An expert in maritime security and international relations, with over 14 years of experience leading strategic initiatives that connect innovative technology, public policy, and global collaborations. She has held managerial and strategic development roles in both the public and private sectors, including project manager at Ashdod Port and manager of global partnerships at an international homeland security and defense company.

In her role as a strategic advisor to the Tax Authority and Ministry of Finance delegation in Brussels, and later as head of a branch in the international department of the Customs Administration, she led political, security, and economic collaborations with customs authorities, security agencies, and international institutions, including the European Union, WTO, and INTERPOL. She managed bilateral agreements and represented Israel at the World Customs Organization (WCO) and in international forums.

Ilona serves in the reserves at the National Emergency Authority and as a team commander in an urban rescue unit, working in national emergency planning, coordination, and crisis management. She heads the international committee of the Deborah Forum: Women in Foreign Policy and National Security, and works to promote global partnerships and increase the presence of Israeli expertise in the international arena. She lectures and writes in the field of maritime cyber, national resilience