As a music producer and media artist specializing in interdisciplinary projects, Maral Salmassi has founded and led companies in label management, music distribution, and publishing. She has advised leading brands and institutions on music and cultural initiatives and now advances Zera’s vision at the intersection of research, culture, and social impact.

Taja works at the Zera Institute as an analyst, focusing on the systematic evaluation of digital content. Her work includes analyzing web, social media, and other media data, as well as providing technical support for fact-checked publications.

She holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in engineering, with a focus on analytical and numerical methods. This methodological training forms the basis of her work on data-driven evaluations and structured analyses.

Berlin-based photographer and Videographer Markus Nass specializes in portrait, editorial, and lifestyle productions. With over two decades of experience in photography and visual storytelling, he has portrayed numerous leading figures from the worlds of culture, media, and art. At the Zera Institute, Markus oversees multimedia production, encompassing everything from video formats to multimedia campaigns.

Ariella Chmiel is a political scientist working at the intersection of culture, politics, and civic dialogue. As the former CEO of the Literaturhandlung, one of the most significant Jewish cultural institutions in Germany, she was responsible for its strategic and financial development and for its programming, including the conception and moderation of numerous political and cultural events. She is also the co-initiator of Coffee with a Jew, a discussion format that facilitates encounters and promotes a more open exchange about Jewish life. She focuses on the contextualization of political and social issues and their discussion in the public square.