Lord Stuart Polak 2026 speakers

“Born in Liverpool, where he grew up and was educated, Lord Polak spent over 25 years at Conservative Friends of Israel, latterly as Director, organising more than 150 delegations that took parliamentarians and parliamentary candidates to see Israel first-hand. He was awarded a CBE for political services in 2015 and was subsequently elevated to the House of Lords, where he now holds the position of honorary president of CFI.

Lord Polak founded the UK Abraham Accords Group and initiated European Friends of Israel, working closely with governments and partners across the Gulf and other Accords countries to build on and expand the normalisation agreements.

Lord Polak has built a long-standing relationship with Somaliland, having visited the country many times over the years and raised its case repeatedly in Parliament — including in the House of Lords debate on the Horn of Africa and in questions pressing His Majesty’s Government to recognise Somaliland’s stability and democratic record. Most recently, he has been closely engaged in the diplomatic effort that culminated in the opening of Somaliland’s embassy.”