Baltic Regional Investment Forum

Foundation for Support of Entrepreneurship and Industry of the Leningrad region, a microcredit company

Director of the Fund

Graduated from St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance in 2006 with a degree in investment and innovation management

During the leadership of the financial direction of the Fund, the loan portfolio of concessional state microloans for business development has increased from 300 to 700 million rubles, and the active portfolio of guarantees from 3 to 5 billion rubles. Leader of the project for the creation of a regional Industrial Development Fund. Aggregate experience in investment consulting - 15 years. Implemented investment projects for Rosneft, Millhouse, Kirov factory.

"Rocksoft" LLC

CEO

He has two higher educations (technical, economic): St. Petersburg University of Telecommunications named after Prof. M.A. Bonch-Bruevich, Economics and management at the enterprise (Specialization "Electronic business"), Automation of technological processes and productions.

More than 10 years of experience in project management. More than 20 projects have been implemented. The ideologist of creating a platform to support small and medium-sized businesses msponline.ru . The creator of a hardware and software complex for organizing automatic issuance of documents for clients of the MFC of the Russian Federation using an automated terminal (the project is scaled at the level of Russia, approved by MV Mishustin in the concept of Availability of the MFC 24/7). Creator of various successful projects to support and develop SMB (navigators of support measures for SMB, digitalization of manufacturing enterprises under the labor productivity program, accessible Internet for self-employed and individual entrepreneurs) and investment attractiveness of regions (creation of an investor's personal account in the Leningrad region). He was awarded with honorary diploma of the Minister of Digital Development NA Nikiforov for merits in the development of communications, information technology and mass communications, many years of fruitful work.

Industrial park M10

CEO

St. Petersburg State University, economist-mathematician, Ph.D. Additional education programs at Manchester Business School, Skolkovo Business School, Stanford University

Since 2003 has been the head of companies implementing investment projects and attracting investors to create technology parks, production, warehouse and logistics facilities in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, including the M10 Industrial Park, a project for the integrated development of territories with an area of more than 750 hectares on the border of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region (Tosnensky district) adjacent to the federal highways St. Petersburg - Moscow M-10 and M-11. Among the implemented projects are attracting the largest Scandinavian company Technopolis to Russia (creating infrastructure for IT companies), construction of logistics complexes of JSC Thunder/Magnet, PJSC Lenta and others with a total area of more than 250,000 m2 and the volume of attracted investments of more than 15 billion rubles, attracting small and medium–sized businesses (more than 70 companies). The enterprises of the M10 Industrial Park have created more than 6000 jobs for residents of the Leningrad Region.

Thermex corporation

Head of Corporate Communications

Higher education, Saint Petersburg State University

Within 15 years - the specialist in integrated corporate communications, today he also manages government relations at Thermex Corporation, the largest manufacturer of water heaters in Russia.
He has experience of participating in the work of intergovernmental commissions in the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
As part of Russian delegations - the participant in the largest Russian and international business and congress and exhibition events.
Participant and speaker of BRIEF'20 and BRIEF'21.
Since 2007, Thermex brand has been the undisputed leader of the water heating market in Russia.

Kept JSC (formerly KPMG)

Partner, Head of Tax & Legal Advisory, NW Region

Specialist Degree in Economics (graduated with honours), St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance

Alisa joined the Company in 1999. She leads regional development of tax practice in Russia, as well as heads the Tax & Legal, North-West Regional Centre. She has over 22 years’ tax consulting experience, and provides services to both Russian and international clients in various economic areas. Alisa has advised on tax various measures of state support, including RIP, SPIC, Agreements on Protection and Stimulation of capital investments (SZPK), concessions in various Russian regions, special economic zones, and Priority Social and Economic Development Areas (PSEDA). She is an executive committee member of American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, as well as chairs Tax Committee of Amcham chapter in Russia. Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCCA), ACCA, Independent director, Independent Association of Directors. Alisa’s experience also includes:
― Tax structuring and deoffshorization
― Transfer pricing
― Advising Russian and international entities on Russian and international tax laws

Russian Export Center

Managing Director, Saint-Petersburg office

High education, PhD in Economics

Expert in international relations, trade and corporate finance, banking with more than 19 years of professional experience.

The Agency for Strategic Initiatives

Director of the division «Development of Regions and investments»

Specialty in the field of "State and Municipal Management", Faculty of Management of the Institute of Economics and Business of Ulyanovsk State University

Alexander Smekalin was born on March 25, 1980 in the city of Sengiley, Ulyanovsk region. In 2002, he graduated with honors from the Faculty of Management of the Institute of Economics and Business of Ulyanovsk State University ("State municipal Administration"). From 2002 to 2010, he worked his way up from chief Specialist to Director of the Investment Department of the Ministry of Economy of the Ulyanovsk region. Since May 2010 - Director of the Department of Modernization and Development of the Regional Economy of the Government of the Ulyanovsk region. On November 2, 2011, he was appointed Minister of Strategic Development and Innovation of the Ulyanovsk Region. Since 2013, he has held the position of First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Ulyanovsk region. Since December 1, 2016 - Chairman of the Government of the Ulyanovsk region. He supervised the second largest and most important city in the Ulyanovsk region - Dimitrovgrad. Since September 2021, he has been appointed Director of Regional Development of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives.

Rosseti Lenenergo

Acting Deputy Director General for Development and Technological Connection

2003 - Moscow Power Engineering Institute, Bachelor of Engineering and Technology, speciality: "Power Engineering".
2005 - Moscow Power Engineering Institute, Engineer, speciality: "Relay protection and automation of electric power systems".
2006 - International Independent Ecological and Political University, Economist, speciality: Finance and Credit.

2009 - 2015 - Director of the Technological Connection Department, MOESK.
2015 - 2018 - Head of the Department of Technological Connection Engineering Support at the MKS-branch, MOESK.
2018 - 2022 - Director of Technological Connection, Rosseti Lenenergo
Since June 2022 - Acting Deputy Director General for Development and Technological connection, Rosseti Lenenergo.
Member of the Headquarters for Improving Business Conditions under the Governor of Saint Petersburg administration.
Commended by the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation.

Teremok Group

CEO, , co-founder

Graduated from St. Petersburg State University, Faculty of Sociology

In 2006, won the annual award of the best managers of St. Petersburg "Golden Issue. TOP 100." In 2013, awarded the independent business award "Chef of the Year" in the category "Chef Breakthrough" for his breakthrough in national cuisine and significant network expansion. In 2018 he was awarded the Timeout Petersburg restaurant award "Boss of the Year".

MUFTY NSK LLC

CEO

In 2005 he graduated from Astrakhan State Technical University in the direction of Marine power plants. At the same time, from 2003-2006, he worked at MF Gals LLC as a ship defect engineer.

After graduating from the university in 2005, he entered the Astrakhan State Polytechnic College with a degree in «Construction and operation of gas and oil pipelines and gas and oil storages». And at the same time, from 2006 to 2011, he worked in Astrakhan in the Astrakhan Shipbuilding Production Association LLC. From 2011 to 2017 he worked in St. Petersburg at CJSC «SSRZ im. Lenin», LLС «Nevsky Ship Systems», LLC «Nevsky Shipbuilding Company». From 2017 to the present, he has been working as the General Director of LLC «MUFTY NSK».

HSE Graduate School of Business

Professor

Michael graduated from the Leningrad Technological Institute in 1986 and in 1991 from Latvian Academy of Science IWC with Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and MBA in 2000 from IONA (USA).

In 1992 Michael moved to the United States where he worked in R&D, Technology and Product Development, at Rexam and subsequently with Champion International’s Corporate Technology Group, then Champion Int. was acquired by IP in 1998 and Michael joined International Paper R&D center in Tuxedo Park, NY. In 2001 he joined Troy Chemicals as a Regional Manager for CIS & Russia. In 2005-2006 he worked at Fisher International management consulting firm, as a Vice President, Research. In 2006 he joined Emerson Process Management as a Director of their European Pulp and Paper Business. Since 2008 Michael worked with ABB in Russia and since 2014 as Vice President of Strategic Development. Since September 2020 Michael is Associated Partner with Vitus Bering Management Ltd. and Professor of Graduate School of Business, HSE University. Board Member, Chairman of the Modernization & Innovation Working Group, Association of European Businesses for two terms; established and led of Innovation group at Foreign Investment Advisory Council (FIAC, http://www.fiac.ru)

Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs

Executive Vice President

Graduated from the Russian State University for the Humanities (international economist, specialty "World Economy"), candidate of economic sciences.

Between 2001 and 2006 worked at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation (Chief Specialist, Deputy Head of Section, Head of Section of the Department for Economic Development Programs and Cooperation with International Financial Organizations, Head of the Analytical Department, Deputy Director of the Investment Policy Department). From 2006 to the present, he has been working at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. He currently holds the position of Executive Vice President of the RSPP. He is a member of the Expert Council of the Industrial Development Fund. He is a member of the Russian tripartite commission for the regulation of social and labor relations on behalf of the Commission, representing all-Russian associations of employers. Has gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation. Honored Economist of the Russian Federation.

Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), Russian Academy of Sciences

Head of Department of Science and Innovation

Dr. Ivan V. Danilin graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1999 and gained his PhD degree at IMEMO in 2002.

Primary area of specialization is innovation policies of the U.S.A. and Russia, digital economy and policies for digital transformation (U.S.A., China, Russia), analysis of long-term social and economic implications of emerging technologies. He has more than 100 research publications and more than 50 reports on international academic conferences in Russia, USA, China and other countries. Since 2018 Dr. Danilin holds position of Head of Science and Innovation Department at IMEMO. Before 2018 he worked at IMEMO as research fellow and, since 2010, as a Head of Innovation Policy Section. He is also the Associate Professor at MGIMO University and the lecturer at Higher School of Systems Engineering, National Research Institute – Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT or Fiztech). In 2010-2015 Dr. Danilin served as a part-timer at innovation departments and subsidiaries of biggest Russian power sector companies – ROSATOM (nuclear reactor manufacturing and nuclear power generation) and ROSSETI`s (transmission and distribution grids), where he was responsible for foresights and for development/actualization of the Innovation Development Programs. In 2014-2019 he was engaged in the development of the Russian National Technology Initiative (NTI), national Strategy for Science and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, Concept for the International Science and Technology Cooperation of the Russian Federation and other high-level S&T documents and programs. Currently Dr.Danilin serves on board of several expert groups of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, State Duma (lower chamber of Russian Parliament), and ROSATOM. In 2010s he was also on board of the North-West Technology Transfer Center`s Investment Committee (Russia, Leningrad Region) and an expert of the Skolkovo Foundation. Ivan V. Danilin is a member of the International Studies Association (ISA). During his professional career Dr.Danilin gained awards from Russian Foundation for the Assistance to Domestic Science and Russian Academy of Sciences, in 2016 his accomplishments were marked by a Honorary Charte from the Federal Agency of Scientific Organization of Russia (FANO, currently part of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education).

Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation

Deputy Minister

Graduated from the Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh.M.Berbekov with a degree in Economics (2000) and Jurisprudence (2002).

2000 - 2002 - Leading Specialist of the Budget Department of the Ministry of Finance of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. 2002 - 2004 - Worked his way up from Chief Specialist of the Entrepreneurship Development Department to Deputy Head of the Small Business Support Department of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. Since 2004 - Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. Since 2012 - Minister of Finance of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. Since 2014 - Head of the Department of the Federal Tax Service for the KBR. Since 2018 - First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. Since 2020 - Branch Manager - National Bank for the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic of the Southern GU of the Bank of Russia. Since 2022, he has been appointed Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-term Forecasting

Deputy General Director (Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-term Forecasting), Head of Laboratory (Institute of Economic Forecasting, Russian Academy of Sciences), Leading Researcher (Center for Fundamental Studies, HSE)

1998 – Ph.D. in Economics, Institute of Economic Forecasting, Russian Academy of Sciences/ 1994 – Degree in Economic Cybernetics, Economic department, Moscow State University

Dr. Salnikov’s activity is focused on real sector analysis / nowcasting / forecasting, impact assessment of macroeconomic and sectoral policies, providing consulting services primarily to federal government authorities and agencies; Dr. Salnikov’s research is also focused on factors of competitiveness and their measurement problems, input-output model usage in policy , in-depth industrial capacities analysis, macroeconomic effects of technology diffusion. Dr. Salnikov has taken charge of more than 40 research and consulting projects and has more than 40 articles (co-authored).

The Agency for Strategic Initiatives

Akim of Zhambyl region

In 1991 he graduated from the Leningrad Agricultural Institute of the Order of the Red Banner of Labor with a degree in agricultural mechanization, in 2008 he graduated from the Zhambyl Humanitarian and Technical University with a degree in economics. Candidate of Technical Sciences, Honorary Professor of the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University.

He began his career in 1988 as a technician, throughout 1989 to 1991, worked as the commandant of the educational building at the Leningrad Agricultural Institute.
1991-2008 - held various positions in the fields of agriculture, entrepreneurship of the local executive body of the Zhualinsky district of the Zhambyl region;
2008-2019 - head of department, deputy head, head of territorial departments of central state bodies and local executive bodies of the Zhambyl region;
2019-2022 - akim of Bayzak district, deputy akim of Zhambyl region;
From April 2022 to the present - Akim of the Zhambyl region.

The Agency for Strategic Initiatives

Director of the division «Development of Regions and investments»

Specialty in the field of "State and Municipal Management", Faculty of Management of the Institute of Economics and Business of Ulyanovsk State University

Alexander Smekalin was born on March 25, 1980 in the city of Sengiley, Ulyanovsk region. In 2002, he graduated with honors from the Faculty of Management of the Institute of Economics and Business of Ulyanovsk State University ("State municipal Administration"). From 2002 to 2010, he worked his way up from chief Specialist to Director of the Investment Department of the Ministry of Economy of the Ulyanovsk region. Since May 2010 - Director of the Department of Modernization and Development of the Regional Economy of the Government of the Ulyanovsk region. On November 2, 2011, he was appointed Minister of Strategic Development and Innovation of the Ulyanovsk Region. Since 2013, he has held the position of First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Ulyanovsk region. Since December 1, 2016 - Chairman of the Government of the Ulyanovsk region. He supervised the second largest and most important city in the Ulyanovsk region - Dimitrovgrad. Since September 2021, he has been appointed Director of Regional Development of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives.

Ernst & Young

Partner, Global trade and Customs Regulation Leader

Wilhelmina graduated from the Law Faculty of St. Petersburg State University having a law degree and PhD in Law.

Wilhelmina is a recognized expert in the field of state regulation, she has the extensive experience in customs administration and implementation of customs policy in relation to investment activities. Wilhelmina provides clients with support in structuring international investment projects and foreign trade transactions, including licensing relations, concession and franchise, advises on the implementation of measures aimed at reducing customs duties, as well as on tariff/ non-tariff / technical regulation, currency control issues and customs administration requirements, including categorization issues, simplifications in terms of customs declaration and exemptions from customs control. She worked for seven years in the customs authorities and has been engaged in consulting for more than 18 years. Wilhelmina is a member of the Expert Council under the Budget and Taxes Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and several working groups of the Eurasian Economic Commission. Moreover, she is an expert of the Public and Expert Advisory Councils under the Federal Customs Service. Holds the position of associate professor at St. Petersburg State University and the head of Law School in Foreign trade for post Graduates.

BRICS

Vice President

Mr. Sharan is currently a senior board member of the International Institute of Advanced Aerospace Technologies in St. Petersburg, part of the Skolkovo industrial cluster. Mr. Sharan is an inventor, who holds a patent for "Amphibious Vehicles". He has over 30 international scientific publications worldwide. He was the main driving force behind the development of various innovative startup projects, from concept development to full-scale serial production. He received the St. Petersburg Governor's Award "Best Innovative Product 2017" for the project he led and was one of the first natives of India to achieve such results in St. Petersburg. In 2019, Sukrit Sharan's innovative project, the Hybrid Amphibious Boat, was recognized as a "Top 5 Most Innovative Projects in the World." The project developed contributed to a paradigm shift in transportation, and helped save many lives around the world during natural disasters. In addition, Mr. Sharan is Vice President of the "BRICS International Forum" and leads various innovative technology initiatives with strong social impact on a global scale.