Bio

Noa Asher is the CEO of NTT Innovation Laboratory Israel which serves as a focal point to all 982 subsidaries of NTT Group in Israel , aiming to build and strengthen the relationship between the Israeli innovation ecosystem and NTT Group. Previously Noa served as the Economic Minister - Head of Economic and Trade Mission at the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo from September 2014 to August 2020. As such she was responsible for initiating and maintaining trade relationships between Israel and Japan. Including the establishment of new bilateral government platforms which support the joint collaboration, serving as the focal point for hundreds of Israeli startups for their initial steps in the Japanese market and helping Japanese corporations scout for advanced technologies and locate opportunities in Israel. Before moving to Tokyo, Noa was the Head of the International Support and Finance Department, at the Foreign Trade Administration of the Israeli Ministry of Economy heading governmental support funds and programs created in order to assist Israeli companies in penetrating International markets. Between 2006-2010, Noa served as Israel's Economic Consul to the US Midwest where she focused on initiating collaboration opportunities between Israeli and American companies especially in the Life Science and Cleantech sectors. Previously, Noa served as the Chief of Staff for the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Economy. She joined the ministry in 2002, serving as a Foreign Trade Officer within the Asia Pacific Division of the Foreign Trade Administration. Prior to entering government service, Noa was a legal advisor to an Israeli group of start-up technology companies. Noa holds an MPA from John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, an MBA from Tel Aviv University and an LLB degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.