Shari Arison is an Israeli-American business woman and the daughter of Ted Arison, founder of Carnival Cruise Lines. Following the death of her father in 1999, Arison assumed the chairmanship of the Arison Group, a business and philanthropic group headquartered in Tel Aviv. Since that time, Arison has led significant business processes in the group, including the acquisition of the sole equity stake in Bank Hapoalim, Israel's largest global bank, Shikun & Binuy, one of Israel's most reputable real estate and infrastructure companies and Israel Salt Industries Ltd, the largest salt manufacturer in Israel. In 2008, Arison founded Miya, a global water company providing water loss prevention management solutions to municipalities and utilities around the world. Arison is also a major beneficiary shareholder of Carnival Corporation and has served twice on its board.

In 2005, Arison was named Honorary Fellow of the Decade by the interdisciplinary Center Herzliya and she has been serving on the institution's board since 2007. Arison is repeatedly ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the world's wealthiest women and was also ranked by Forbes among the top 50 most influential women in the world in 2008. Arison was also elected by Globes financial magazine as the most influential businesswoman in Israel in both 2007 and 2009.