Biography

Yehudah Paz

Dr. Yehudah Paz is the chairperson of the Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development (NISPED), a center for education, training and project development in societies undergoing fundamental processes of transformation. He has served the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) as chairperson of the Human Resource Development Committee since 1995, as a member of the Board from 1995-2005 and as a member of the ICA Standing Committee of the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, he is Chairperson of the Department of International Relations of the Central Union of Co-operative Societies in Israel and academic director of the Co-operative College. Dr. Paz is also a member of Kibbutz Kissufim (since 1951), of the secretariat of the United Kibbutz Movement and of the Presidium of the Israeli Co-operative Council and Senior consultant to the Peres Peace Center. 

Dr. Paz also promotes peace and development in the Middle East by working closely with co-operative leaders of Palestine to advance the growth of co-operative enterprises in that country. Dr. Paz was jointly awarded the ICA's 2005 Rochdale Pioneer Award at the Cartagena General Assembly. He and Dr Ian MacPherson are currently working together to write a book on peace and co-operatives. The book makes the case for how the co-operative model can be used more effectively and deliberately in communities torn by strife or enduring ancient differences.