IBCC & Innovation Leadership Team

Leadership grounded in real-world practice, global networks, and execution

The Israel-Britain Chamber of Commerce & Innovation is guided by a leadership team comprising senior executives from the worlds of law, banking, finance, and international strategy.

Our Board and Executive Committee bring decades of combined experience in cross-border transactions and global networking.

We are not just administrators; we are active practitioners dedicated to providing the strategic oversight and professional connections necessary to help our members navigate the complexities of the UK and Israeli markets.

Anita Leviant

President

CEO of LA Global Consulting, advising on large-scale global financial projects and cross-border investments and Co-Founder of the Centre for Arbitration and Dispute Resolution.

Ms. Leviant holds an LL.B degree from Tel Aviv University Law School and is a member of the Israeli and New York State Bars. She currently serves as a director of an NYSE-listed company, a member of its Corporate Governance Committee, and Co-Founder of the Center for Arbitration and Dispute Resolutions. Ms. Leviant is a certified mediator, Council Member of the Israel-UK Tech Council, and member of the Board of the Federation of Bi-National Chambers. Ms. Leviant held several senior positions with Hapoalim Banking Group, including EVP Deputy Head of Hapoalim Europe, Global Private Banking, and EVP General Global Counsel of the group, and served as a director in overseas subsidiaries of the Bank. Prior to that, she specialised in Corporate Law, Finance and Liquidation, and was an International Law Research Assistant to the Law School Dean at Tel Aviv University.

H.E. Simon Walters

Honorary President (2026-Present)

British Ambassador to Israel

Simon Walters serves as the British Ambassador to Israel, bringing more than two decades of diplomatic, security, and Middle East expertise to the role. Appointed in 2023, he previously held senior leadership positions within the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, including Director for National Security for the Middle East and Africa. Over the course of his diplomatic career, he has served in Israel, Jerusalem, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, and Turkey, developing deep regional knowledge and long-standing relationships across government, business, and international affairs. A graduate of the University of Oxford in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE), Simon is recognized for his strategic leadership, commitment to regional cooperation, and strong focus on innovation, economic partnerships, and international collaboration. Prior to assuming his ambassadorial role, he completed intensive Hebrew language training and has been actively engaged in strengthening UK-Israel ties across diplomacy, technology, trade, research, and entrepreneurship.

Sidney Lyons

Treasurer

Manager, International Private Banking – Mizrachi Tefahot Bank

Sidney was born and raised in London before making Aliyah as a teenager. He completed his high school education in Israel before serving as a First Sergeant in the Nahal Paratroopers Battalion, where he continued active reserve duty for approximately twenty years. Sidney holds a BA in Agricultural Economics and Management from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Following the completion of his studies, Sidney spent several months travelling in the Far East and Australia, during which time he worked for Coles Myer in Melbourne, Australia. Sidney joined Mizrachi Tefahot Bank in 1991 and has held a number of positions within the Bank’s branch network, International Activities division, and Private Banking division. He currently serves as Section Manager at the International Private Banking Centre in Jerusalem. Sidney has represented IBCC on behalf of Mizrachi Tefahot Bank since 2004 and has served as Honorary Treasurer since 2006.

Yossi Kaspi

Board Member, Audit Committee

Former Senior Banker at Bank Hapoalim

Mr. Kaspi is a retired banker from Bank Hapoalim B.M. with over 40 years of experience across Global Private Banking, International Markets, Commercial Credit, International Trade, domestic investments, and housing mortgages. He concluded his banking career as Manager of Mortgages for Non-Residents, S.V.P. and Senior Mortgage Coordinator, following senior management roles in Israel, Canada, and the UK. His professional training includes courses in International Private Banking, Credit Analysis, International Banking, Commercial Credit Analysis, Credit Decisions, Mortgages, and Advanced Senior Management. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Biological Sciences, Pre-Dental Program, from McGill University. Mr. Kaspi supports fundraising for Akim Israel, a voluntary association dedicated to the welfare and development of people with intellectual disabilities, and has been actively involved in Jewish community life in Montreal and Manchester. He is married and has three children.

Yoav Aboulafia

Board Member & Audit Committee Membe

Founder and Managing Partner of Aboulafia, Avital, Shrensky & Partners Accounting Firm

Yoav Aboulafia is the founder and managing partner of Aboulafia Avital Shrensky & Co., a leading Israeli CPA firm with offices in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and a team of more than 60 accountants and tax specialists. The firm is a member of PrimeGlobal, one of the world’s largest associations of independent accounting firms. Mr. Aboulafia holds a BA in Accounting and Economics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was formerly an audit partner at Deloitte Israel. He has been a member of the Israeli Institute of Certified Public Accountants since 1987 and serves on the Jerusalem branch committee.

Doron Shalit

Board Member & Healthcare Committee Member

Managing Director, Bayer Israel

Doron Shalit is an experienced healthcare and life sciences executive with a strong background in commercial leadership, innovation and organisational development. He currently serves as General Manager and Managing Director at Bayer Israel, following senior leadership roles at CSL Behring, GSK and Eli Lilly and Company. Doron combines deep scientific understanding with extensive experience in multinational environments, stakeholder engagement, market growth and healthcare ecosystem development. He is passionate about advancing medical innovation and strengthening Israel’s healthcare and life sciences sector.

Michael Horesh

Board Member

Business Mentor and Growth Strategist, Co-Founder of the 172 Group.

Michael works across the full breadth of Israel’s business landscape, from technology start-ups and defence to retail and professional services. Over more than three decades, he has mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs, invested tens of millions into Jerusalem’s biotech sector, and helped Israeli businesses forge partnerships with Fortune 500 companies. He bridges Israeli and international business cultures with rare fluency. A proud member of the IBCCI for more than three decades, Michael is also an avid supporter of fine Scottish single malts.

Michael Outmezguine

Board Member

Board Member & Representative of the Chambers in London, UK

Founder of WCIB UK, an operational real estate investment firm. Michael Outmezguine is a real estate investor with more than 18 years of experience in the UK market, with the last seven years focused on operational real estate and real-estate-backed platforms. He founded WhiteCity Investments in 2008 and has since advised on, structured and executed transactions across multiple asset classes. Michael also co-founded and led a UK care home group, serving as Managing Director for four years and overseeing multi-site operations, growth and performance across the platform. He is currently focused on cross-border opportunities between the UK and Israel through WCIB and has been involved with the Chambers for more than a decade. Michael holds a B.A. in Government and Diplomacy, with a major in Strategy, from Reichman University.

Paz Itzhaki-Weinberger, Esq.

Board Member & Cyber Committee

Cyber Security Expert and investor, Consultant to the European Commission,
Managing Partner of PIW Law

Adv. Paz Itzhaki-Weinberger is a lawyer, technology entrepreneur and international business adviser with extensive experience across law, technology, innovation and cross-border commercial activity. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of PIWLAW International Law Firm, where he advises Israeli and international corporations, investors, entrepreneurs, law firms and private clients on insolvency, commercial litigation, foreign law opinions, dispute resolution, hi-tech and capital raising, international investments, and private international law. Alongside his legal practice, Paz has a strong technology background, including senior roles at Gteko and Microsoft, as well as entrepreneurial ventures in software, cyber security, information security and intellectual property. He also serves as an expert and consultant to the European Commission in connection with EU research and innovation programmes, including Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. Paz has been a Board Member of the Israel-Britain Chamber of Commerce since 2004, supporting the Chamber’s mission to strengthen business, trade and investment relations between Israel and the United Kingdom.

Ilan Beck

Board Member

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aon Israel Ltd., one of Israel’s leading insurance brokerage and risk management firms and part of the global Aon network.

With decades of leadership experience in the insurance and financial services sectors, Ilan has played a central role in expanding Aon Israel’s presence and strengthening its position in the Israeli and international markets. Under his leadership, the company has developed extensive expertise across corporate insurance, risk management, employee benefits and international business solutions. Prior to leading Aon Israel, Ilan co-founded the Fredy & Ilan Beck Insurance Agency, which later became part of Aon’s global operations in Israel. He is widely recognised for his contribution to the Israeli insurance industry and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Aon in recognition of his longstanding impact and leadership. Ilan holds a BSc in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and an MBA in Marketing from Tel Aviv University.