Professional Team

Israel

Dr. Emmanuel Navon

Chief Executive Officer, ELNET-Israel,
Dr. Emmanuel Navon is a renowned scholar, practitioner of foreign affairs, and expert on Europe-Israel relations. He brings with him more than two decades of experience in management, politics, academia, and professional advocacy. Dr. Navon has taught at Tel Aviv University, Reichman University and the IDF’s National Security College. He is the author of the book The Star and the Scepter. Previously, he was a consultant for Arttic Israel, focused on securing European funding and partnerships for Israeli R&D; CEO of BNIC, a nonprofit dedicated to training business leaders on pro-Israel advocacy in Europe; and founding partner of a consulting group promoting Israeli agriculture and energy projects in Africa.

Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin

Chair of ELNET's Forum of Strategic Dialogue, ELNET-Israel
Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin served for more than a decade as Director of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). Moreover, he served 41 years in the IDF, as a member of the General Staff, Deputy Commander of the Air Force, Commander of Combat Squadrons, and Commander of Air Force Bases. During his service in the Air Force, he crossed multiple enemy lines and participated as a combat pilot in the Yom Kippur War, in addition to taking part in attacks on nuclear reactors in Iraq. Formerly an IDF attaché to the United States, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yadlin served as Head of the Defense Intelligence Directorate from 2006-2010. In 2015, he was a candidate for defense minister of the “Zionist Union.”

Pascaline Wagemans

Director of ELNET's Forum of Strategic Dialogue, ELNET-Israel
Former Deputy Director (2017 to 2022) and Project & Research Manager (2014 to 2017) at the FSD, Project & Research Coordinator at ELNET (2013 to 2014), and an evidence-based consultant (2010 to 2011) and Business Analyst (2008 to 2009) at IMS Health, a leading global information and technology services company. Ms. Wagemans holds an MA in conflict resolution and mediation from Tel Aviv University, as well as an MA and a BA in Business Engineering from Solvay Business School.

Yossi Abravanel

Deputy Director for Incoming Delegations, ELNET-Israel
Yossi Abravanel is a former entrepreneur in the fields of telecom and homeland security in Israel and beyond, with extensive experience in work vis-à-vis governments in West Africa and Israel, and as a Jewish Agency’s Aliyah representative in Paris. He holds an MBA from the University of Sorbonne and a BA from Jerusalem College of Technology.

Benjamin Touati

Deputy Director for Government Relations, ELNET-Israel
Benjamin Touati is a former representative of the Jewish Agency in Paris, political advisor of Israeli ministers and director in national institutions, including World Mizrahi Movement, with vast experience in project management in public and non-governmental sectors. He holds an MBA from the Jerusalem College of Technology and a BA in History from Paris University.

Jill Wyler

Delegations Program Manager, ELNET-Israel
Jill Wyler held various professional positions in Israel and her last position prior to joining ELNET was as the Israel representative of a Washington based independent academic organization which focused on enhancing knowledge about modern Israel at universities in the United States and around the world. At ELNET she is a Program manager within the Delegations department, which deals with dozens of ELNET parliamentarian delegations visiting Israel each year. Jill has a master's degree in International Relations, with a focus on diplomacy and foreign policy, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and German Literature.

Daniel Shadmy

Spokesperson & Communication Manager, ELNET-Israel
Daniel Shadmy has extensive experience in the field of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs. Prior to joining ELNET, Daniel held several positions at the Israeli MFA. Such as Political Adviser at Israel’s Mission to the United-Nations in New-York, Political Officer at the Embassy of Israel in London and lastly as Congressional Affairs Officer at the Embassy of Israel in Washington D.C. Daniel holds a double Major B.A. in International Relations and Chinese Studies from INALCO University in Paris and an M.A. in Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution from Reichman University in Herzliya.
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Ben Rosemblaum

Deputy Communication Manager, ELNET-Israel
Ben Rosemblaum evolved in the art field, both as a painter and a photographer. In between artistic projects, he graduated from Reichman University in Herzliya, where he specialized in Counter-Terrorism and European studies. In parallel to exhibiting his artwork worldwide, Ben was a communication manager at the “France-Israel” Foundation, later specializing in the Maghreb region while working in the private sector. Before joining ELNET, he was an educator in Mikve Israel Boarding School in Holon, and opened his own art gallery in Tel Aviv to help young artists gain recognition, by developing a program of “socially involved” art in Israel.

Genoveva Barrios

Project Manager - Innovation & Partnerships,
ELNET-Israel
Genoveva Barrios is as Project Coordinator responsible for ELNET’s innovation projects GINSUM and GIHF-AI in the Israeli office. She studied Intercultural Communication and Economics at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen and then worked in the real estate industry for several years. While focussing first on the sales and later on the asset management field, she completed a second bachelor degree in Real Estate. After moving to Israel in 2021, Genoveva Barrios was able to gain extensive experience in the Israeli high-tech and innovation scene.
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Dalmionë Shkodra

Project Manager for ELNET’s Forum of Strategic Dialogue, ELNET-Israel
Dalmionë has an extensive background in diplomacy and homeland security. Prior to joining ELNET-Israel she worked as a recruiter specialist for the International School of Reichman University. She served in the Israeli Defense Forces in the International Branch Unit. Dalmionë holds an MA in Government and Homeland Security from Reichman University, Hezliya.

Yasmin Burk

Account Manager, ELNET-Israel
Yasmin Burk is an accounting professional with experience in management and accounting in private and non-governmental sectors. She studied accounting and economics at the Open University in Tel Aviv.
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Aliya Slepkov-Dror

Logistics and Office Manager, ELNET-Israel
Aliya Slepkov-Dror has an extensive background in project management, logistics, event organizing and program development, both in the US and in Israel. She was born and raised in Jerusalem and did her army service with the IDF Intelligence Unit. Aliya recently returned to Israel after 17 years in Los Angeles where she worked as an Executive Secretary for 6 years at The Jewish Federation in Los Angeles, and 7 years as a Programs Membership and Events Administrator at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.

European Union & NATO

Matthijs Schüssler

Chief Executive Officer, ELNET-EU & NATO
Matthijs Schussler has started his career as an attorney at law dealing with private equity and real estate, at an Amsterdam based international law firm. Thereafter he worked as legal advisor and official secretary to the President and National Board of the Dutch Christian Democratic Party (CDA). For the last five years Matthijs served as senior policy advisor at the European People's Party (EPP), the largest party in the European Parliament, with a focus on international trade, aviation and the European budget. He speaks fluent Hebrew and holds an MA and BA Law degree from the University of Leiden in The Netherlands.

Dafna Friedman

Program & Project Manager, ELNET-EU & NATO
Dafna is coming from a background of communications and campaigns consulting. Formerly she worked at European Jewish association (EJA), as well as Europe Israel Public Affairs (EIPA) and European Friends of Israel (EFI), all Brussels based organizations, working closely with the European Union institutions. She holds BA in History of the Middle East studies and MA in Modern Middle Eastern studies, both from the University of Tel-Aviv.

Sharon Regev

Program & Project Manager, ELNET-EU & NATO
Sharon has a long-standing experience in Program Management at Tel-Aviv (Youth) University, where she managed educational programs for young and talented students and was in charge of Public Relations in the unit. Previously she worked as a consultant for Industrial R&D cooperation projects at the Israel Innovation Authority, in the Office of the Chief Scientist in the Ministry of Economy, specializing in the program and project management of International exhibitions and conferences. Sharon also worked as a trade officer at the Embassy of Israel in Washington DC. Sharon holds MBA, specializing in Human Resources, and BA in Political Sciences from Tel-Aviv University.

FRANCE

Dr Arié Bensemhoun

Chief Executive Officer, ELNET-France
Dr Arié Bensemhoun has been the Chief Executive Officer of ELNET France since 2011. He is dentist by profession and made his career in the private sector as a consultant in communications, PR and international relations dealing with Middle East and strategic affairs. Dr Bensemhoun plays a crucial role in the French-Israeli relationship through his commitment both at the community and political levels.

Charlotte Gribe

Deputy Director, ELNET-France
Charlotte Gribe formerly worked as a Liaison and Research Officer for the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Paris and a Communication Manager for the European Association of the Friends of the History Museum of Polish Jews. She also served as a representative of LICRA within the UN. She holds an MA in Communication Arts from the New York Institute of Technology.
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Alexis Cabello

Junior Project Coordinator,
ELNET-France
Alexis Cabello joined ELNET in 2023. Before joining the ELNET France team, Alexis dedicated his efforts to various European associations and served as an Analyst and Middle East Desk Director for a young professionals’ organization known as GorStra Research Group. He holds an MA in Political Science from the Université Gustave Eiffel and an MA in International Relations from the School of International & Political Studies in Paris, in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

GERMANY

Carsten Ovens

Chief Executive Officer, ELNET-Germany
Carsten Ovens is the Executive Director of ELNET Germany since March 2019. With almost two decades of experience in politics, i.a. as a Member of the Hamburg State Parliament, he devoted his work to the German-Israeli relations with a focus on innovation and startups for many years. Beforehand, Carsten worked in business development and management consulting throughout Europe, as a lecturer on marketing and communications at several leading universities, and as a researcher on social media communication effects on politics and society.

Janika Bratvogel

Deputy Director, ELNET-Germany
Janika Bratvogel has been working in the field of foreign and security politics in Berlin, Washington D.C., and Bonn for over a decade and has extensive experience in bringing together high-level politicians and officials. She has been Deputy Director at ELNET-Germany since its founding in 2014. Prior to that, she worked on transatlantic security issues for the German Atlantic Association in Berlin and the Hanns-Seidel Foundation in Washington D.C. Janika earned her MA degree in North American Studies, Political Science, and Anglo-American History at the Universities of Bonn, Cologne, and Oviedo, Spain.

Marius Strubenhoff

Program Manager, ELNET-Germany
Marius Strubenhoff has been involved in politics in Germany as well as the United Kingdom and has gained work experience with several German political organisations. He has particular expertise on German politics and history and specialised in the history of the Holocaust while working as a Lecturer at the University of Sheffield before joining ELNET. He has also worked with the British deradicalisation programme "Prevent" in relation to antisemitism and Holocaust denial. After reading history at the University of Cambridge and the London School of Economics and Political Science, Marius completed a PhD on Ralf Dahrendorf at Cambridge.

Lea Ledwon

Program Manager of the GIHF-AI,
ELNET-Germany
Lea Ledwon has extensive experience in the German healthcare sector. Before joinig ELNET, she was responsible for the communication work of several clinics, she managed the office of the Freundeskreis der Charité e.V. She also lived in Israel for several years and worked at the Peres Center for Peace. She has a B.A. in Government, Diplomacy and Strategy from the Reichman University IDC Herzliya and a M.A. in Peace & Conflict Management Studies from the University of Haifa. At ELNET, she is the Program Manager of the German Israeli Health Forum for Artificial Intelligence (GIHF-AI).

Elisabeth Spiegel

Team Manager, ELNET-Germany​
Elisabeth Spiegel is Team Manager at ELNET-Germany and primarily responsible for financial accounting and controlling. She acts as the central contact for all ELNET offices as well as external partners and supports the strategic development of ELNET-Germany. Previously, she worked as a Customer Success Manager at a FinTech company and for several years as an office manager as well as in human resources. She holds a double bachelor degree BA/B.Sc. in Public Administration and European Studies as well as a M.A in Administrative Sciences.

Laura Sophie Stadler

Program Manager, ELNET-Germany
Laura Sophie Stadler joined ELNET Germany in August 2022 as Program Manager responsible for the topic antisemitism. Previously, she worked as a speechwriter in the department of communication for the Federal Minister of State for Culture and the Media as well as a policy advisor for a German MP. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and Tel Aviv University, and a Master’s degree in international history from Sciences Po Paris. During her studies she specialized amongst others in Jewish history.

Sana Kisilis

Project Coordinator, ELNET-Germany​
Sana Kisilis joined ELNET-Germany in March 2023 as Project Coordinator in the area of antisemitism. Previously she was responsible for various qualification measures at the Central Welfare Board of Jews to professionalize and digitalize Jewish community work. She studied Jewish Studies, Communications and Media at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf and Religion and Culture at Humboldt University in Berlin and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
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John-William Boer

Project Coordinator, ELNET-Germany​
John-William Boer is Project Coordinator at ELNET-Germany. He focuses on foreign and security policy. Previously, he worked at the political communications agency 365 Sherpas, where he supported clients in the digital, health, and public sector. Boer also worked as a freelancer for the German magazine “International Politics”. He studied political science and economics in Lüneburg and completed a master’s degree in Politics and Contemporary History at King’s College London.

Central and Eastern Europe

Marta Kubica

Chief Executive Officer, ELNET-Poland
Marta Kubica brings 15 years of professional and academic experience in Polish-Jewish and Polish-Israel relations. She spent ten years at the Embassy of Israel in Poland, where she supported the Executive Office in liaising with state and local government officials, business, academia, churches and the Jewish community. For the past two years, Marta served as Diplomatic Protocol Specialist at the U.S. Embassy Warsaw. She served as chairwoman of the Jewish Studies students’ association and established an academic exchange program between the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and Ariel University in Israel.

Anna Miszewska

Deputy Director, ELNET-Poland​
Anna Miszewska started her professional career working in a TV station, first as a journalist, then as a news editor. Since 2009, she has been associated with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, and since 2010 with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, where she was responsible for international relations and fundraising. In 2015-2018, she was the General Director and member of the Foundation's management board. Then she took the position of director for development at the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland. She is a volunteer of the Refugees Welcome initiative, a member of the Program Council and the Audit Committee of the Congress of Women.

Joanna Olszewska

Executive Assistant & Project Manager, ELNET-Poland​
Joanna has recently returned from Switzerland where she has been working as a Global Program Manager for Hult/EF. She is a graduate of Collegium Civitas in Warsaw (BA) and the University of Haifa (MA in in diplomacy studies). Her educational background is in International Relations, Diplomacy, and Negotiations. During her studies, Joanna did an internship in the International Security Policy department of the Polish MOD. She also worked as a research assistant for CEPA (Center for European Policy Analysis). Her academic area of interest and focus was the nuclear relations between the West and East.

United Kingdom

Joan Ryan

Chief Executive Officer,
ELNET-UK
Following a successful career as a local councillor, Joan Ryan was elected as a UK Member of Parliament in 1997. In 2002 Joan Ryan was promoted to Government Whip followed by a further promotion to become the Home Office Minister responsible for Immigration and Police Improvement. In 2007 she was appointed as Special Representative to Cyprus by the Prime Minister and appointed to the Privy Council by Her Majesty the Queen. In 2015 Joan Ryan was appointed as Chair for the Labour Friends of Israel and in 2016 she was appointed by the Speaker to the House of Commons Speaker’s Panel, chairing public bills and parliamentary debates.

Aaron Cohen-Gold

Deputy Director,
ELNET-UK
Aaron Cohen-Gold joined ELNET UK as its Deputy Director in 2023. Prior to joining ELNET, Aaron worked for the UK’s most awarded PR Agency, the MHP Group, as a Government Affairs consultant, advising global businesses and government agencies. Before this, Aaron was Public Affairs Manager at the University of Cambridge and a Parliamentary aide for three Members of Parliament. Aaron has been part of the World Jewish Congress Jewish Diplomatic Corps since 2019 and a Deputy of the Board of Deputies of British Jews since 2021. In these roles he has addressed the UN Human Rights Council and other international bodies on the topics of Israel and the Israeli-Arab conflict.

Angie McEvoy

Administration and Diary Manager,
ELNET-UK
Following a successful career as a performer and writer Angie worked as a Parliamentary Assistant for former MP Rt Hon Joan Ryan, ELNET-UK’s Executive Director. Angie then worked for Labour Friends of Israel, organizing briefings, conferences and fundraising events. She has a BA(Hons) in Performing Arts from Middlesex University and an MA in Gender Studies from Birkbeck University, London.

italy

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Roberta Anati

Chief Executive Officer,
ELNET-Italy
Roberta Anati has played a key role in building the economic relations between Israel and Italy since 1992, including opening the Italian Trade Commission and serving as its Deputy Director, as well as serving as Vice President of the Israel-Italy Chamber of Commerce. She has consulted to the Italian Embassy, as well as former Head of the Crisis Unity. Roberta is an award-winning business intelligence and innovation leader who leverages emerging technologies to drive innovation and business growth for several billion-dollar family companies. She is a sought-after thought leader on emerging technology, ecosystems and building cultures between countries.
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Ludovico Seppilli

Public Affairs Manager,
ELNET-Italy
Ludovico Seppilli is an accomplished political figure and consultant. He became the youngest elected deputy in the Turin Municipal Council from 2011 to 2016. Noteworthy roles include Chief of Staff for Congressman Hon. Paolo Vitelli, Secretary of Hon. Maurizio Lupi, and Chief of Staff in the Italian Chamber of Deputies. Since 2016, he has been the minority leader in the Pino Torinese City Council. Engaging with Forza Italia Giovani, he has served as Chairman in the Piedmont Region, Forza Italia Giovani Foreign Committee Chairman, and currently holds the position of Forza Italia Giovani International Secretary. Alongside his political commitments, he works as a consultant for public and international affairs, assisting companies in Italy and foreign markets.
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Emanuela Panke

Project Manager,
ELNET-Italy
Emanuela Panke, armed with degrees in Communication Sciences and agri-food marketing, started her career in Paris, working in marketing and cultural institutions. Returning to Italy in 2001, she began freelancing in agri-food marketing and sustainable tourism consultancy. Since 2003, she's been involved in international projects across Europe, USA, India, China, and Russia. Managing the Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2007, she advises USAID on sustainable tourism in Moldova and Bosnia Herzegovina, and consults for European regional governments. Splitting her time between Italy and Israel since 2018, she collaborates with institutions like the Chamber of Commerce and Ministry of Tourism in both countries.

Friends of ELNET

David Siegel

President, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
David Siegel is former Israeli diplomat involved in foreign policy formulation at the highest levels, including as Consul General to the Southwest United States. He served as the Chief of Staff to Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Director of the Foreign Ministry’s International Organizations Department and Chief of Staff to three of Israel’s Ambassadors to the United States. He holds an MA in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a BA in political science from the University of Vermont.
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Jay Haberman

Chief Development Officer, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
Jay Haberman is the former Director of Multigenerational Philanthropy at AIPAC. For twenty years, Jay held successive leadership positions within AIPAC's New York/Northeast region. Jay's entrepreneurial spirit led him to found the AIPAC Real Estate Division, a groundbreaking initiative that transformed fundraising efforts. Jay spearheaded several divisions and affinity groups expanding the organization’s reach and impact. He holds a BA degree from Ithaca College.

Carole Mostow

Officer / Board Secretary, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
Carole Mostow is the Director of the Hochberg Family Foundation and Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Next Realty. Previously, she was the VP of Accounting for a closely held corporation and served for many years as Associate Professionalism Counsel to the American Bar Association. She is active in the Chicago Jewish Community, including as a member of the Board of Directors for StandWithUs Midwest and as Secretary to the Friends of ELNET. She holds a JD and a BA from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign.

Siamak Kordestani

West Coast Director, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
Siamak "Sia" Kordestani is the former Assistant Director of the American Jewish Committee's Los Angeles Regional Office, where he worked on international relations, legislative affairs, interethnic/interreligious ties, donor relations and leadership development. Previously, he was Senior Legislative Assistant to Congressman Brad Sherman in Washington, DC, advising him on foreign policy, trade, labor, immigration, and energy. He also worked for the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.

Sari Steinberg

Midwest Regional Director, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
Sari Steinberg is former Midwest Regional Director of Beit Halochem and Midwest Regional Coordinator of CAMERA. She has been a sought-after consultant for numerous nonprofits regionally and nationally. A Chicago native, Sari launched her professional career while living in Israel for seven years. Her academic path includes the University of Pennsylvania, The Hebrew University, Spertus Institute, and Matan, and she was a 2021 Chicago Women inPower Fellow.

Mark Sachs

Southeast Regional Director, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
Mark has been active in pro-Israel advocacy, public affairs, and international relations for decades as both an avocation and vocation. More recently, Mark worked as an AIPAC Director for almost a decade, first overseeing Atlanta and then major cities across Florida. Post-Covid, Mark served as the Sr. VP of Client Success at a global strategic communications firm where he worked with a dozen pro-Israel, Jewish communal, and Israeli organizations, in addition to co-authoring a book, The Cancel Culture Curse. Prior to joining ELNET, Mark provided strategic communications consulting to ELNET through the firm he founded. Mark has had articles published in major outlets such as JNS.org, The Hill, National Interest, and Honest Reporting.

Randi Halperin

Administrative Coordinator, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
Randi Halperin has spent much of her professional career working within the Jewish-Israeli nonprofit arena. She previously worked for several organizations, including American Society for Yad Vashem and American Friends of Magen David Adom. In addition, she served as Production Manager for a boutique direct marketing firm. Randi received a BA degree in History and Judaic Studies from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

ELNET Professional Team & Leadership: ELNET boards worldwide.