OUR PEOPLE

Dr Ahmad Ma’ali joined the SJEHG family in 1990 as a student nurse, successfully completing his secondment at Greenwich University in 1996 followed by a six-month postgraduate specialist ophthalmic nursing course at London’s Moorfields Eye Hospital. In 1999, he was certified with a Nurse Tutor Diploma by the Bolton Institute. Thereafter, he returned to Jerusalem where he assumed the role as clinic Charge Nurse for one year, and in 2000 took responsibility for course leadership at the Sir Stephen Miller School of Nursing. He was also responsible for infection control, acted as clinical services coordinator, and gained a master’s degree in public health management at Al Quds University in 2003. In May 2009, Dr Ma’ali made SJEHG history as the first Palestinian Nursing Director. In 2017, he attained a PhD in Advanced Nursing Practice at De Montfort University and, after 10 years as Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, building relations with staff, students and patients, he was appointed as an interim Joint CEO with Peter Khoury in September 2017. In May 2019 Dr Ma’ali became our first Palestinian CEO.

Peter Khoury joined SJEHG as Deputy Financial Controller in 2008 and became Financial Controller in 2014. He gained his financial qualifications at North Park University in Chicago where he earned the prestigious ‘Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities’ award for outstanding academic achievement. Peter was an auditor for KPMG and was Accounts Manager at The Lutheran World Federation / Augusta Victoria Hospital. Peter is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, The Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Arab Society of Certified Accountants. He was appointed Joint CEO in October 2017 and has been Director of Finance since June 2019.

With over 24 years of dedicated service at SJEHG, Zahra is a seasoned HR leader deeply committed to fostering organizational excellence and quality service. Her journey at SJEHG began as a personal assistant, progressively advancing through various senior roles culminating in her current position as Director of Human Resources. Zahra holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in accounting, alongside multiple certifications in human resources, leadership, and training. Prior to joining SJEHG Zahra worked in banking and administration at the Bank of Palestine and the Faculty of Medicine at Al-Quds University. She is an active member of the St. John International Women’s Network, proudly representing the Eye Hospital on a global stage, contributing to cross-cultural collaboration and leadership development.

Dr. Iyad Habil is a cornea specialist and currently serves as the interim medical director at SJEHG. He is a skilled cataract surgeon and performs a wide range of corneal and refractive procedures, including lamellar grafts. He also has extensive experience in the surgical repair of traumatic eye injuries. In addition to his clinical duties, Iyad plays an active role in training resident doctors and oversees the medical department. He is also involved in the hospital’s strategic planning and operational execution. Iyad earned his medical degree from the People’s Friendship University of Russia in Moscow and completed his ophthalmology surgical training at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem. He went on to complete a fellowship in External Eye Disease and Cornea at Hadassah before joining the medical team at SJEHG. Originally from Gaza, Iyad now lives in Jerusalem with his wife and three children. He is fluent in Arabic, English, Hebrew, and Russian.

Harriet is the Executive Head of the UK Office at St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, a role she has held since October 2023. Prior to joining SJEHG, Harriet was a director of operations in the charity sector, bringing over 10 years of operational and management experience to her role. She is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and operations of the UK office, ensuring alignment with the broader mission of the organisation. Harriet holds a bachelor’s degree in Ancient History from the University of Bristol.

David joined SJEHG in 2009 as Projects Officer, later becoming Head of Development and Grants in 2010, and Director in 2018. He currently oversees Development, Fundraising, Project Management, and Communication. With over 19 years of experience in development and humanitarian work, David specialises in health and cultural heritage, particularly in Palestine. He has supported various initiatives to protect and promote the region’s cultural heritage, focusing on Jerusalem and Gaza. David has also served on multiple local and international organisation boards and is a Chartered member of the Lions Club in Jerusalem. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on International Cooperation and Development from Bethlehem University, in partnership with European universities. 

Ahmad Awadallah is the Facilities Manager for SJEHG, with 20 years’ experience in different administrative roles. Ahmad is responsible for managing and supervising the Procurement Department, Support Services Sections and Capital Projects on both strategic and operational levels.

Waleed Al Khatib graduated from Bethlehem University in 1991, joining SJEHG in 1991 as a staff nurse. Waleed has worked in all hospital departments as a staff nurse and as charge nurse. Waleed has developed his education and skills during his time at SJEHG. In 1998, he completed a high diploma in ophthalmic nursing and in 2005 he completed a master’s degree in teaching methods. Between the years 2005 to 2023, Waleed was the manager of the quality department. In 2018, he became the head of nursing and allied health professions for SJHEG.