Netta Benari, Head of Business Development & Innovation at Bazan Group, spoke about women, innovation, and Israel’s energy landscape at The Jerusalem Post’s Women Leaders Summit 2026 in a conversation with Jerusalem Post editor for Defense & Tech, Anna Ahronheim.
When asked initially on the presence of women in the traditionally male-dominated industrial sector, Benari was emphatic: “We have a lot of women in leading positions, in operational roles, a lot of engineers. One wouldn't imagine such industrial work having such a huge presence of women in leadership.
The most important thing is professionalism, dedication, and the ability to stand out, be a leader, and take responsibility.” She added, “Women are crucial in every part of our departments; management, field operations, and beyond.” Bazan, one of Israel’s top energy and industrial companies, plays a vital role in the country’s energy infrastructure. “We supply two-thirds of the fuel in Israel. For some products, we are the sole producer. The market’s dependency on our facility is very high,” Benari said.
As she noted Bazan’s resilience during crises, Benari explained, “Even when ships were unwilling to dock, our fleet ensured that crude oil and fuel continued to arrive. Our responsibility to maintain energy supply, both for the IDF and civilians, is something we take very seriously.” Innovation, she stressed, is central to Bazan’s strategy. “It touches almost every aspect of what we do, from operational efficiency, preventive maintenance, bottom-line optimization, and knowledge preservation. We use advanced AI tools to capture expertise from employees with thirty or fourty years of experience.”
Benari also described an app-based internal initiative to promote security awareness among more than a thousand employees: “We create competition and engagement to incentivize responsibility and attention to detail. We’re the main partner for testing new fuels, polymers, hydrogen, and carbon solutions,” Benari said. “We work on sustainable aviation fuel with Boeing and the Technion, green hydrogen, and other innovative products, all while maintaining the infrastructure that supports daily life in Israel.” For Benari, the mission is clear: “We are committed to supporting Israel’s energy future while fostering a culture where women lead, innovate, and excel at every level.”
Written in collaboration with the Bazan Group