LendforPeace.org is proud to announce the addition of Howard Finkelstein, Hanna Siniora and Delphine Thizy to its Advisory Board. Each is a respected leader in development, microfinance and/or peace activism in the Middle East. Please find their bios below. LendforPeace.org plans to announce additional members of the board in the coming weeks.
Howard Finkelstein – Law Offices of Howard J. Finkelstein
Howard Finkelstein is one of the country’s pioneers in the securitization of microfinance-related obligations. Mr. Finkelstein, who recently left a national law firm to establish his own practice, focuses a great part of his practice on structuring capital market instruments to bring Western capital to microfinance institutions worldwide. He was the lead attorney in the $60 million securitization known as MicroFinance Securities (MFS) XXEB, in which he successfully structured the multi-currency securitization of loans to 30 microfinance institutions in 15 countries. In 2007, he served as US counsel to Blue Orchard in the transaction known as BOLD 2007, which was named the Sustainable Deal of the Year for 2007. His work has helped to bring nearly $1 billion to MFIs worldwide. Mr. Finkelstein participates broadly in the sector, having organized and co-chaired three conferences and spoken at numerous other public and private forums on microfinance. He is on the Board of Directors of the Microfinance Club of New York, Secretary of Microlumbia, Inc., and on the Advisory Boards of Green Microfinance and Frogtek LLC.
Hanna Siniora – Palestinian National Council
Hanna Siniora is a Palestinian Christian who lives in East Jerusalem. He is the publisher of The Jerusalem Times and a co-Chief Executive Officer of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information. He is also a member of the Palestine National Council and the chairperson of the Palestinian-American Chamber of Commerce. An early proponent of dialogue and negotiations with Israel, Siniora has a long history of involvement in pro-peace activities. For his lifetime commitment to working towards Palestinian-Israeli peace, he was awarded the Order of the Knights of Malta.
Delphine Thizy – PlaNet Finance, Director of the Palestinian Territories
Delphine Thizy is the Director of the the Palestinian Territories for PlaNet Finance. PlaNet Finance is an international organization whose mission is to fight poverty through microfinance. The PlaNet Finance Group is active in more than 60 countries with an international network of 38 offices. In 2007 PlaNet Finance Advisory Services provided assistance to 220 microfinance institutions (MFIs), reaching almost 9 million clients. Before taking charge of the Palestinian Territories, Ms. Thizy was the PlaNet Finance Regional Coordinator for South Asia. She has also been Head of Mission in Afghanistan where she was in charge of the technical assistance mission for Sunduq (an Afghan MFI). Before joining PlaNet Finance, Ms. Thizy worked for an NGO in Mozambique and with UNDP and the MFI PARC in the Palestinian Territories. She holds a Master of Science of the territory from the University Pierre-Mendès France of Grenoble.
