Oxford Israel alumni group to host diplomats, investors and academics in Herzliya

The Oxford Israel Alumni Society and Reichman University’s Raphael Recanati International School will bring together diplomats, academics and business leaders in Herzliya on 22 October 2026. The event highlights Israel’s research, technology and entrepreneurship ties abroad as more than 200 people have already registered.

Why it matters: - The gathering is designed to keep diplomatic, business and academic ties open at a time when many of Israel’s international relationships are under strain. - The event spotlights the parts of Israel’s global value proposition that still draw partners: research, technology and entrepreneurship. - More than 200 people have registered, including senior executives from Israel’s technology, investment and corporate sectors.

What happened: - The Oxford Israel Alumni Society and Reichman University’s Raphael Recanati International School will co-host Innovation Across Borders: Diplomats, Academics and Business Leaders in Conversation on Thursday 22 October 2026. - The event will take place on Reichman University’s campus in Herzliya, Israel. - Senior diplomats from the United Kingdom, Kenya, Singapore and Switzerland will join Israeli academics, investors and innovation leaders. - The event is held in collaboration with the British Embassy in Israel, the Embassy of Switzerland in Israel, the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore, and the Embassy of Kenya in Tel Aviv.

The details: - The evening opens with welcome remarks from Oxford Israel Alumni Society co-chairs Adv. Simon Kotlerman and Dr. Aviv Yehezkel. - Jonathan Davis, Vice President of Reichman University and Head of the Raphael Recanati International School, will also deliver remarks. - Dr. Tamar Yogev, Head of the Entrepreneurship-Economics with Data Science Track at the Adelson School of Entrepreneurship, is also scheduled to speak. - The diplomatic perspectives session will feature Helen Twist OBE of the British Embassy in Israel. - The diplomatic panel will also include H.E. Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Albert Kendagor, Ambassador of Kenya to Israel. - Nicholas Tan, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore, will participate in the diplomatic discussion. - David Biegeleisen, Innovation Advisor at the Embassy of Switzerland in Israel, will also take part. - The closing panel, Business Leaders Going Global, will be moderated by journalist and TV presenter Dror Globerman. - Panelists include Prof. Yaron Wolfsthal, Partner at ICI Fund and founder of IBM’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Israel. - Shlomi Kofman, VP and Head of International Collaborations at the Israel Innovation Authority, will join the business panel. - Miriam Shtilman Lavsovski, Partner at Tal Ventures and Israel’s representative to the European Quantum Flagship’s Quantum Community Network, is also on the panel. - Dean Shahar, Managing Director and Head of Israel at DTCP, will participate; DTCP has $3 billion under management and Shahar serves on the boards of Zenity and Anecdotes. - The evening will end with networking among diplomats, academics, investors and executives. - Event hours are 17:30 to 20:30.

Between the lines: - The organisers are building a neutral forum for people-to-people diplomacy, not just formal government contact. - The speaker mix signals a focus on practical collaboration across research, capital and policy. - The Oxford Israel Alumni Society has used its network to position itself between diplomacy, business and academia since its launch in March 2024. - The society says it has grown to nearly 300 members, many of them senior figures in Israeli society. - Past speakers have included former Israeli Ambassadors Mark Regev and Akiva Tor, former special envoy for innovation Fleur Hassan-Nahoum and Microsoft Chief Scientist Tomer Simon. - British Ambassador Simon Walters hosted the society’s launch at his residence in March 2024.

What’s next: - Media wishing to attend are being asked to contact the organisers. - The event will serve as another test of the society’s ability to keep convening international leaders around Israel’s innovation economy.

The bottom line: - Oxford Israel Alumni Society is betting that shared work in innovation can keep cross-border ties alive even when geopolitics get harder to manage.