this one is going to be a bit special.
Ira is a new member of the party, still not approved by the forum - but you can find votes on his membership here (viewtopic.php?f=314&t=53352) and here (viewtopic.php?f=1400&t=53485).
His speech is here:
I am a very new member of the Czech Pirate Party. I have been encouraged by several members to offer myself as a candidate for the position of PP-EU board member. I firmly believe that strengthening the cross-EU ties between Pirate Parties is key to the strengthening of both our own Czech Pirate Party and the Party as a whole across Europe. I am able and prepared to contribute my time and energy to assist in this effort.
I am a Czech Citizen for about 5 years now, having originally grown up in the USA. I am appreciative of having been "adopted" by the country that my wife and I call home. I view my activities in the policy and political sectors as an opportunity to contribute to and improve our society. I hope that some of my previous work in policy and political arenas, particularly relating to clean technology and sustainable development, can be of value.
I look forward to receiving questions about my candidacy, and to your support!
My biographical information follows below:
Ira Saul Rubenstein
Ira Saul Rubenstein is Mentor - Technology Transfer at Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU). He provides senior expert support for development of new approaches to help create and implement a more effective, efficient and internationally competitive system of technology transfer at CTU.
Mr. Rubenstein, as a private initiative, has also initiated and is helping to found The Innovation SPOT at Pragovka, intended to be the largest co-creation facility for entrepreneurial companies in Central Europe, through his role as Senior Advisor – Business Development & Capital Formation at Pipette & Chart, s.r.o.
Mr. Rubenstein is also Senior Advisor – International Business at Traficon Advisors s.r.o. in Prague. He specializes in Alternative Energy & Clean Technology (AE&CT) matters and has advised and helped to finance AE&CT companies and projects for over 30 years. Business opportunities and client needs have taken him to more than two dozen countries on 4 continents.
Mr. Rubenstein also is Senior Investment Banker at Starlight Investments LLC, an investment bank based in Berkeley, California. He previously was Senior Advisor in the AE&CT investment banking practice at Avalon Group, Ltd., and Managing Director in the AE&CT investment banking practices at both Bradley Woods & Co. Ltd., and Spencer Clarke LLC., all based in New York. He holds FINRA Series 7, 63 and 79 securities licenses in the United States.
Mr. Rubenstein has also been an AE&CT industry entrepreneur, helping to found several firms.
Mr. Rubenstein has also helped found several business-related non-profit organizations (with others in the developmental pipeline):
- Czech Green Building Council (founding Chairman and Treasurer),
- Slovak Green Building Council (convener of organizational meeting),
- Business Incubator Association of New York State, Inc. (incorporator).
- Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership, Inc. (Chairman), and
- Environmental Business Association of New York State, Inc. (co-founder and Executive Director).
He also served as Vice Chairman of the European-Ukrainian Energy Agency, a Ukrainian NGO.
Mr. Rubenstein began his work life in the mid-1970's as a public servant and worked for nearly a decade for the Legislature of the US state of New York and two of the state's executive departments.
Mr. Rubenstein is married to Lenka Studnickova Rubenstein; the Rubensteins reside in Vrane nad Vltavou in Stredocesky Kraj. He is a citizen of both the Czech Republic and the United States.
I am a Czech Citizen for about 5 years now, having originally grown up in the USA. I am appreciative of having been "adopted" by the country that my wife and I call home. I view my activities in the policy and political sectors as an opportunity to contribute to and improve our society. I hope that some of my previous work in policy and political arenas, particularly relating to clean technology and sustainable development, can be of value.
I look forward to receiving questions about my candidacy, and to your support!
My biographical information follows below:
Ira Saul Rubenstein
Ira Saul Rubenstein is Mentor - Technology Transfer at Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU). He provides senior expert support for development of new approaches to help create and implement a more effective, efficient and internationally competitive system of technology transfer at CTU.
Mr. Rubenstein, as a private initiative, has also initiated and is helping to found The Innovation SPOT at Pragovka, intended to be the largest co-creation facility for entrepreneurial companies in Central Europe, through his role as Senior Advisor – Business Development & Capital Formation at Pipette & Chart, s.r.o.
Mr. Rubenstein is also Senior Advisor – International Business at Traficon Advisors s.r.o. in Prague. He specializes in Alternative Energy & Clean Technology (AE&CT) matters and has advised and helped to finance AE&CT companies and projects for over 30 years. Business opportunities and client needs have taken him to more than two dozen countries on 4 continents.
Mr. Rubenstein also is Senior Investment Banker at Starlight Investments LLC, an investment bank based in Berkeley, California. He previously was Senior Advisor in the AE&CT investment banking practice at Avalon Group, Ltd., and Managing Director in the AE&CT investment banking practices at both Bradley Woods & Co. Ltd., and Spencer Clarke LLC., all based in New York. He holds FINRA Series 7, 63 and 79 securities licenses in the United States.
Mr. Rubenstein has also been an AE&CT industry entrepreneur, helping to found several firms.
Mr. Rubenstein has also helped found several business-related non-profit organizations (with others in the developmental pipeline):
- Czech Green Building Council (founding Chairman and Treasurer),
- Slovak Green Building Council (convener of organizational meeting),
- Business Incubator Association of New York State, Inc. (incorporator).
- Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership, Inc. (Chairman), and
- Environmental Business Association of New York State, Inc. (co-founder and Executive Director).
He also served as Vice Chairman of the European-Ukrainian Energy Agency, a Ukrainian NGO.
Mr. Rubenstein began his work life in the mid-1970's as a public servant and worked for nearly a decade for the Legislature of the US state of New York and two of the state's executive departments.
Mr. Rubenstein is married to Lenka Studnickova Rubenstein; the Rubensteins reside in Vrane nad Vltavou in Stredocesky Kraj. He is a citizen of both the Czech Republic and the United States.
I hope @ira.rubenstein will follow up on any questions you will have for him!