Please join us for cocktails and conversation with Avi Hasson, CEO of Start-Up Nation Central, on Wednesday, June 7th. Avi will explore latest developments in Israeli climate tech and its role in establishing and solidifying the Abraham Accords. Avi, a titan of Israeli high tech, will share insights on how innovations in climate and sustainability have helped advance relations with Israel’s new regional allies over the common cause of combatting climate change. Avi will be in conversation with Carly Maisel, Global CEO of the Kirsh Foundation.

RSVP by Friday, June 2

Location: New York City, venue to be provided after RSVPing.

With three decades worth of tech industry leadership experience from both the private and public sectors, Avi Hasson steers Start-Up Nation Central’s strategy and day-to-day activities.  Before joining Start-Up Nation Central, Avi spent more than a decade as an early-stage investor at venture capital firms Gemini Israel Funds and Emerge, identifying promising startups and helping them scale. Between 2011 and 2017 Avi served as Chief Scientist at Israel's Ministry of Economy and Industry and as the Founding Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA), a key government driver of Israel’s tech explosion over the past decade. In addition to sitting on the board of Tower Semiconductor (which Intel recently announced it would be acquiring), nowadays he shares his deep knowledge of the Israeli innovation ecosystem as a board member of organizations such as Sheba Medical Center and SpaceIL. Avi completed his B.A. in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies and his MBA at Tel Aviv University.

Carly Maisel is the Global CEO of the Kirsh Foundation. The Foundation works to build a better society by lifting people up, helping them to be self-sufficient and building culturally rich and tolerant communities. Notable initiatives include Shine A Light, raising awareness about antisemitism in the United States and Canada; increasing access to solar power and clean water in sub-Saharan Africa; microfinance programs in Israel; and bridge-building efforts to bring together partners across cultures and geographies.

Carly has served as a trusted senior advisor to global leaders in philanthropy, business, governance and advocacy. Prior to joining Kirsh Philanthropies, Carly served as Director of Communications and Philanthropy at the Tamares Group; Head of Communications at Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM); and Public Affairs Advisor to Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor at the Israeli Embassy in the UK.

Carly serves on the Advisory Board of the Community Security Service (CSS) which focuses on efforts to strengthen the security of the Jewish Community in America; on the Board of Israel- based start-up Dreame; and as co-chair of the Advisors’ Committee for UJIA’s Social Impact Investment Initiative (Si3).

Carly is a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development and holds a BA in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.