Born: 1949 (Jerusalem, Israel)
Orna Berry (Hebrew: ארנה ברי; born December 19, 1949) is an Israeli computer scientist, high-tech entrepreneur, and senior executive in the Israeli science and technology industries. She has made significant contributions to the field of computer science and has played a crucial role in promoting research and development in Israel.
Born in Jerusalem and raised and educated in Tel Aviv, Berry’s passion for science and technology was evident from an early age. After completing her military service as an officer in the Israeli Air Force, she pursued her higher education at Haifa University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in statistics and mathematics in 1975. Berry furthered her studies at Tel Aviv University, obtaining a Master’s degree in statistics and operations research. She then pursued a Ph.D. in computer science at the University of Southern California (USC), which she successfully completed in 1986. During this time, she was also a recipient of a prestigious fellowship from the RAND Corporation.
Berry’s academic research focused on distributed simulation programs and how they could be accelerated through asynchronous distributed computations. Her groundbreaking work was published in 1986 and demonstrated her ability to make complex concepts accessible to a wider audience. It was during this period that Berry discovered she had dyslexia, an experience that would shape her future career path.
Following the completion of her studies, Berry began her professional career at System Development Corporation, later working for Burroughs and Unisys, where she honed her skills in local area networking (LAN). However, her desire to contribute to the growth of technology in her homeland led her to return to Israel in 1987. She joined the IBM Haifa Research Laboratory, where she was involved in hardware simulations on various Intel chip architectures. In 1989, Berry joined Fibronics, where she led projects related to bridging Token Ring and FDDI LANs.
In 1993, Berry co-founded Ornet Data Communication Technologies, a company specializing in scalable and efficient Ethernet switches. While leading Ornet, Berry also served as a technical manager of an industrial project at Elbit Systems and consulted for Intel. In a pioneering move for the Israeli tech industry, Ornet was acquired by Siemens in September 1995, marking the first acquisition of an Israeli start-up by a European conglomerate.
In 1996, Berry’s career took a new direction when she joined the Israeli government. She was appointed as the chief scientist and director of the Industrial Research and Development Administration in January 1997—the first woman to hold this position. In this role, Berry spearheaded efforts to promote innovation and technological advancement in Israel. She also served as the chairperson of the BIRD Foundation, which facilitated collaborations between U.S. and Israeli companies focused on research and development. Berry played a crucial role in negotiating the Israeli government’s participation in the European Fifth Framework Program for Research.
Throughout her career, Berry’s leadership, expertise, and commitment to advancing science and technology in Israel have earned her numerous accolades. In 2012, she was awarded the Yekirat Hanegev award from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, recognizing her outstanding contributions and dedication to the field. Today, Berry continues to contribute to the world of technology as the director of technology in the office of the CTO at Google Cloud, where she utilizes her extensive knowledge and experience to drive innovation and shape the future of computing.
Orna Berry’s remarkable achievements and tireless dedication have made her a trailblazer for women in the field of science and technology. Her contributions have not only advanced the industry but have also inspired future generations of women to pursue careers in STEM. By breaking through barriers and challenging traditional gender roles, Berry has left an indelible mark on Israeli society and has become an icon of empowerment and achievement.