Yael Cohen Paran
Noam co- founded in 2011 Capital Nature, the most successful cleantech investment company in Israel – 4 of the company’s portfolio companies are currently traded in the Tel Aviv stock exchange, among them Electreon.
In 2006 Noam was co-founder of the Eilat Eilot renewable energy initiative, one of the founding entities of renewable energy in Israel, promoting renewable energy development and implementation as a regional engine for the southern part of Israel. Noam has been also the founder and co-chair of the Eilat -Eilot renewable energy conference, one the leading cleantech conferences in the world
In 1995 Noam co-founded and was the CEO of Cortext Ltd. one of the first Internet related software companies in Israel
Noam has a BA in business and MA in environmental studies, both from the Tel Aviv university
Ofir joined Capital Nature, as CEO early in 2021. Before joining, Ofir held several managerial positions in LR Group, a multi-national project company, including the CEO of Clal Sun, an Israeli renewables company, leading major PV project development through to financing, construction and operation. Prior to Clal Sun, Ofir was the CFO of Rafael Development Company (RDC) and several of RDC’s subsidiaries, dealing with sprouting activities of a dozen newly formed start-up companies in fields of medical device, energy, software, and automotive, escorting them from establishment through development, international VCs fund raising and several successful exits. Ofir also served in the financial department of dual TA/NASDAQ-listed Elron Electronic Industries.
Ofir holds a BA in Economics and Accounting from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is also a graduate of the Tel-Aviv University Business School, where he attained his MBA with focus on finance.
Over 25 years of expertise and experience marketing enterprise technology solutions, with broad B2B solution marketing knowledge across global sales channels and focus on developing strategic messaging and value propositions and all types of content and collateral. A passionate promoter of sustainability and cleantech, Shelli served as Director of Commercial Marketing for SolarEdge prior to assuming her position at GenCell.
Lilac Amirav is an expert in the use of semiconductor nanocrystals and hybrid structures for renewable energy generation, in particular photocatalytic solar-to-fuel conversion. She has demonstrated success in designing sophisticated heterostructures for the water reduction half reaction. Amirav received a Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc.) from Tel Aviv University at the age of 18. She received numerous awards for her PhD dissertation from Technion, and the prestigious Rothschild and ‘Sara Lee Schupf’ postdoctoral fellowships. After her postdoctoral research with Paul Alivisatos at the University of California, Berkeley, Amirav joined the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, where she is now an Associate Professor. Amirav is passionate about addressing scientific questions of fundamental importance and global impact. She is particularly interested in photocatalysis on the nano scale and related photophysical and photochemical phenomena.
Managing Partner of the Value Squared Responsible Investment Fund and CEO and Founder of Greeneye ESG Ltd. In 2016, Greeneye was awarded the Green Globe award for “ground-breaking advances in the field of responsible investment in Israel”. Noga has more than 18 years of rich experience leading change in Israel’s ESG arena — working with policy-makers, the government, NGOs and the financial and business sectors. Noga is a TEDx speaker and holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a BSc from the Technion. Noga is a lecturer at the academic institutions, and has published numerous articles and papers.
Omer has led EcoTraders for over 15 years, a consultancy in the Energy and Environment sectors.
EcoTraders aids the local industry in achieving emissions reduction, energy efficiency and implementing strategic processes for becoming carbon neutral.
In addition, the company leads long-term national planning processes such as the National Plan for GHG Reductions (2030), a low carbon vision for Israel by 2050, the National Energy Efficiency Plan, etc.
“Climate change poses the greatest challenge for our generation and maybe ever in the age of human kind. Addressing this challenge must include the planning and implementation of a drastic change in our most basic infrastructure, a reform in our western life style, alongside the taking of responsibility by industrial firms on the lifecycle of their merchandise. We in Israel must take our part in this imperative global effort.”
BIRD Foundation (www.birdf.com) was established in 1977 by the U.S. and Israeli governments to develop and fund industrial Research & Development partnerships between companies from both countries on a project-specific basis. Located in Israel, Ms. Nakar-Vincent is responsible for initiating business matchmaking activities between Israeli and American companies, and strategic growth initiatives as well as promoting and managing the BIRD Energy program which has funded fifty-five projects with a total government investment of approximately $42 million.
Serving in key positions in both Israel and the United States, Ms. Nakar-Vincent has extensive experience in building strategic alliances between Israeli and American companies, with strong knowledge and experience in U.S.-Israel policy and business relations.
From 2003 till September 2010, Ms. Nakar-Vincent served as East Coast and Midwest Representative of the BIRD Foundation in the United States.
From 1997 to 2002, Ms. Nakar-Vincent was the Economic Consul to the Southeastern and Midwestern United States. In this position, Ms. Nakar strived to promote trade, as well as economic, technological, and investment cooperation between Israel and the United States.
Before her appointment in the United States, Ms. Nakar-Vincent was the Director of the North American Department at the Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Jerusalem. During this period, Ms. Nakar –Vincent directed the activity of Israel’s trade representatives in the United States and Canada and coordinated the negotiations between Israel and Canada that led to the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Israel and Canada in July 1996. From 1992 to 1994, Ms. Nakar-Vincent was a trader and an analyst in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
Ms. Nakar-Vincent holds an MBA and a BA in Economics and Management, both from Tel Aviv University.
Leehe Skuler is an impact investing professional and consultant for impact ventures, investors, philanthropists, and international organizations in the field. She has set up the Impact Investing Advisory at Deloitte Israel. At Social Finance Israel, she works with Israeli and international agencies and thought leaders, including the World Bank, EU, SNV, the African Development Bank, UNDP, GiZ, and others. She recently co-founded and leads the Global Impact Tech Alliance (GITA) which offers a collaboration platform and shared knowledge for all organizations interested in supporting impact tech around the world, and aims to scale impact investing venture capital globally.
Previously, Leehe worked with E+CO – a pioneer impact investment firm which addresses “access to energy” challenges in developing countries. Working from Amsterdam, Ghana and Tanzania. She has a BA in Political Science, Philosophy and Economics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and an MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Administration.
Jared Braslawsky is a leading expert on the use, implementation, and functionality of attribute tracking systems such as the United States REC, European Guarantee of Origin (GO), and the global International REC Standard. His expertise is used by organizations such as RE100 where he is a member of the Technical Working Group. He has participated in workshops, technical meetings and informational webinars for RE100’s membership (with over 140 corporate renewable electricity consumers). He was a key contributor to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) Scope 2 Guidance document and supported the GHGP in organizing workshops to promote the guidance document when it was completed in 2015.
Jared has played a leading role in the development and growth of the Guarantee of Origin system in Europe through his role as Secretary-General of RECS International. RECS International is a not-for-profit members organization representing more than 120 market players, from electricity generators, traders, wholesalers, and suppliers to consumers. Jared is also the lead organizer and moderator of the REC Market Meeting, an annual two-day event attended by more than 450 participants that focuses solely on the international development and standardization of RECs and other Energy Attribute Certificate (EAC) markets. Jared is also the co-founder of the International REC Standard Foundation (I-REC Standard), a not-for-profit organization for energy attribute tracking systems that enables the simplified implementation of reliable, tradable REC systems and national renewable energy markets in adherence with electricity market regulations and best practices worldwide.
Dr. Daniel Blumenthal is the Department of Energy (DOE) Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem where he represents the full range of DOE’s energy, cyber, science, and nuclear security portfolios. Prior to his arrival in October 2021, he managed radiological response programs at DOE Headquarters. In that role, he led the initial DOE response team to Japan following the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident in Mar 2011. He has also participated in many international technical exchanges regarding emergency preparedness and nonproliferation. Prior to working at DOE he spent time at the Department of Homeland Security’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office as Chief Test Scientist and at the DOE’s Remote Sensing Laboratory a Senior Scientist. Dr. Blumenthal’s background is in nuclear physics and health physics.
Eitan Parnass is the founder & Director General of the Green Energy Association of Israel (formerly REEEAI), the main Renewables & Energy Efficiency advocacy organization in Israel. Established in 2009 by Parnass, GEA-IL is promoting for the past 8 years the implementation of renewable energy electricity production and energy efficiency in Israel, using the professional industry knowledge & skills. One of the main objectives of GEA-IL is providing decision makers the necessary information and tools to achieve national goals and set enabling-policy, to foster green energy sector growth. GEA-IL was involved in the formation of the various renewables & Energy Efficiency regulations, acting for the Israeli green energy industry from the launch of the first Solar PV regulations (2008) and has marked many achievements promoting local Renewables market. In 2017 the Renewable Energy Goals Act was approved by parliament, marking a great achievement for GEA-IL and the Israeli RES industry.
GEA-IL enjoys the recognition of national and local government in Israel and represents the green energy industry at various committees and decision making platforms. The holistic approach to Energy has gained GEA-IL strong bond with the Israeli Energy & Sustainability community, including NGOs, experts, public figures, aside regulators and decision makers.
Parnass is also a public pro-sustainability activist involved in numerous initiatives to promote sustainable economy in Israel and worldwide, including the formation of the Global Solar Council, launched at Paris COP21, where he served as Board Member & Secretary (2015-2017). Parnass has also served as Board Member to various NGOs including the Israel Sustainable Energy Society (ISES), Vice President of GIREC (Israel-Germany Renewable Energy Committee), member to the National Green Growth Round Table and is a notable speaker at the academy, industry, local & international conferences and seminars.
Eitan Parnass was born in Jerusalem (1971), he holds Honours law degree from the University of Warwick UK and LL.m law degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Jonathan Haran is an entrepreneur and expert in Energy, Waste, and Sustainability. Mechanical Eng. with vast hands-on experience in the Process and Energy industries.
Currently serving as Co-founder and Co-CEO of the Sustainable Group, designing and building the first of its kind Self-Sustain Off-Grid neighborhood.
Founder and CEO of Sustainergy: Project management and consulting firm for Waste and Energy; Exclusive distributor of CLESS: 100% Electric waste collection truck.
Former CEO of of Engineers Without Borders Israel. Waste expert for the Arava institute Track II program, Mentor and Academic project adviser.
Born and raised in Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim. Living today in Eilat with My wife and our three boys. During my second degree, I was part of the creation and establishment of a new village in the Lakhish region for secular and orthodox Jews, the community used environmental planning and practice sustainability to overcome the gaps between the two religion streams. I hold a bachelor degree in Geography, Philosophy and Islam from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and an M.Sc degree from the Ben Gurion University and the Arava Institute. After graduation I have been offered a position at the Arava Institute and worked there for 5 years. and later on I was part of the founders of ARAVA Environmental Consulting and Technology Ltd (EC&T). EC&T was the business arm of the Arava institute/ Today ARAVA EC&T is a private company working with local authorities, factories and organizations all over Israel.
Anna Shpitsberg serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Transformation at the U.S. Department of State. Ms. Shpitsberg is responsible for supporting a shift to a decarbonized economy that enables secure and resilient energy systems. Shpitsberg leads efforts and advises on power market reform, clean energy financing, and resilient supply chains to support transitioning power, transport, and end-use sectors. Additionally, she leads U.S. representation at the International Renewable Energy Agency, and other bilateral and multilateral engagements on energy with U.S. allies and partners.
In her prior role, Shpitsberg served as Director for Global Power and Renewables at IHS Markit. In this capacity she conducted research on emerging trends in the power sector; collaborated with teams covering power, clean energy technology, upstream energy, climate, economics, transport, and agriculture on possible outcomes for the energy transition; advised executives on trends that may impact their business strategy; led corporate renewable research, including the outlook for the United States; consulted on bespoke renewable projects; and managed the buildout of power market analysis and research in Africa and the Middle East.
Prior to joining IHS Markit, Ms. Shpitsberg established the U.S. Department of State’s Power Sector Program (PSP) through which she partnered with and advised utilities, regulators, system operators, and energy ministries on power market reform, energy resource optimization and procurement, regional power market development, and renewable energy integration and financing. In this role, she designed, managed, and advised on over 30 projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, including in Angola, Argentina, Cambodia, Chile, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Vietnam. She also held positions at the U.S. Department of Energy, the Rocky Mountain Institute, and Morgan Stanley. Ms. Shpitsberg holds a BS from Binghamton University in Finance and an MEM in Environmental Economics and Policy from Duke University with a focus on power systems and the energy-water nexus.
Yael Harman has Master in environmental microbiology , PhD in Environmental science and an MBA. Yael worked for a decade in the field of industrial waste water all over the world.
In the last 5 years Yael has being working for the ministry of energy as the head of technology and renewable energy.
In her role she promoted issues related to demand response pilot, regulatory waiver for pilots in the electricity market and is currently leading the agro voltaic pilots.
Mr. Shaviv, serves as the Executive Director of EnergyCom, the National Israeli Energy Innovation Community and chair the global Energy Innovation Business Leaders group.
Mr. Shaviv is a seasoned business leader with experience in global billion-dollar organizations and in launching growth companies within the Cyber, and Smart Utilities industries.
Mr. Shaviv is engaged and leading several global research projects in the urban and smart energy domain, consult to companies in building strategic innovative business leadership, and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences.
Avi Brenmiller founded in 2012 Brenmiller Energy, an innovative technological – thermo-solar company, leading the development and implementation of energy storage solution systems combining renewable and conventional energy sources together in order to make the cost of electricity, generated by the combination of sun and fossil fuels, competitive.
Prior to founding Brenmiller Energy, Mr. Brenmiller acted as the CEO of Solel Solar Systems from 1997, later Siemens CSP. With a proven track record starting at the days of Luz Industries, which built the SEGS, a 354MW solar power plants in California in 1980’s, Mr. Brenmiller, led Solel Solar Systems through extensive development and implementations of solar thermal technologies and applications, including the construction of four solar thermal power Plants in Spain of ~200MW in total.
Zviya Baron, is a seasoned innovation Ms. Baron is a seasoned innovation professional with 25 years of hands-on innovation experience and eco-system building. She has more than 15 years of innovation consulting track record with both government agencies and multi-billion corporations on innovation strategies and policies.
Currently, she is Head of Innovation at Israel Electric Corporate (IEC), which with 3 million customers and an annual revenue of USD5 Billion, is Israel’s main electricity provider. Ms. Baron is the first person ever in this role and is responsible for setting up the innovation strategy, implementing both open-innovation and corporate innovation methodologies and heading the corporate through the major energy transition ahead of us.
Previously, Ms. Baron was the founder and Head, of HANGAR by IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries), a $4bl. company, a commercial aviation start up hub. In that role, she initiated an open-innovation model customized to the needs of a state-owned company and start-ups alike. Her major success is the forming of a commercial aviation eco-system consisted of start-up companies, technology partners, airlines, regulators and co-optitors alike.
For twelve years, she acted as Director of Innovation at Petroquantum B.V, a Dutch based energy consulting firm, she incepted the innovation practice in Israel. there, she formed innovation strategies and designed innovation policies and tools for academia, government agencies and the industry. She also served as the “in-house” advisor of the Israeli National Innovation Energy committee at the Israeli National R&D Council which was aimed at building and expanding the energy eco-system in Israel. She has reached that role after playing a substantial role in the founding teams when her last role was as a CEO of an energy start-up company.
Ms. Baron is a visiting professor to various Israeli universities giving courses on innovation and green entrepreneurship to both graduate students and PhD’s. She is a keynote speaker on innovation in various capacities.
Ms. Baron earned her BA at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and her MBA at the
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University in the Netherlands.
Dr. Or Yogev founded AUGWIND and has been the company’s CEO since it was founded in 2012. Or received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and applied computational mathematics at the California Institute of Technology. Or has vast experience in the energy industry with extensive research and development expertise. He is considered an expert in the fields of computational analysis, machine design, and thermodynamics.
Has more than 25 years of professional experience in economic consulting and advisory for international corporations, government-owned entities and large companies in Israel in consulting projects involving government policy, macro-economic forecasts and business aspects. Mr. Herzog holds an M.A. in Economics from the Tel Aviv University.
Boaz is an accomplished executive with over 20 years of management experience, leading Business, R&D, and operations.
Prior to joining Chakratec, Boaz held VP positions at Elbit Systems, a global defense technology company – leading successful business segments and a significant highly technological R&D organization.
Prior to that Boaz led an innovative automotive startup business unit to a successful spin-off.
He is a graduate of the Israeli Naval Academy and served as a submarine’s Officer and Chief Engineer.
Boaz holds an MBA and a B.Sc. EE from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology.
Amir Zalzberg is the head of the transportation division at the Ministry of Environmental Protection. He is in charge on formulating policy to reduce harmful emissions to air from transportation and fuel combustion. The purpose of his work is to improve air quality at urban areas and mitigate climate change. Amir is an expert in fuel properties and their effects on emissions. In addition, Amir is an Atmospheric Chemistry lecturer at the Hadassah Academic College in Jerusalem. Mr. Zalzberg holds a M.Sc. (Magna Cum Laude) in Atmospheric Sciences and a B.Sc. (Magna Cum Laude) in Atmospheric Sciences and Environmental Studies both from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Planning Development & Technology Div. Israel Independent System Operator
previously manager of transmission System Development Department at Israel Electric Company
Focused on creating sustainable planning policies for energy infrastructures including promotion of large-scale plans. Leading the Adaptation of the Planning and Building law in order to encourage the proliferation of Renewable Energies, especially solar technology (PV). Promoting a “dual-use” framework for land integrated with renewable energies. Developing a “road map” to support the execution of the Governmental goal of 30% Renewable Energies by Year 2030. Leading the preparation of a planning policy for energy storage facilities, and a plan for agro-voltaic research and development.
In addition, serves as a Director on the Board of NOGA – Israel Independent System Operator.
Alon has practiced as both an Israeli and U.S. banking and project finance lawyer, thus bringing extensive local and international knowledge and experience to the team.
For a decade, before joining Shibolet, Alon worked as a senior banking and project finance attorney in leading global law firms in New York City, advising top international companies and financiers on a variety of sophisticated, high-profile, multi-billion USD transactions. This, together with his extensive ties to global players in the finance and project development world, enables him to offer clients unique legal knowledge and skills.
Alon currently represents both lenders, sponsors and borrowers in all major financing transactions, including complex cross-border financing in a large variety of industries. Alon also advises developers, sponsors and financiers on Israel’s largest, most prominent project finance deals, in all infrastructure sectors including power generation, desalination, transportation, defense and oil & gas.
Prof. Lior Elbaz has a BSc, MSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering. During his graduate studies, he became an expert in electrochemistry and electrocatalysis. After finishing his PhD, he joined the Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM, USA, a world leader in the development of fuel cell technology, where he developed new catalysts and advanced materials for fuel cells, in order to reduce their price and increase their durability. After almost four years at Los Alamos, Lior came back to Israel to take a position at the Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University. After his return to Israel, Lior established and the Israeli Fuel Cells Consortium (IFCC), composed of 12 leading Israeli labs, generously funded by the Israeli prime minister’s office. Lior is also the official representative of the Israeli Ministry of Energy to the International Energy Agency’s Executive Committee for Advanced Fuel Cells. In the capacity of the head of the IFCC, Lior is in direct contact and collaboration with parallel consortia leaders in the US, Germany and Japan. Lior is currently promoting the hydrogen energy economy in Israel, working together with all relevant ministries and companies to prepare Israel for the Hydrogen revolution.
