Livia Thompson, the Executive Director of JBI (originally founded as the Jewish Braille Institute), has worked in the Jewish not-for-profit world for nearly 40 years. In her previous positions, she served as executive director of Central Synagogue in Manhattan (1993–2016), interim chief of staff at HUC-JIR, and as a consultant with synagogues and Jewish institutions both in the United States and abroad, writing and teaching about best practices within the Jewish organizational world.

Livia has served as president of the National Association for Temple Administration and as a representative on the Union for Reform Judaism Board, Reform Pension Board, and Central Conference of American Rabbis’ Financial Committee. Livia’s other volunteer efforts include social justice advocacy and teaching ESL skills to adult immigrants, including those seeking to pass their U.S. citizenship test. She has served as a Brooklyn Public Library, Henry Street Settlement and Jewish Guild volunteer, and was a cofounder of a family-based Havurah in Brooklyn, New York.

Livia practiced law for 10 years and holds a BA and JD from Columbia University. Born in Rome, Italy, she is an intrepid traveler and explorer, although she and her husband Tom have been proud Brooklynites since 1986 and raised three daughters there.