Yael Engelhart
Tel Aviv
Summary
Architect and planning manager with 15+ years’ experience in design, project leadership, and operations. Leading the post-October 7 rehabilitation of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak and co-founded the Ogen Foundation, supporting ~15 communities. Skilled in strategic planning, team management, and community projects, with a wide perspective in overseeing complex processes. Active in Hi Tech ecosystem as an investor with Neome investment group (seed and pre-seed).
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Planning & Lead Architect
Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak
2023 - Current
- Leading rehabilitation after October 7, managing ~10 planning teams for educational facilities, community centers, and landscapes. Coordinating with community leadership, ministries, NGOs, and donors, while overseeing a ~NIS 50M rehabilitation strategy.
Co-Founder
The Ogen Foundation
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Partnered with ~15 communities in the first year of the war, building operational frameworks and planning systems for resilience.
Architect & Product Marketing
Swapp
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Shaped product strategy with executive leadership, developed concepts, led design teams, and founded the Architecture Disruption Society on AI, sustainability, and design.
Lead Architect
Dannah Leitersdorf
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Directed design for Azrieli Group’s Har Zion Hotel, Jerusalem.
Lead Project Architect
Skorka Architects
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Managed large-scale projects including Mellanox–Nvidia Campus and the Israel Air Force Museum.
Professional Photographer
01.2005 - 01.2018
- Specialized in architectural and cultural documentation (Haaretz, international media, high-tech).
Architect
Yoav Messer Architects
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Concept design, feasibility studies, and 3D visualization.
Education
M.Sc. - Digital Architecture & Computation
Technion
01-2020
B.Arch. - Architecture
Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design
01-2014
B.A. - Art History & Humanities
Tel Aviv University
01-2007
Skills
- Project Management, Strategic Planning, Community Rehabilitation, Design Systems, Team Leadership, Digital Workflows (AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, Adobe Suite)
Citizenship
Israeli, German
Languages
Languages: Hebrew (native), English (professional), German & French (basic)
Timeline
Co-Founder
The Ogen Foundation
01.2023 - 01.2024
Architect & Product Marketing
Swapp
01.2021 - 01.2023
Lead Architect
Dannah Leitersdorf
01.2020 - 01.2021
Lead Project Architect
Skorka Architects
01.2016 - 01.2019
Architect
Yoav Messer Architects
01.2015 - 01.2016
Professional Photographer
01.2005 - 01.2018
Head of Planning & Lead Architect
Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak
2023 - Current
M.Sc. - Digital Architecture & Computation
Technion
B.Arch. - Architecture
Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design
B.A. - Art History & Humanities
Tel Aviv University