Sagi Elster is the Program Director of Smart Cities New York, where he works to convene relevant global leaders to share best practices to promote public-private partnerships and investments in physical and digital infrastructure. Sagi is responsible for showcasing key emerging trends and technologies to address pressing urban issues with a particular focus on mobility, sustainability, and citizen engagement.
Prior to joining Smart Cities New York, Sagi was a Fox International Fellow at Yale University, where his research focused on Collective Intelligence, Urban Public Policy, and Innovations in Governance. Following his fellowship, he worked with Yale colleagues to develop a Smart Cities software platform funded by the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute and the State of Connecticut.
In his native Israel, Sagi co-founded and managed several leading NGOs aimed at promoting under-served communities in urban environments. He also held a variety of roles in the Israeli army, serving as a non-commissioned officer at the Israel Defense Forces.
Sagi served as a speaker at various international conferences and holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor’s degree from Tel Aviv University.