-profit sector, serving as the Donor Representative and Vice-President of SASA Setton; Board Member of Alumot Or; and Board Member of Momentum.

Sonia Gomes de Mesquita served between 1992 and 1999 in the Liaison Bureau of the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, and previously in the office of the Israeli Ambassador to Finland in Helsinki. She also served in the Israel Defense Forces and rose to the rank of Lieutenant. She was also the head of the Educational Negev Unit of the IDF Southern Command and the head of the Command’s Communications Department. Sonia holds a BA in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies from Ben-Gurion University, Israel, and a MA in Business Management Marketing from Middlesex University, London, UK.