The Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) Announces Three New Staff Appointments

NEW YORK, NY – The Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) is pleased to announce that Deirdre Heiss has been promoted to New York Director of Development; Gayle Peck has been named Director of Communications; and Libby Weil has been named Staff Accountant. These appointments reflect ICRF’s longstanding commitment to fulfilling its mission of funding the best and brightest Israeli scientists conducting groundbreaking cancer research in Israel.

“We are so incredibly fortunate to have all three of these amazing professionals as part of our team,” said Alan Herman, ICRF’s Executive Director. “Their specialized skills and passion for our mission, along with the rest of our best-in-class team, will without a doubt help to further enhance both ICRF’s and Israel’s position as a global leader in the fight against cancer.

Heiss, as New York Director of Development, leads all fundraising efforts in the region including stewardship and solicitation, events, and special initiatives. She has been a valuable member of the ICRF team for five years and prior to this promotion was Associate Director of Development and Operations after holding multiple marketing positions at the organization. Before joining ICRF, Heiss held a variety of strategy consulting roles at several organizations including the World Bank Group and United Nations Capital Development Fund. Heiss holds a Masters of Public Administration specializing in International Policy and Nonprofit Management from New York University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis.

Peck, as Director of Communications, will help lead the development and execution of ICRF’s strategic long-term marketing and communications plan to enhance the organization’s mission and amplify the impact of its work. She joined ICRF in June 2023 as Director of Development and previously served as Director of Development and Communications at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. Prior to that, Peck held numerous marketing and communications roles at UJA-Federation of New York for over a decade, following experience in the for-profit world with a focus on healthcare public relations. Peck holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Weil, as Staff Accountant, focuses on a wide range of responsibilities on the finance team to maximize efficiency and streamline processes. She has been an important part of the ICRF finance team since 2017, lending her expertise to a multitude of roles, most recently as Gift Administrator and Collections Coordinator. Weil has previous experience in accounting in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, as well as in public accounting. She holds a B.A. in Accounting from Queens College.