In 1986 he graduated from the Leningrad Agricultural Institute with a degree in Economics and Organisation of Agriculture. In 2007 he was awarded the degree of Candidate of Economic Sciences.
Experience and achievements:
Alexander Drozdenko has served as governor since 2012. He is in the top 10 most influential governors of Russia (APEC rating), and the region has risen to 4th place in terms of management efficiency.
Over 14 years under his leadership, the Leningrad Region:
- Leads Russia in the volume of investments in the real sector – the portfolio exceeds 6.5 trillion roubles;
- Ranks 1st in the country in housing commissioning per capita;
- The Leningrad Region is the main logistics hub of the Baltic (ports of Ust-Luga, Primorsk, Vysotsk);
- A unified "Social Code" for targeted assistance has been introduced;
- The region is a leader in supporting NGOs and in organising assistance to participants and veterans of the SMO;
- High positions in digitalisation (6th place in the RF) and the introduction of lean technologies in the social sphere;
- The programmes "Rural Doctor" and "Rural Teacher" are actively operating.
Egor Sergeevich Mishcheryakov
Vice-Governor of the Leningrad Region for Economic Development – Chairman of the Committee for Economic Development and Investment Activity of the Leningrad Region
Vice-Governor of the Leningrad Region for Economic Development – Chairman of the Committee for Economic Development and Investment Activity of the Leningrad Region
Education
In 2009 he graduated from St. Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics with a degree in Economics and Management. Candidate of Economic Sciences.
In 2019 he took advanced training courses at RANEPA under the programme "Managerial Excellence".
Experience and achievements:
In November 2025, he was appointed Vice-Governor of the Leningrad Region for Economic Development – Chairman of the Committee for Economic Development and Investment Activity. He oversees investment policy, socio-economic development, preparation of the region's delegation for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and BRIEF. He manages work to improve the investment climate within the framework of the ASI National Rating. Awarded the Certificate of Honour and has the Gratitude of the Governor of the Leningrad Region.
Roman Andreevich Chekushov
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Position:
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
Education
- In 2008 he graduated from Vladimir State University for the Humanities, specialising in "Jurisprudence";
- In 2011 he graduated from the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation.
Experience and achievements:
- Key representative of the federal executive authority responsible for state policy in domestic and foreign trade; - Oversees initiatives that help the emergence of strong Russian brands and develop various trading facilities; - Administrator of the national project "International Cooperation and Export"; - Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation, 1st class; - Honorary Worker of Trade; - Awarded the Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", II degree; - Winner of the 6th season of the "Leaders of Russia. Team" competition.
LLC "Digital Transport and Logistics Platform LOTUS"
Position:
General Director
Education
Graduated from St. Petersburg State University with degrees in "Political Science" and "Economics"
Experience and achievements:
Started his career in 2002 at the Foundation "Centre for Strategic Research "North-West";
In 2009–2010 he served as Minister of Economic Development of the Irkutsk Region;
Graduate of the Skolkovo business school under the SKOLKOVO Executive MBA programme;
Winner of the "Leaders of Russia" competition in 2018;
Included in the highest level of the federal reserve of managerial personnel;
2012 – 2025 – Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Leningrad Region – Chairman of the Committee for Economic Development and Investment Activity;
since 2025 – General Director of LLC "Digital Transport and Logistics Platform LOTUS"
Professor at the Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, Faculty of Geography
Education
Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Experience and achievements:
- Doctor of Geographical Sciences (2003);
- Since 1977 she has been working at the Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia, MSU;
- Author of the theory of "four Russias";
- Laureate of prestigious awards: Leontiev Medal (2009), Baransky Prize (2015), Gaidar Prize (2016);
- Combined teaching with the position of director of the regional programme of the Independent Institute for Social Policy (since 2003), since 2017 – Chief Researcher at the Institute for Social Policy, HSE University;
- Expert for federal ministries (Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Labour) and international organisations (UNDP, ILO, World Bank);
- Was a member of expert councils under the Government of the Russian Federation, Vnesheconombank and the Federation Council.
Institute of Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Position:
Director
Education
Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Economic Sciences. Graduated from Plekhanov Russian University of Economics and postgraduate studies at INP RAS.
Experience and achievements:
Main areas of activity – macroeconomic analysis and forecasting, analysis of intersectoral linkages, justification of economic policy measures, sectoral modelling and forecasting, development of multi‑level calculation systems based on intersectoral models of the economy. Consulting in the field of public and corporate governance.
Main areas of activity: - applied research in the analysis and forecasting of the development of the Russian economy; - development of methodology for intersectoral macrostructural forecasting; - a concept of interaction between dynamic and structural characteristics of economic development in the formation and justification of a development strategy has been developed; - solving problems of comprehensive assessment of multiplicative effects associated with the implementation of national projects, the development of economic sectors, regions, corporations and individual large investment projects at the national and international levels.
- Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of International Relations, RANEPA;
- Specialist in GR and business consulting in Africa and the USA;
- Co-organiser of youth international projects G8Y, G20Y. From 2014-2019, UN DPI expert on 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Alexander Sergeevich Agafonov
Advisor at the Representative Office of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in St. Petersburg
Representative Office of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in St. Petersburg
Position:
Advisor
Education
Higher legal education, Faculty of Law, St. Petersburg State University
Experience and achievements:
Advisor 1st class of the diplomatic service. Specialisation – relations with the Republic of South Africa. 20 years of experience in Russian foreign institutions in South Africa. Supervised issues of creating a bilateral legal framework, promoting political dialogue, economic ties and regional cooperation.
"St. Petersburg Institute of Foreign Economic Relations, Economics and Law". Specialisation – jurisprudence
Experience and achievements:
General Director and co‑founder of the company "Ovcharenko and Partners", Patent Attorney No. 2293.
- Member of the Russian National Group of AIPPI;
- Member of the "St. Petersburg Collegium of Patent Attorneys".
Total professional experience more than 11 years.
Area of professional competence: protection of trademarks, anti‑counterfeiting, international registration of brands, copyright protection.
Roman Sergeevich Malinovsky
President of the Union of International Trading Houses
- higher linguistic education, Irkutsk State Linguistic University
- higher legal education, Belarusian State University
- professional development, Russian State University of Tourism and Service
- international gemology, Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS), Bangkok
Fluent in 4 foreign languages: English, Spanish, Thai, Chinese
Experience and achievements:
- Expert in international trade, investment and business interaction with government agencies and corporations;
- Initiator of the formation of a new architecture of global world trade;
- Development of a network of international trading houses;
- Moderator of the session of the national project of the Russian Federation "International Cooperation and Export" within the framework of the "Federal Practice" programme of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia;
- Author of analytical articles on international trade and economics for the media, the Roscongress Foundation and the HSE University.
Vladimir Alexeevich Salnikov
Deputy Director (CMAKP), Head of Laboratory (INP), Leading Researcher (HSE) CMAKP, INP RAS, HSE University
- Centre for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short‑term Forecasting (CMAKP); - Institute of Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences (INP RAS); - National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE University).
Position:
Deputy General Director of CMAKP, Head of Laboratory at INP RAS, Leading Researcher at HSE University
Education
- economist‑mathematician (MSU) - Candidate of Economic Sciences (INP RAS)
Experience and achievements:
– 30 years of analysis and forecasting of real sector industries in a macroeconomic context;
– 20 years of expert support for the Government Administration, the Security Council of the Russian Federation, and a number of federal executive bodies (Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Economic Development, etc.);
– management of more than 50 research projects;
– over 50 scientific publications;
– peer‑reviewing articles in leading Russian economics journals.
Daniil Sergeevich
Novitsky
General Director of the Investment and Analytical Group "PKR"
Investment and Analytical Group "Professional Integrated Solutions"
Position:
General Director of the Investment and Analytical Group "PKR"
Education
2002 – Udmurt State University, "Economist specialising in Finance and Credit"
2002 – School of International Business (SIB) in Reutlingen, Germany
2005 – ACCA Diploma in International Financial Reporting
Experience and achievements:
Since 2006 – General Director of LLC "Professional Integrated Solutions":
The Investment and Analytical Group "PKR" (founded in 2006) is one of the leaders of the Russian market in the development of investment projects, marketing research, business analytics, technological design and engineering.
During its work, with the support of PKR, more than 85 investment projects have been implemented in 40 regions of Russia.
The company manages the digital platform "Investment Projects" (Investprojects), which performs information, analytical and communication functions for participants of the investment infrastructure in Russia and the CIS.
PKR has strategic and analytical partnerships with the following companies, organisations and government agencies – the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), the Analytical Centre of Moscow, the Analytical Hub SberCIB (Sberbank), Moscow Credit Bank, VEB.RF, AB "ROSSIYA", regional governments of Russia, Special Economic Zones of the Russian Federation, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the largest exhibitions and conferences in Russia.
The "PKR" Group is included in the TOP‑5 of the RAEX 2022, 2023, 2024 rating "Consulting in Marketing and Analytics in Russia"
Dmitry Vladimirovich Pishchalnikov
Director for Development of PJSC "Krasnokamsk Metal Mesh Plant"
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Graduate School of Business, MBA programme;
- Ural Academy of Public Administration, jurisprudence;
- Perm Agricultural Academy named after Academician D.N. Pryanishnikov, economics and management of agricultural production.
Experience and achievements:
- "Professional Integrated Solutions":
Member of the Presidium, Vice‑President of LLC "OPORA Russia", Chairman of the Committee on Efficient Production and Labour Productivity Improvement of OPORA Russia;
- Member of the working group "Labour Productivity" of the Commission of the State Council of the Russian Federation on the direction "Efficient and Competitive Economy";
- Co‑Chairman of the public association for labour productivity improvement (established in 2012);
- Chairman of the Expert Council "On Labour Productivity Improvement and Efficient Production" of the State Duma of the Russian Federation 2016‑2021;
- Member of the Commission "On Labour Productivity Improvement" of the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
- Head of the Expert Council of the Project Committee of the National Project "Labour Productivity and Employment Support" 2017‑2019.
Igor Yuryevich Alev
Director for Technical and Technological Development of ANO "Federal Competence Centre in the Sphere of Labour Productivity"
ANO "Federal Competence Centre in the Sphere of Labour Productivity"
Position:
Director for Technical and Technological Development
Education
In 1993 graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Railway Engineers with a degree in "Economics and Organisation of Railway Transport"
Experience and achievements:
More than 30 years in production. He started as a fitter of mechanical assembly works, went through all stages: foreman, master, site manager, etc., up to the position of director of a large auto‑component plant, where in 2 months he increased production volumes by 20% due to increased operational efficiency (without investments), from where he was invited to the FCC to help Russian enterprises improve labour productivity.
LLC "Industrial Robotics" – official representative of KUKA in Russia.
Position:
General Director
Education
Togliatti State University, 2007.
Specialty: "Equipment and Technology of Welding Production".
Qualification: mechanical engineer.
Experience and achievements:
- More than 16 years in industrial robotisation;
- In 2010‑2017, "Tekhnomatix": participation in the implementation of more than 90 robotic systems;
- Since 2017 at KUKA Robotics: participation in the implementation of more than 800 systems and development of more than 40 integrators in Russia and the CIS, which have implemented more than 2000 robotic systems;
- Participant in federal working and expert groups on robotisation, including the working group for the national project "Means of Production and Automation" and the Expert Council of the State Council of the Russian Federation.
ANO "Agency for the Development of Professional Excellence"
Position:
Deputy General Director for Development and Personnel Training
Education
Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 2010.
Specialty: applied mathematics and computer science.
Qualification: mathematician, system programmer.
Experience and achievements:
- 6 years in the implementation of projects for the development of the competency‑based approach in industry and increasing the operational efficiency of industrial enterprises;
- worked with more than 120 enterprises from 14 industries;
- more than 20 implemented projects in the field of simulation and mathematical modelling in industry;
- expert in the field of simulation and mathematical modelling and conducting lean events, implementation of the competency‑based approach, training;
- lecturer in MBA programmes at RANEPA.
Graduated from the Faculty of Economics of St. Petersburg State University with a degree in "Mathematical Methods of Operations Research in Economics", Candidate of Economic Sciences
Manchester Business School
Experience and achievements:
In 2000‑2008 – Director of CJSC "Territorial Development Corporation". The company provided comprehensive support services for projects of locating new industrial enterprises of foreign and Russian companies in the North‑West of Russia. Over 8 years of work, more than 20 industrial projects were implemented.
Since 2008 to the present – founder and head of Industrial Park M10, one of the largest private industrial parks in the North‑West of Russia. Today, more than 80 enterprises operate in Industrial Park M10 – from small family businesses to the largest federal‑level companies; every year 5 to 10 new companies choose M10 for their production facilities.
Svetlana Vladimirovna Nikulina
Managing Partner of the Consulting Bureau "Nikulina, Melezhnikov and Partners"
Consulting Bureau "Nikulina, Melezhnikov and Partners"
Position:
Managing Partner
Education
Graduated from the International Banking Institute named after A. Sobchak with a degree in "World Economy", and postgraduate studies at St. Petersburg State University, Candidate of Economic Sciences
Experience and achievements:
- More than 12 years of managerial experience in finance, strategic planning and risk management in companies from various industries, including with financing volumes over 500 billion roubles.
- Implemented a risk management system in an infrastructure holding with an investment portfolio of more than 1 trillion roubles.
- Laureate of the competition "Best Risk Management in Russia – 2025" (Interactive report of the head for monitoring and managing project risks).
- Author of a methodology for integrating coaching tools into the management architecture and designing autonomous business systems through working with the mindset of leaders and teams.
- Has the Gratitude of the Ministry of Construction of Russia, the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, awarded the medal "For the Construction of Transport Facilities".
Boris Alexandrovich Kopeikin
Chief Economist of the Institute of Economic Growth named after P.A. Stolypin
- Led the project for developing a service within PJSC Sberbank "Digital Transformation of Business DTaaS";
- Has more than 20 years of experience in Russian and international IT companies, including:
1. Microsoft
2. Yandex
3. SAS
Elena Georgievna Kiyanova
Corporate Affairs Manager for the North Region of JSC "Philip Morris Izhora"
Kuban State University, Faculty of Romance‑Germanic Philology, specialising as a teacher, translator of English and German
Experience and achievements:
Elena has more than 20 years of experience in corporate governance, government relations, media and NGO relations. Under her leadership, dozens of charitable projects for the elderly, people with disabilities, as well as projects in the fields of culture, education and science have been implemented throughout Russia, including in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.
She is the head of key regional structures: the North‑Western Committee of the Association of European Businesses, representations of the National Council for Corporate Volunteering in St. Petersburg, Leningrad Region, Nizhny Novgorod, Kaliningrad and the Republic of Tatarstan, the Committee of "Business Russia" on Corporate Volunteering, as well as the Business Women's Council 47.
Professional achievements have been recognised with numerous awards:
- Gratitude of the governors of St. Petersburg, Leningrad Region and Krasnodar Territory;
- Medal and certificate of the President of the Russian Federation for contribution to the #WeAreTogether campaign;
- Inclusion in the ranking "TOP‑50 Russian Managers in CSR" (2016–2017);
- Nomination of the award "Form of Good. Top‑25 Kindest People of St. Petersburg" (2019);
- Laureate of the award "Influential Women of St. Petersburg" (2024–2025);
- Numerous letters of gratitude from government bodies and public organisations;
- Actively participates in leading forums, including SPIEF, BRIEF and the All‑Russian Forum "Corporate Volunteering" in Moscow.
Grigory Nikolaevich Kholodov
Vice‑President for Business Development and Partnerships of the Simplo Business Group
Vice‑President for Business Development and Partnerships
Education
- higher education – bachelor's degree, Barnaul State Pedagogical University, teacher of physics and computer science; - master's degree – Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University, specialisation "Solid State Physics".
Experience and achievements:
- Expert in business development and strategic partnerships; - Specialises in building business connections, developing new directions and implementing joint projects with Russian and international partners; - Works with projects in foreign economic activity, financial solutions and international cooperation.
Maria Vitalievna Sirotnikova
Partner, Director for Development of the MM Prom Group of Companies
St. Petersburg State University, Faculty of Economics
Experience and achievements:
- More than 15 years in commercial real estate;
– Implemented a project for the construction and launch of a metalworking plant "from scratch"; - Has many years of experience in supporting projects in industrial real estate – including construction, leasing and sale of properties;
- The group of companies manages over 200 thousand m² and 150 tenants since 2011.
Alexey Sergeevich Busev
Vice‑President of the Russian‑Arab Business Council
Vice‑President of the Russian‑Arab Business Council
Education
St. Petersburg State University, Faculty of Economics
Experience and achievements:
- Since 2004 he has worked in the UAE, Bahrain, KSA, Oman, Qatar, headed branches of Russian companies in the UAE and KSA;
- Since 2014 he has headed the Commission of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Cooperation with the UAE and KSA;
- Since 2011 he has been a consultant to the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, a member of the Russian‑Emirati Intergovernmental Commission;
- Author of publications on economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and the UAE and business practices. Participant in TV and radio programmes on cooperation with the UAE.
Viktor Igorevich Grigoriev
Managing Director of the Financial Markets Operations Directorate of Bank "St. Petersburg"
Managing Director of the Financial Markets Operations Directorate
Education
Bachelor's degree: HSE University, Faculty of Economics, specialisation – Financial Markets and Institutions;
Master's degree: Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg State University, specialisation – Corporate Finance (international programme fully in English).
Experience and achievements:
- Chief Analyst of BSPB for macroeconomics and financial markets;
- Expert in macroeconomic forecasting and modelling (including stress‑testing);
- Extensive experience in public speaking (including on TV and radio);
- Main face of BSPB providing analytical comments to the media.
- 2001 – All‑Russian Academy of Foreign Trade, specialisation World Economy;
- 2011 – Executive MBA "Strategic Management" of the Institute of Business and Business Administration of RANEPA.
Experience and achievements:
Denis Sergeevich Filippov is an entrepreneur whose professional career is inextricably linked with the development of Russian meat processing. Under his leadership, "Myasnitsky Ryad" grew from a regional production facility into one of the industry leaders, entering the TOP‑5 of meat delicatessen in Moscow and the region.
Today, the company is a town‑forming enterprise of the Odintsovo district with a staff of more than 3,000 employees. The products of "Myasnitsky Ryad" are presented in all leading federal retail chains in the country, as well as in its own retail network of 630 stores, which sells 1,500 tonnes of products monthly.
Denis Sergeevich's management philosophy is based on technological leadership (production capacity – 5,000 t/month), impeccable quality (ISO 22000 and HACCP standards) and constant updating of the assortment, which includes more than 250 items, including exclusive recipes.
Denis Sergeevich follows the methods of modern scientific organisation of labour and a systematic approach to management.
- Management of commercial strategy for the largest production enterprises in the construction, medical and timber industries;
- Foreign economic activity development of new territories;
- Building an effective partner network;
- Federal Law 44, Federal Law 223, Federal Law 275.