Programme

A key outcome of recent changes in the spatial organization of Russia is the compression, fragmentation, as well as excessive polarization of its economic and social space. Migration of the most active members of the population to major cities is increasing, leaving small towns and villages depopulated. The total number of settlements is decreasing due to the breakdown of traditional economic and humanitarian ties. This trend is giving rise to a number of risks to national development, including reduced spatial connectedness between urban accumulations, the loss of regional cultural identities, in addition to a disproportionate burden being placed on big cities and the environment. Expanding void zones within the country is linked to geopolitical threats in the long term, and may also lead to regions being filled by migratory flows. Creating a national strategy for spatial development with respect to small regions is becoming one of the most urgent tasks facing the government. Up to this point, expert discussions on this subject have been only fragmentary in nature, whilst many of the issues involved require conceptualization and new methodological approaches. What are the global trends with respect to small regions in the context of the economic and social processes of the 21st century? How can we ensure that the national spatial development strategy combines the interests of urban agglomerations, small towns, and settlements? What supportive measures do small towns require from federal and regional bodies? How can problems be solved in the absence of the necessary knowledge and skills at the level of local municipalities? What approaches might improve the attractiveness of small regions to investors and which solutions offer the most potential? Is it possible to use the brands of small regions in the overall composition of a national brand?

Moderators
Andrey Maksimov, Chairman, Committee on Regional Development and Local Government, Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation
Alexey Firsov, General Director, Platforma Social Design Centre

Andrey Maksimov

Chairman, Committee on Regional Development and Local Government, Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation

Alexey Firsov

General Director, Platforma Social Design Centre

Since 2015 - General Director and company founder of the Center for social design “Platforma”. In different years held positions of Communications Director in RUSNANO, WCIOM, Managing Director for communications in Volga Group, represented as PR-Director Russian entrepreneur Gennadiy Timchenko, was head of public relations in SIBUR, Millhouse, Sibneft.
In 1997 graduated from the faculty of Philosophy of the Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Panellists
Julia Buldakova, Co-Founder, Project Manager, Tulun City Public Organization for Support of Youth Social Projects and Creative Initiatives Tulun.Ru
Sergey Morozov, Governor of Ulyanovsk Region
Maria Morozova, General Director, Elena and Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation
Sergey Sakharov, Head of Administration of Suzdal
Andrey Chibis, Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation

Julia Buldakova

Co-Founder, Project Manager, Tulun City Public Organization for Support of Youth Social Projects and Creative Initiatives Tulun.Ru

Sergey Morozov

Governor of Ulyanovsk Region

Sergey Morozov was born on September 6, 1959 in Ulyanovsk. After graduating from high school, he worked as a machine operator at a furniture factory. He served in the Pacific Fleet from 1977 to 1980.Since 1981 he has worked at the law-enforcement bodies. He graduated from the All-Union Legal Institute with a major in law. He worked his way up from a criminal investigation inspector at the district office of internal affairs up to the head of a special anti-drug trafficking office of the Internal Affairs Department of the Ulyanovsk Region. In 1995, he was appointed head of the Internal Affairs Department of Dimitrovgrad. In December 2000 he was elected Mayor of Dimitrovgrad. In 2003, Dimitrovgrad won a federal competition and was granted the title of the “Cultural Capital of the Volga Region of 2004”. He has twice been awarded special government prizes for achievements in municipal improvements.In December 2004 Mr. Morozov was elected Head of the Administration of the Ulyanovsk Region. On March 28, 2006, the deputies of the Legislative Assembly of the Ulyanovsk Region approved Mr. Morozov’s candidacy for Governor of the Ulyanovsk Region as submitted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. On March 6, 2011, he was re-elected as Governor for a new term.Mr. Morozov has a PhD in Economy. He defended his dissertation on the subject “Formation of a socioeconomic development strategy for the region”.He is married with five children: two sons and three daughters.

Maria Morozova

General Director, Elena and Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation

Maria Andreyevna Morozova has been heading the Elena & Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation from the day when it was created in December 2010. Since then, the Timchenko Foundation has become one of Russia’s leading private foundations implementing programs aimed at supporting active ageing, developing sports and culture, helping families and children. These strategic directions are designed to further comprehensive solutions of Russia’s social problems, with a special emphasis on its regions.

The program portfolio of The Timchenko Foundation embraces over 100 projects, both all around Russia and abroad. Here are some of them: Society for All Ages National Conference, competitions like Active Generation, Cultural Mosaic of Small Towns and Villages, Dobryi Lyod [Good Ice], Right Family Course and others.

As an active participant of expert panels and public forums that tackle topics matching the priorities of The Timchenko Foundation activities Maria Morozova has occupied the following positions: member of the Community Council with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the Russian Federation (including Vice-Chairwoman of the Commission for Social Assistance and member of the Commission of Labor and Local Employment); head of Senior Citizen section with the Russian Federation Government’s Community Council on Guardianship Issues in the Social Sphere; member of the Expert Board with the Agency of Strategic Initiatives; member of The Council of the Federation Committee on Social Innovation Development in Territorial Entities of the Russian Federation, member of the Joint advisory board of the President Grants foundation and others.

Sergey Sakharov

Head of Administration of Suzdal

Born on October, 2nd 1968 in the City of Vladimir.
Education:
1992 graduated from Vladimir Polytechnic Institute with the speciality ”Automatization and integrated mechanization of the engineering systems”
2004 – Vladimir branch of the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation with the speciality «State and municipal management»
Professional background:
1985 worked as turner in the automatic line department of Vladimir tractor plant, the City of Vladimir.
From 1985 till 1992 studied at Vladimir Polytechnic Institute .
From 1990 till 1999 worked as electrical engineer, programmer engineer, regional marketing bureau chief, the City of Vladimir.
1999 worked as sales director in OOO Commercial Manufacturing Enterprise “Konkord”, the City of Vladimir
From 1999 till 2001 worked as director, Chairman of the Executive Board of OOO “Speckomtechnika”, the City of Vladimir
From 2001 till 2011 worked as director of Vladimir branch ZAO «Vympelkom-Region», the city of Vlaimir, Member of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Legislative Assembly of the Vladimir Region
From 2011 till September 2015 – Mayor of the City of Vladimir, Chairman of Vladimir City Council of People's Deputies
From October, 2015 till present – Head of Suzdal City Administration, Vladimir Region

Andrey Chibis

Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation

Born 19 March 1979, in Cheboksary, Chuvash Republic.
1996–2001: studied Jurisprudence at the Moscow Consumer Cooperation University. 2001–2004: Lawyer (private law practice) 2004–2005: Advisor to the Governor of the Ryazan Region and later Head of the Expert Department at the Administration of the President of the Chuvash Republic.
2006–2007: Deputy Director of Construction Department, Head of Support Team for the national project Affordable Housing promoted by the Russian Ministry of Regional Development.
2007–2008: Head of the Directorate for Affordable Housing Market Development at the Federal Agency for Construction, Housing and Utilities. 2008–2011: Chairman of the Management Board, member of the Managing Committee, Director for Legal and Corporate Issues, RSS Plc.
From July 2009: Vice-President of the National Union of Water Utility. 2011–2012: Executive Director of the Socioeconomic and Political Research Institute Fund under the All-Russia People’s Front. Since October 2011: Executive Director of NP Development of Housing and Utilities. Since August 2012: member of the Advisory Panel under the Russian Government and Head of the Working Group for Development of Housing and Utilities under the Advisory Panel of the Russian Government. 6 December 2013: appointed to the position of Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities, Russian Federation. 1 October 2014: appointed Chief State Housing Inspector of Russia. December 2015: elected Bureau Member of the UNECE Committee on Housing and Land Management.

Front row participants
Andrey Bezrukov, Director for Strategic Projects and Communications, GS Group
Elena Dovlatova, Executive Director, Russian Association of Water Supply and Sewerage
Igor Zadorin, Member of the Expert Council for Small Territories
Aleksey Kozlov, Managing Director, SIBUR
Pavel Krasnorutsky, Chairman, Russian Union of Youth (RUY)
Andrey Pavlov, Founder, President, Zenden Group
Natalya Trunova, Head of Spatial Development, Center for Strategic Research Foundation

Andrey Bezrukov

Director for Strategic Projects and Communications, GS Group

Elena Dovlatova

Executive Director, Russian Association of Water Supply and Sewerage

Igor Zadorin

Member of the Expert Council for Small Territories

Aleksey Kozlov

Managing Director, SIBUR

Pavel Krasnorutsky

Chairman, Russian Union of Youth (RUY)

Andrey Pavlov

Founder, President, Zenden Group

Natalya Trunova

Head of Spatial Development, Center for Strategic Research Foundation