Board of Directors
Over 45 years of experience in conducting geological surveys. Previously served as director of the Geological Survey of Israel and in various positions in the Ministry of National Infrastructure. Established and managed the Oil Supervisor Unit, served as the Mining and Oil Commissioner and was the Head of the Natural Resources Administration. Yaakov holds an M.Sc. in Geology from the Hebrew University and in Structural Geology from the University of London, and a Ph.D. from the University of Leeds, England.
Founding partner, directing Northwood’s activities in Israel for over 10 years. Extensive experience in managing projects in the energy field. He managed and executed multi-national large-scale humanitarian projects in the Middle East, with a background in marketing and management in the field of international shipping and logistics.
Certified Attorney at Law in Australia (1998), Partner at the Cappello Rowe Lawyers, Australia, with extensive experience in the field of natural resources accompanying the business activities of the Casella Family Brands. Holds an LL.B. in Law and a B.A. in Commerce from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and an M.A in Business and Commerce from the University of New South Wales, Australia.
Holds an M.A. in Political Science and Public Administration from Bar-Ilan University and a BA in Middle Eastern Studies and Geography from Tel Aviv University. Discharged from active service in the IDF in 1995 at the rank of brigadier general, after serving in a number of command roles, including Head of Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria and Judea, Samaria and Gaza Government Ops Deputy Coordinator. Senior member of Israeli delegations for negotiations with the Palestinians and neighboring Arab states in the fields of regional economic development, and water and environmental crisis solutions.
Served as a member of Knesset for over 20 years and as Chairman of the Economics Committee in the 20th Knesset. Studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was elected Chairman of the Student Association. Later served as assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, deputy to the Minister of Construction and Housing, and to Shimon Peres, when he served as chairman of the Labor Party. Entered the Knesset in late 1996 and served as an MK on behalf of the Labor Party almost continuously until 2019. Served as a member of almost all Knesset committees, including as the Chairman of the IDF Subcommittee on Preparedness and a member of the Intelligence Committee. He served as Labor secretary and faction chairman and even served as a minister. Over the years, he has been a partner and leader in the enactment of hundreds of laws, particularly economic and consumer laws.
Graduate of the Kellogg Recanati MBA program for senior executives in Tel Aviv University. With extensive experience in the energy market, he has served as CEO of GeoGlobal Resources Israel, and has managed an Israeli team from a number of fields for the operator of two offshore drillings. He served for 24 years as an attack helicopter pilot in the Air Force. He has vast experience the operational and command fields of the Air Force.
