A 35-year Israeli diplomacy veteran, Ambassador Yehuda Yaakov has directed the Foreign Ministry's Social Impact Policy unit since launching it in 2019. Previously, he served as Consul General in Boston after receiving the Director General's Award as part of the "Iran Team"; in 2001 he laid the foundations for the "Startup Nation" initiative while directing the New York Consulate's public diplomacy unit. Yaakov has also served as board member of Israeli non-profits promoting Ethiopian excellence and Jewish pluralism. Raised in a NYC housing project, he began his career reporting about social justice issues. Active on LinkedIn and "X" (@YehudaYa).