Nelly de Bobrow, neé Pfeffer, was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. At the age of 18, she married Moyses Bobrow and moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil. She has three children and nine grandchildren.

After completing her studies in economics, she worked as an economist for eight years. She later ran her own business for 18 years, specializing in gifts.

Nelly de Bobrow was one of the founders of the São Paulo Women’s Division (1986), serving as its President from August 1991 to December 1993.  She was Chairwoman of the Deliberative Council of the São Paulo Women’s Division in 1995 and 1996.

Nelly was Vice President, Latin America, of the International Women’s Division from 1996 to 2011. She took part in the Keren Hayesod Deliberative Council in São Paulo since 1999. In 2002, she, together with Nava Rubenzadeh, helped to reopen the Montevideo Women’s Division in Uruguay.

From 2006 to 2009, Nelly served as a member of the Jewish Agency Board of Governors.  In November 2011 she was elected World President of the Keren Hayesod International Women's Division.

She has been a member of the Board of Governors since June 2005 through 2009 and was elected again in Oct. 2012.