Introducing Two New Members of itrek’s Board

itrek is proud to announce the addition of two new members to its Board of Directors, Debra Fine and Stephen Siderow. 

“Both Debra and Stephen have built very successful asset management firms, and have devoted much of their time and energy into helping nonprofits think strategically,” itrek CEO Gil Galanos said of the new appointments. “Debra and Stephen have served on our Advisory Board for the past year, lending us their ears and offering invaluable advice. I am confident that they will add unique perspectives as the organization continues to grow and evolve.”

Debra is the Founder and Chair of Fine Capital Partners, a New York City-based investment firm founded in 2004. One of only a handful of investment firms owned and run by women, Fine Capital manages U.S. equity assets principally for university endowments and foundations. Debra has served on multiple boards of nonprofits focused on global humanitarian relief, education, and poverty alleviation. She is also a seed investor in social enterprises that focus on financial inclusion domestically and internationally. Debra holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Yale. As a member of the itrek Board of Directors, Debra will advise itrek on governance, finance, and investment strategies. 

“itrek is a strategic and forward-thinking organization I am thrilled to become even more involved with as it begins its second decade of growth,” Debra said. “itrek’s mission is simple and clear: help future leaders form their own independent judgments about Israel with all its beauty, deep political complexity, economic growth and profound regional pressures. There are staggering amounts of disinformation and misinformation about Israel in the media. The best way to counter this is by letting people experience the country firsthand.”

Stephen is the Co-CEO of Siderow Kirchman Productions, a theatrical production and investment company, and an independent private investor and philanthropist. Until 2020, Stephen was President and a Co-founder of BlueMountain Capital Management, a global diversified alternative asset management firm which at its peak managed $23 billion and employed 300 professionals. Stephen holds a JD from Harvard Law School, a BA from Amherst, and was a Fulbright International Law Fellow and a Sheldon Scholar in Israel. 

“I am glad to join the itrek Board since I know and love the unique richness and diversity of Israel and its people, as well as what they can offer to young leaders from around the world,” Stephen said. “I am committed to educating and inspiring these young leaders to be more effective, confident and connected. itrek combines these passions through its support of direct, firsthand authentic educational experiences in Israel for students at America’s top graduate school programs.”