Managing Director, Government Relations, JFNA Israel
Dani Wassner was born and educated in Sydney, Australia where he was an active member of the Jewish community, serving frequently as a lecturer and communal spokesperson on issues related to Israel and the Jewish People.
With degrees in political science, history and law, Dani moved to Israel in 1995. He has since worked in Israeli legal practice, and later led the effort to encourage foreign businesses to invest in Israeli companies at the country’s Ministry of Industry and Trade. Dani then worked for seven years as a senior account executive at the Jerusalem offices of Ruder Finn Inc., one of the world’s largest public relations firms, where he led the company’s Jewish World Department.
Since 2008, Dani has served as the director of Israeli government relations and communications in the Israel and Global Jewry Department of Jewish Federations of North America. In this role, he represents the North American Jewish community to the government of Israel as well as the country’s media and other opinion leaders. Dani sits on the Knesset’s Diaspora Affairs Committee, interacts frequently with Israel’s leaders and has a broad behind the scenes, insider’s knowledge of the Israeli political scene.
Dani, who also served as a reserve soldier in the Israel Defense Force’s Spokespersons Unit, lives in the city of Bet Shemesh with his wife and four children.