CEO, Merage Foundation, Israel
Nicole Hod Stroh is an experienced leader in international development, social impact, and venture philanthropy, with a career spanning the U.S., Latin America, and Israel. Since 2019, she has served as Executive Director of the Merage Foundation Israel, where she drives transformative programs in Negev development and innovation. Among other achievements, she is the co-founder and chair of the DeserTech Innovation Center, positioning the Negev as a global hub for climate and desert innovation; the Negev Desert Wine Program, an agritourism engine with more than 53 wineries and vineyards; and Synergy7, Beer Sheva’s leading innovation hub under the Israel Innovation Authority. Nicole began her career at the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) in New York, later advancing international development initiatives in Bogotá, Colombia. A Wexner Israel Fellow, Nicole holds a BA in Political Science from NYU and a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School