On June 1, within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Valdai Discussion Club will hold a session, titled "Globalization Revisited: Is Every Country on its Own Now?", and debates with the Russia 24 TV Channel, titled "Future Preparedness Index. First rating".
Akiyoshi Komaki, Moscow Bureau Chief, Asahi Shimbun
Akiyoshi Komaki was born in 1966 in Tokyo, graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tokyo. He joined The Asahi Shimbun in 1990. In Tokyo he worked as a staff writer of Political News Section and International News Section. From 2005 to 2008, he was a Moscow correspondent of Asahi Shimbun. Since 2013 he has been the Moscow bureau chief. He is a co-author of a series of books such as “Verification of Japan-Russia negotiations at the highest level” (2003) and “Real image of Putin” (2015) (both books were written in Japanese).
Alexander Ivlev, Country Managing Partner for Russia, EY
Alexander is the leader of EY Russia. He is actively involved in the work of the Foreign Investment Advisory Council in Russia. At the 2007 World Economic Forum, Alexander was entered in the list of Young Global Leaders, and in 2009 he was included in the top 100 young leaders in the Russian Presidential Reserve. He is vice president of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Russia. Alexander is a member of the Expert Council of the Open Innovations Forum, the Executive Committee of the Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum, the Organizing Committee of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and the Public Council of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. He leads the National Business Initiative’s road map Improving the quality of the regulatory environment for business. Alexander supervises the Entrepreneur of the Year program in Russia. Alexander has over twenty years of experience in strategic development, client service and government and corporate affairs. He is a graduate of Moscow State Linguistic University (1991) and has an EMBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (2003).
Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board, Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club
Professor; Dean of the Faculty Communications, Media and Design at the National Research University – Higher School of Economics. PhD (Candidate of Sciences) – education (1989). Previous positions: research officer at the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences (1985–1991); since 1991 – in the media industry: head of the audience research department of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Company (RTR), author and host of a number of radio and television programs; head of the Society department at Itogi magazine (1996–1997); deputy of director general in charge of information at the TV-Center television company (1997–1998); producer for the BBC Russian service (1998–1999); co-chairman of the organizing committee for the Unofficial Moscow festival and a member of the editorial board for the Moscow Alternative newspaper (1999); chairman at the Mayak State Radio Broadcasting Company (1999); director general of the Vesti State Television Company (2000); deputy director general of RTR and the chairman of the Council of the Heads of Government and Public Television and Radio Organizations of the CIS countries (2000–2008); member of the Board of Directors and the vice-president of international broadcasting company Euronews (2000–2013); editor-in-chief of the monthly humanitarian magazine Apologia (2005-2007); chairperson of the Voice of Russia State Radio Company (2008–2013). Research interests: problems of the modernization of the Russian society, the current social and political situation, informal youth associations, the psychology of personal development, etc. Selected publications: author of two books – The youth’s subcultures and Russia’s intelligentsia during the time of collapse of the Soviet system (1991), of many articles published in different newspapers and magazines. Awards: Order of Merit.
Angela Stent, Director, Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, Georgetown University
Angela Stent is Director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies and Professor of Government and Foreign Service at Georgetown University. She is also a Senior Fellow (non-resident) at the Brookings Institution and co-chairs its Hewett Forum on Post-Soviet Affairs. During the academic year 2015-2016 she was a fellow at the Transatlantic Academy of the German Marshall Fund. From 2004-2006 she served as National Intelligence Officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council. From 1999 to 2001, she served in the Office of Policy Planning at the U.S. Department of State. Stent’s academic work focuses on the triangular political and economic relationship between the United States, Russia and Europe. Her publications include: Russia and Germany Reborn: Unification, The Soviet Collapse and The New Europe (Princeton University Pres, 1999); From Embargo to Ostpolitik: The Political Economy of West German-Soviet Relations, 1955-1980 (Cambridge University Press, 1981); “Putin’s World” (2014) and “Putin’s Power Play in Syria: How to Respond to Russia’s Intervention” (Foreign Affairs, January-February 2016). Her latest book is The Limits of Partnership: US-Russian Relations in the Twenty-First Century (Princeton University Press, 2014), for which she won the American Academy of Diplomacy’s Douglas Dillon prize for the best book on the practice of American Diplomacy.
Daniel Russell, President, Chief Executive Officer, US–Russia Business Council (USRBC)
Daniel A. Russell is the President and CEO of the U.S.-Russia Business Council. Previously, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for relations with Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus and for international security and arms control issues in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs until July 2013. A career member of the Foreign Service, Mr. Russell served as Chief of Staff to Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns from 2008 to 2009, as Deputy Chief of Mission in Moscow from 2005 to 2008 and as Deputy Chief of Mission in Almaty, Kazakhstan from 2000 to 2003. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1983, Mr. Russell has held positions in Washington and abroad, including Director of the Office of Russian Affairs, Director of the Office of European Political and Security Affairs, Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Yekaterinburg, Special Assistant for Europe to the Under Secretary of Political Affairs, and First Secretary at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Mr. Russell has worked in the State Department offices responsible for relations with the United Kingdom and Cuba and served at the U.S. Embassies in El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. Mr. Russell holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Maine and an M.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University.
Evelina Zakamskaya, Anchor, Russia 24 TV channel
Evelina Zakamskaya was born on November 17, 1977, in Baku, and graduated from the Faculty of Philology at Tver State University. She is a presenter for Radio Mayak and for Mir, a television and radio company. Since 2006, she has been an anchor for television channel Russia 24. She writes and presents Mnenie (Opinion), a talk show covering social and political issues, and Idei, menyayushchie mir (World-Changing Ideas), a series of popular science programmes. Evelina Zakamskaya moderates Russia 24 sessions at major international forums. She is married with two daughters.
Fyodor Lukyanov, Research Director, Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club
Fyodor Lukyanov was an international journalist in 1990-2002. He collaborated with numerous newspapers, radio and television broadcasters. Since 2002, he has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Russia in Global Affairs journal. In 2012, Lukyanov was appointed as the Chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy – one of the oldest Russian NGOs. Since 2015, Fyodor Lukyanov has been the Research Director of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club. Fyodor Lukyanov is a Research Professor at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, National Research University – Higher School of Economics. He is considered one of the most well-known Russian experts in the field of international relations and foreign affairs, author of numerous articles in Russian and foreign media. Lukyanov received the Government Award of the Russian Federation in 2011 for his contribution to international journalism.George Mark Malloch Brown, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (2006)
Mark Malloch-Brown is Chairman of the International Crisis Group and Senior Advisor to Eurasia Group. He served as Deputy Secretary-General and Chief of Staff of the UN under Kofi Annan. For six years before that he was Administrator of the UNDP, leading the UN’s development efforts around the world. He was later Minister of State in the Foreign Office, covering Africa and Asia, and was a member of Gordon Brown’s cabinet. Other positions have included vice-chairman of George Soros’s Investment Funds, as well as his Open Society Institute, a Vice-President at the World Bank and the lead international partner in a political consulting firm. He also has served as Vice-Chairman of the World Economic Forum. He began his career as a journalist at The Economist. He is currently Chairman of SGO and its elections division Smartmatic, a leading elections technology company as well as on a number of other Boards.
Igor Shuvalov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
Born January 4, 1967, in Bilibino, Magadan Region. 1993: graduated from the Law Faculty of Moscow State University with a degree in jurisprudence. 1984–1985: laboratory assistant at the EKOS Scientific Research Institute. 1985–1987: served in the Soviet Army. 1993: attaché of the Law Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. 1993–1995: senior legal adviser at ALM Consulting. 1995: Director, ALM Law Office. 1997: Head of Department of the State Register of Federal Property, State Committee of the Russian Federation for State Property Management. 1998: Deputy Minister for State Property of the Russian Federation. 1998–2000: Chairman, Russian Federal Property Fund. 2000–2003: Chief of the Government Staff in the rank of Minister. 2003: Aide to the President of the Russian Federation. 2003–2004:Deputy Head of Administration of the President of the Russian Federation. 2004: Aide to the President of the Russian Federation. 2005: Russian Sherpa in the G8. 2008: First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. Married with two sons and two daughters.
John Defterios, Emerging Markets Editor, CNN
John Defterios is the CNNMoney Emerging Markets Editor. Based in the network's Abu Dhabi bureau since 2011 his reporting focuses on the top business stories from emerging economies. In addition to his daily reporting for CNN's main business programming, John hosts 'CNN Marketplace Middle East', a business programme featuring in-depth analysis and top newsmakers from across the Middle East. John also hosts "One Square Meter" the first television and digital platform to explore world class property developments in emerging markets. Defterios has more than two decades of financial news and current affairs experience covering some of the landmarks events during that period including the Gulf War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the World Trade Centre bombings and G8/G20 summits from his postings in London, Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Rome and the Middle East. He is a World Economic Forum media leader and member of the Global Agenda Council on the Arab World and has served as Chairman of the Business Week Leadership Forums in London, Beijing and New York, the World Islamic Economic Forum amongst others. Defterios started at CNN in New York as correspondent on 'Moneyline with Lou Dobbs', anchored CNN's 'World Business Today' and the top rated U.S. morning business program 'Ahead of the Curve'. Defterios has secured numerous interviews with high-level figures in the worlds of politics and economics including: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rachid, PM of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Ali Al Naimi, Petroleum Minister of Saudi Arabia, HH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and British Prime Minister David Cameron as well many of the top executives in the Fortune 500 including BP CEO Robert Dudley and Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote. He has travelled on assignment throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Prior to CNN, Defterios worked for Reuters Television as European Correspondent, West Coast Correspondent and special series producer in a joint-venture with The Nightly Business Report on PBS-TV.
Ksenia Yudaeva, First Deputy Governor, Central Bank of the Russian Federation
Ksenia Valentinovna Yudaeva has served as a First Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Russia since September 2013 and was appointed to the Central Bank's Board in October 2013. At the Bank of Russia she is responsible for international relations, macroeconomic forecasting and research and previously oversaw domestic monetary policy. Dr. Yudaeva came to the Bank after spending one year as Chief of the Presidential Experts' Directorate of the RF Presidential Administration, where she was also Russia's Sherpa to the G20 during the Russian presidency. Prior to her government service, Dr. Yudaeva was Chief Economist and Director of the Center for Macroeconomic Research at Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, from 2008 to 2012. She has held positions at several think-tanks in Russia, including Academic Director of the Center for Strategic Research and Scholar-in-Residence at the Carnegie Moscow Center. Dr. Yudaeva earned a degree in Economics and Mathematics from the Moscow State University, a Master's degree in Economics from the New Economic School and a Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Valery Fedorov, Director General, Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM)
Graduated from Moscow State University (Department of Philosophy), Holds a PhD in Political Science from MSU (2008) with an emphasis on History and Theory of Political Science. Worked in the Institute of Mass Political Movements at the Russian-American University (1991-93), the Centre for Political Trends (1993-2003), Institute of Social and Political Research of the Russian Academy of Science (ISPI RAN) (1997-2003), Centre for Social Information ISPI RAN (2003-2006). Since September 2003 has been Director General of the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM), where he also heads Expert Council. Valery Fedorov is the member of VCIOM Board of Directors (since 2006), Chief Editor of the "Monitoring. Social and Economic Changes" scientific journal (since 2003), Research Adviser of the Political Science Department at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation (since 2013). Fedorov is awarded the Order of Friendship, Medal of the Order of Merit for Motherland II class; Certificate of Merit for the Active Promotion and Organizing the Presidential Election Campaign from the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation etc.
Sitao Xu, Chief Economist, Partner, Deloitte, China
Sitao is Chief Economist of China, Partner at Deloitte. Formerly, he was at The Economist Group from 2004 to 2014 and held various positions. Before joining The Economist Group, Xu Sitao worked for ICBC (Asia), the overseas flagship of China’s largest bank, as the Head of Economics in 2003. Prior to this, he was Societe Generale’s Chief Economist for Asia (ex-Japan) from 2001 to 2002. He joined Standard Chartered Bank as Regional Treasury Economist in 1996. Previously, Xu Sitao was the Economist for Indonesia, Korea, and Thailand in Singapore, working for MMS International of Standard and Poor’s Group in 1995. Xu Sitao holds a B.A. in Economics from Peking University, an M.A. in Economics from the University of Connecticut, and a M.S. in Finance from Boston College. He has been a columnist for Caijing and 21st Century, China’s leading business publications and has contributed frequently to leading regional and international publications, such as YaleGlobal Magazine, the Asian Wall Street Journal and Financial Times. He appears regularly on CNBC, Bloomberg, CCTV, and other TV shows as a commentator on Asia and an accomplished public speaker and lecturer. Xu Sitao speaks regularly at board meetings of major corporations and major conferences for institutional investors and policymakers.
Andrei Fursenko, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation
Born on July 17, 1949, in Leningrad (now St Petersburg). 1971 – graduated from Zhdanov Leningrad State University; Doctor of Physics and Mathematics. 1971-1991 – junior researcher, laboratory head, deputy director for research, leading researcher at the Ioffe Physical Technical Institute of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, Leningrad. 1991-1993 – Vice President of Advanced Technology Centre, St Petersburg. 1994-2001 – Director of Regional Foundation for Scientific and Technological Development, St Petersburg. From 2000 – Chairman of the Academic Council of the Centre for Strategic Research North-West Foundation. 2001-2002 – Deputy Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation. From June 2002 – First Deputy Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation. From December 2003 – Acting Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation. March 9, 2004 – appointed Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. Since May 21, 2012 – Aide to the President of the Russian Federation. State award – Honorary Diploma of the Government of the Russian Federation.
