Yael Harlap is an educator, activist and Theatre of the Oppressed practitioner. She has a Ph.D. in Social Work (community organizing) from the University of Michigan. Yael has many years of experience in facilitating learning in higher education and informal adult education, with a special focus on anti-oppression, anti-racism and social justice.

Yael initiated and directed (2008-2010) the Living Lab program at the University of British Columbia, using Theatre of the Oppressed techniques to engage professors and teaching assistants in imagining how to create vibrant, inclusive learning environments. She trained in devising theatre with Michael Rohd of Sojourn Theatre (Portland/Chicago, USA) and in Theatre of the Oppressed with Marc Weinblatt of the Mandala Centre for Change.

As a member of the ImaginAction team in Derry, Northern Ireland, in January/February 2011, Yael co-facilitated theatre workshops at the University of Ulster, The Derry Playhouse and with Greater Shantallow Community Arts. As of February 2011, Yael is living in Bergen, Norway. She is developing community-based T.O. projects in Bergen, currently to establishing an on-going T.O. performance troupe.