Amal Elsana

Amal Elsana Alhjooj is a lifelong changemaker whose work bridges continents, communities, and disciplines. With over 30 years of experience in grassroots organizing and peacebuilding across the Middle East and Canada, Amal has been a powerful advocate for marginalized groups—particularly Indigenous, Bedouin, Palestinian, and women’s communities.

Born and raised in a Bedouin village in Israel, Amal's personal story is as compelling as her professional path. As a young woman, she became one of the first Bedouin women in Israel to pursue higher education, eventually earning degrees in Social Work from Ben-Gurion University and McGill University, where she also completed her PhD. Her leadership journey has taken her from founding AJEEC – the Arab Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and Cooperation – to serving as Executive Director of ICAN-McGill, to her current role as Founder and Executive Director of PLEDJ.

Amal’s work is driven by the belief that lasting change begins in communities, and she is known for her innovative approach to linking academic research with grassroots action. Her research and advocacy have focused on women’s leadership, civil society in conflict zones, and the transformation of systemic inequalities.

A highly decorated leader, Amal has been recognized internationally for her impact. She has received numerous awards, including the Human Rights Award from the New Israel Fund, the Victor J. Goldberg Peace Prize, and inclusion in the Einstein Legacy Project’s “Genius: 100 Visionaries of the Future.” In 2005, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize as part of the “1000 Women for Peace” initiative.

She is also the author of Hope is a Woman’s Name, a moving memoir that explores her life at the intersection of multiple identities—Bedouin, Palestinian, Arab, Israeli citizen, woman—and the systems of power that have shaped her journey.

Amal brings a rare combination of lived experience, academic rigor, and visionary leadership. Through her research, teaching, and community work, Amal continues to bridge academia and grassroots movements, championing systemic change from the ground up.