Danny Hakim, a two-time world Karate silver medalist and philanthropist, is the Founder and Chairman of Budo for Peace, an educational NGO which uses traditional martial arts to connect, empower and mobilize diverse communities.

Since his Aliya in 2003, Danny has actively worked to promote a shared society for all of Israel’s citizens. Budo for Peace is a translation of this vision. Using the universal language of sport, Budo for Peace strives to create a society in which socially constructed rivals can conquer their cultural, social and political differences. In 2018, Budo for Peace was awarded the Regional NGO of the Year by the Prince of Monaco’s organization Peace and Sport.

Danny’s belief in social change is also evident in his interest in and talent for film-making. His international award-winning documentary, Shadya, was endorsed by the PBS network for their educational women’s empowerment series.

Danny has represented Australia, Israel, and Japan in several international Karate competitions and was inducted in the Maccabi Australia Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

He serves on the Board of ALLMEP (Alliance of Middle East Peace) – an alliance of 110 NGOs promoting people-to-people cooperation and shared society in the Middle East and has served as the Chairman of Kids Kicking Cancer Israel. Danny is also a Board Member of Maccabi World Union and Psik Theatre in Jerusalem.

He holds a B.Sc. in Biotechnology from the University of New South Wales, Sydney and a Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Swinburne University, Melbourne.

Danny made Aliyah from Australia in 2003.