Programme

Competing with leading corporations in the global market Russian companies demonstrate the same level of commitment to corporate social responsibility as their international counterparts. While Russian businesses have significantly increased their support for charity organizations within the country, little is known about their international support programs. Russian companies, however, are involved in a number of large-scale social and humanitarian projects aimed at strengthening their reputation in the country of operation. They engage both Russian and international organizations to provide assistance to the population in the regions affected by natural disasters, wars and such diseases as Ebola. What are the features of international corporate social responsibility programs? What social and humanitarian initiatives do corporations adopt? What are the mechanisms of state support for such activities? What are some of the best international practices of private humanitarian funding? How does the corporate sector work with Russian and foreign NGOs?

Moderator:
Evelina Zakamskaya , Anchor, Russia 24; Editor-in-Chief, Doctor Channel

Evelina Zakamskaya

Anchor, Russia 24; Editor-in-Chief, Doctor 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.

Panellists
Christine Beerli , Vice-President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Matthias Berninger , Global Head of Public Policy, Mars Incorporated
Bertrand Bonvin , President, Russia and Belarus, Philip Morris International (PMI)
Victor Vekselberg , Chairman of the Board of Directors, Renova Group; President, Skolkovo Foundation
Marina Zhigalova-Ozkan , General Director, The Walt Disney Company, CIS
Alexey Malinovskiy , Senior Vice President, Head, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia, Mastercard
Jerome Oberreit , Secretary General, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Evgeny Primakov , General Director, Russian Humanitarian Mission
Sergey Storchak , Deputy Finance Minister of the Russian Federation
Nigel Timmins , Humanitarian Director, Oxfam

Christine Beerli

Vice-President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Christine Beerli was born in 1953. A member of a law firm in Biel, Ms Beerli began her political career on that city's municipal council, where she served from 1980 to 1983. From 1986 to 1991 she was a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Canton of Bern. In 1991 she was elected to the Upper House of the Swiss Parliament, where she remained until 2003, chairing the Foreign Affairs Committee (1998-1999) and the Committee for Social Security and Health (2000-2001). Ms Beerli chaired the caucus of the Free Democratic Party in Switzerland's Federal Assembly from 1996 to 2003. She also served on committees dealing with security policy and economic and legal affairs. She retired from politics in 2003. Since 1st January 2006 she has headed Swissmedic, the Swiss supervisory authority for therapeutic products. She is former director of the School of Engineering and Information Technology at Bern University of Applied Sciences. In January 2008, Ms Beerli was appointed permanent Vice-President of the ICRC. As such she is a member of the ICRC Assembly – the institution's supreme governing body – as well as the Assembly Council and the Presidency, where she works closely with the President and deputises for him whenever necessary. This includes handling the ICRC's external relations, representing the ICRC on the international scene and, in close cooperation with the General Directorate, handling the ICRC's humanitarian diplomacy. Her particular areas of focus include helping to ensure the cohesion, smooth running and development of governance mechanisms and internal control, as well as strengthening and developing relationships within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Matthias Berninger

Global Head of Public Policy, Mars Incorporated

Matthias Berninger was born in Kassel, Germany where he studied chemistry and political science from 1990 to 1994. Matthias Berninger was elected between 1994 and 2007 four times as a Member of the German Federal Parliament representing the Green Party of his home state Hessen and served in several committees (Education, Science and Technology, Budget, Economic Affairs). From 2001 to 2005 he served in the Federal Government as Vice-Minister for Consumer Protection, Nutrition and Agriculture. The main focus of his time in government was on agricultural reform in Germany and Europe including trade policy, food safety and renewable energy. From 2004 to 2007 he was leading the Green Party in Hessen, Germany. Matthias was involved in running political campaigns for his party on various elections federal and state level. After 13 years in Politics Matthias retired in 2007 from his seat in the Federal Parliament and joined Mars Europe as Director Corporate health and Nutrition for Europe and the CIS. One of his core responsibilities was to globally facilitate the development of the Mars Health and Nutrition Strategy. In April 2008 Matthias moved into the role of Global Head of Public Policy for Mars Incorporated. In his new role he continued to work on the Health and Nutrition Strategy for food and snackfood. Additionally, he led a global team to develop a cocoa sustainability strategy for the corporation. Matthias joined the Global Chocolate Management Team of Mars Incorporated in 2009. In addition to his corporate responsibilities he supports Mars Chocolate in communication and strategy development. In September 2009 Matthias was promoted as Vice President with responsibilities for the Global Public Policy and Programs team and the Public Affairs teams in Washington DC, Brussels, Moscow, Asia, Latin America, Africa and Middle East reporting into him. He also leads the global trade team within Mars, Incorporated. He lives with his wife and children in Washington, D.C.

Bertrand Bonvin

President, Russia and Belarus, Philip Morris International (PMI)

Bertrand Bonvin started his career at PMI in 1993 as Senior Project Engineer in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. From 1996 to 2002 he held various management positions in Kazakhstan and Russia. He was Director Operations in Turkey in late 2002 and Director Operations in Russia in 2005. In May 2008 Bertrand Bonvin was appointed as Vice President, Operations, Asia Region. He was appointed Senior Vice President Research & Development of Philip Morris International in December 2011. In July 2015 Bertrand Bonvin became President PMI Affiliates in Russia and Belarus. Bertrand Bonvin was born on November 15, 1968 in Switzerland. In 1992 he graduated from the Federal Polytechnic Institute (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Victor Vekselberg

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Renova Group; President, Skolkovo Foundation

Born in 1957. Graduated with honors from the faculty of automation and computer engineering of the Moscow Railway Transport Engineering Institute (MIIT). In 1990 Viktor Vekselberg founded Renova, an asset management company. Mr. Vekselberg currently holds office as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Renova Group of companies. In 1996 he founded SUAL Group and served as its President until 2003 when he eventually chaired the Board of Directors of the Group. Chairman of the Management Board of OJSC Tumen Oil Company from 2002 until 2003. Member of the Board of Directors of TNK-BP from 2003 until 2013. Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Company Rusal (UC Rusal) from 2007 until March 2012. In March 2010, Viktor Vekselberg was appointed as Head of the Skolkovo Innovation Center project. Viktor Vekselberg has been President of the Skolkovo Foundation since June 2010.

Marina Zhigalova-Ozkan

General Director, The Walt Disney Company, CIS

Marina Jigalova-Ozkan was appointed Managing Director for the Russian Disney office in April, 2006. Marina is responsible for all company’s businesses and brands within CIS countries, Georgia and Mongolia. Thanks to Ms. Jigalova-Ozkan Disney Russia has grown into one of the leading entertainment and media players in the region and has become a center of technical innovations that are being used by Disney offices around the world. Disney continually performs strongly in the following four major segments: Walt Disney Studios, Media Networks, Disney Interactive and Disney Consumer Products. Under Ms. Jigalova-Ozkan’s leadership, the biggest kids and family entertainment FTA TV channel - Disney Channel - was launched in Russia; joint film distribution venture became the number one film distribution company in Russia. Disney became the first major to sign direct licensing agreements with the biggest Russian TV channels. Marina and her team built functionally integrated businesses in DCP to become the number one licensor in Russia and launched the largest Runet family destination - disney.ru. Marina Jigalova-Ozkan is named one of the best Top-3 managers of High-Level Executives Rating by Kommersant (Media Business), honorary member of jury of St. Petersburg International Film Forum (2011), member of jury of TEFI-Region competition (2014, 2015), distributors’ jury chairman of Kinotavr Film Festival (2015), winner of Ernst & Young’s Women in Leadership competition (Media Leader) (2013), recipient of national awards.

Alexey Malinovskiy

Senior Vice President, Head, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia, Mastercard

Alexey Malinovskiy is Head of Mastercard in Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia. He is responsible for driving development of electronic payments and for company growth in these 4 fast growing European markets. Since 2013 and by now he has been the President of Mastercard Members Association in Russia. Alexey joined Mastercard in 2010 as Head of Government Relations and Public Policy in HGEM. He actively participates in the work of the Ministry of Finance Interinstitutional Council. He is a member of the Expert Council on Financial Markets under the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia. Alexey also represents Mastercard on the Board of the Russian National Payment Council. Before joining Mastercard, he worked in a number of Russian and international companies from high-tech sector holding various leadership positions for more than fifteen years.

Jerome Oberreit

Secretary General, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Jérôme Oberreit has been Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) since September 2012. Jérôme joined MSF in 1994, and has worked in Kenya, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Occupied Palestinian Territory. In 2001, he began working in programme management at MSF’s operational directorate in Brussels, becoming director of operations in 2006. Jérôme has developed particular expertise in working in conflict settings, and in managing HIV programmes. He has degrees from London University and California State University.

Evgeny Primakov

General Director, Russian Humanitarian Mission

CEO and founder of Russian Humanitarian Mission; author and presenter of Global Review program (Russia 24); member of the Civic Chamber of Russian Federation; Council of Foreign and Defense Policy - member of the general committee; Press-secretary of JSC "RTI-Sistema". Born Apr. 29, 1976 MA in History, Russian State University for Humanities. Communication Officer and Urban Policy Advisor (UNHCR) (2011-2014) Chief of Middle East Bureau of NTV Channel (2007-2009) and Channel One Russia (2009-2011) Expert in international relations and Russian foreign policy.

Sergey Storchak

Deputy Finance Minister of the Russian Federation

Date of birth: June 8, 1954. Place of birth: Olevsk, Zhitomir Region, Ukraine Soviet Socialist Republic. Education: graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1981. Major: international economic relations. Qualification: international currency and credit relations. Degrees: PhD in Economics. Awards and merits: 2000: Order “For Merit to the Fatherland”, II class, medal. 2006: Honorable mention by the President of the Russian Federation. 2007: Order of Friendship. Command of foreign languages: fluent in English and French. Background: 09.1971 – 10.1972: shipper, Krasnodar refinery. 11.1972 – 11.1974: served in the Soviet Army. 01.1975 – 08.1976: transport operator, II category, Construction Department, Glavmospromstroy’s Enterprise 207: Mosstroy 29. 09.1976 – 07.1981: studied in Moscow State Institute of International Relations. 08.1981 – 11.1988: junior research associate and senior research associate, Institute of World Economy and International Relations. 12.1988 – 02.1992: Second Secretary, USSR Permanent Mission to the UN and other international organizations, USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 02.1992 – 08.1994: Second Secretary and Senior Officer, Russia’s Permanent Mission to the UN and other international organizations, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 08.1994 – 04.1998: Deputy Head of Foreign credit and Debt Division, Head of Department, Ministry of Finance. 04.1998 – 09.2004: Deputy Chairman, Vnesheconombank of the USSR. 09.2004 – 10.2005: Director, Department of International Financial Relations, State Debt and State Financial Assets, Ministry of Finance. 11.2005 – till present: Deputy Minister of Finance.

Nigel Timmins

Humanitarian Director, Oxfam

Nigel joined Oxfam in January 2012 with almost twenty years' experience in the relief and development sector. He has worked for Action Contre la Faim, Tearfund and Christian Aid, moving from roles in engineering to management. He has been involved in a number of humanitarian responses, including the Great Lakes of Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan and South Sudan, countries affected by the Asian Tsunami, Haiti and Syria among others. He also acted as the focal point for disaster risk reduction in the 2011 revision of the SPHERE Handbook: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response. He was a co-author of the Core Humanitarian Standard. He is interested in issues of resilience, how to better enable the emergence of local capacity, and organisational learning and performance. Nigel holds a MSc in Water and Sanitation Engineering from Cranfield University. He is Chair of the Cash learning Partnership (CaLP) and a Trustee of the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR).”