Ezra Friedman is the Chair of the International Student Young Pugwash network.
He is the Policy Adviser for the regional and security portfolio at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv (BETA), working as a local based staff member for the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of her Majesty’s Government. He serves as BETA’s subject matter expert on regional, national security and political climate change issues. As the chair of International Student Young Pugwash, Ezra facilitates, organizes and leads a diverse, broad based network of students and young professionals who engage on a plethora of topics, such as disarmament and non-proliferation, conflict resolution, regional cooperation, sustainable development, and the societal and ethical impacts of science and technology. At BETA, Ezra’s policy work directly contributes to high-level bilateral political, security and civil society engagement on a host of issues; Ezra is specifically leading on the normalisation and Eastern Mediterranean portfolios, advising on complex, security, diplomatic, environmental and energy issues.
Previously, he worked as a research assistant to Sima Shine, director of the Iran Programme at the Institute for National Security Studies, and former director of the Research and Analysis Division of the Mossad and deputy director of the National Security Council (Israel). Additionally, he was the project manager and creator of the regional portfolio for the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Jerusalem Office, managing nearly 500,000 Euros and 19 partnerships with universities, government ministries and civil society organizations.
Ezra holds degrees from IDC Herzliya (B.A.), and the London School of Economics and Political Science (MSc). He has published nearly three dozen articles across a range of academic and political risk platforms, including the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, The Jerusalem Post, Global Risk Insights, Fathom Journal, Georgetown Public Policy Review, MGIMO University, and the Institute for National Security Studies amongst others
I met thoughtful Ezra in the context of my desire to augment ISYP’s presence in the U.S. and globally. It soon became evident that our vision was simpatico, and that we could easily work together. Ezra is remarkable for his breadth of interests and knowledge, and his intelligence, energy and determination as international Chairman have already moved ISYP forward significantly. With him I was fortunate to successfully nominate a brilliant young physicist, Talia Weiss who was elected as the Board’s new member from the United States. (Link) I am privileged now to advise ISYP on its strategies.