Business programme

In 2022, the entire world saw clearly that the digital space can be as unipolar as the offline world with its administrative boundaries. Russia's encounter with unprecedented sanctions pressure served as a clear illustration that individuals in any country could face the risk of Internet fragmentation and digital discrimination at any given moment. The issue of digital sovereignty and safeguarding national digital space has become more crucial than ever for numerous countries that refuse to tolerate the hegemony of the North Atlantic alliance. This has resulted in a situation where Russia, with its unique experience and expertise in preserving digital sovereignty, can take the lead in establishing new technological and political alliances by introducing the concept of sustainable digital dialogue. This proposal aims to fortify statehood and promote a standard for digitalization development and collaboration within the digital environment. The concept revolves around a human-centred approach where both the state and digital platforms prioritize the interests of ordinary network users. Globalization vs Fragmentation: How can we safeguard national digital sovereignty while maintaining participation in the global Internet? Where should the borders of nation-states and digital platforms be defined? How can the rights of everyday users be safeguarded against the interests of multinational corporations? What areas of Russia's digitalization offer the most potential for international collaboration, and what obstacles must be overcome to facilitate its progress?

Moderator
Vadim Glushchenko, Director, Center for Global IT-Cooperation

Vadim Glushchenko

Director, Center for Global IT-Cooperation

Panellists
Daniil Algulyan, Deputy Chairman, VEB.RF
Hossein Zarean, Head of the Center for International Business, FANAP Holding
Milos Jovanovic, President, OpenLink Group; Professor, Belgrade Metropolitan University
Natalya Kasperskaya, President, InfoWatch Group
Sergey Plugotarenko, General Director, Digital Economy
Vladimir Tabak, General Director, Dialogue ANO

Daniil Algulyan

Deputy Chairman, VEB.RF

Date of birth: 1 September 1976
Education:
2010–2011, London Business School, EMBA.
2000–2003, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Major: Jurisprudence.
1997–1999, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Major: International Political Science.
1993–1997, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Major: Regional Studies and Diplomacy.
Professional Background:
October 2018–Present, Deputy Chairman of VEB.RF.
July 2017–October 2018, Senior Vice-President, Head of International Activities, Export and Financial Institutions, State Corporation “Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank)”.
October 2016–July 2017, Senior Vice-President, Export Finance and Trade Finance, State Corporation “Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank)”.
2013–2016, Director of the Export Finance Department, State Corporation “Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank)”.
2006–2013, Director, Head of the Representative Office of КfW IPEX-Bank GmbH in the Russian Federation.
2002–2006, project manager, advisor, KfW Group.

Hossein Zarean

Head of the Center for International Business, FANAP Holding

Milos Jovanovic

President, OpenLink Group; Professor, Belgrade Metropolitan University

Natalya Kasperskaya

President, InfoWatch Group

Born in Moscow in 1966, Natalya Kaspersky graduated from the Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics with Diploma in Applied Mathematics.
In 1997, Natalya, together with Eugene Kaspersky, founded Kaspersky Lab and became its CEO. Over 10 years of Natalya’s supervision, a Kaspersky Lab startup turned into a remarkable leader of global IT market boasting $500 million in revenue.
In 2007, Natalya headed InfoWatch, which now dominates the Russian IT market, still actively develops in Russia and the CIS, and successfully enters the global arena. InfoWatch offers innovative and effective corporate data and enterprise protection against information leakage and the most pressing internal and external threats.
Natalya holds multiple awards in Russian and International Business and IT:
• «Entrepreneur of the Year 2016» in Russia according to the global audit company EY, winner in “High-Tech” Category.
• Bronze medalist of “Top-100 most influential Russian women in business” rating.
• “Russian Business Leader of the Year 2012” award honoring her remarkable contribution to the progress of the Russian IT community, according to Horasis, the Global visions community.
• Leader of “Top-1000 highest Russian managers of 2014” in IT according to Kommersant leading Russian business daily and Association of Russian managers.
• Best Technology Business Entrepreneur, Women in Technology MEA 2014 awards, Dubai.
• Nominee as The most influential person from Russia Q1 2015 for input in the IT-industry by BRIC Magazine, UK
• Leader of «Best.ru» rating in Telecom/IT in 2017
• The 30 most inspirational leaders in business by Insights Success Magazine.

Sergey Plugotarenko

General Director, Digital Economy

Mr. Plugotarenko graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), Department of Physical and Quantum Electronics (1993–1996) and Department of Control and Applied Mathematics (1996–1999), certified as Physical Engineer specializing in Applied Mathematics and Physics.From 2002, he was leading ICT specialist at the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education. In 2004–2006, he was executive director and, from 2007, director of the Runet Awards competition. Since 2005, he has served as coordinator of programme committees for some high-profile sectoral conference events, including the Russian Internet Forum (RIF), Russian Interactive Week (RIW) and others.In 2005–2007, he served as deputy executive director of the Regional Non-government Centre for Internet Technologies – the oldest NGO engaged in expert evaluation, promotion and development of the ICT segment in the Russian Federation, upholding the interests of Internet users. In 2007, he was elected executive director of ROCIT. From 2005 he was ideologue and founder of the Russian Association for Electronic Communications, promoting the interests of Russian Internet players. From 2006, he was deputy general manager of NP RAEC.In 2011–2013, Mr. Plugotarenko was member of the Council of Coordination Centre for National Top Level Domains RU/RF. Since 2010, he has been director of The Russian Association for Electronic Communications (NP RAEC). Since October 1, 2022 – General Director, Digital Economy

Vladimir Tabak

General Director, Dialogue ANO

Front row participant
Alexander Svinin, Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Indonesia (online)

Alexander Svinin

Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Indonesia

Date of birth: January 4th, 1988Place of birth: Syktyvkar, Komi RepublicEducation: National Research University Higher School of Economics Sankt Petersburg, Master in Public AdministrationBiography Alexander Svinin was born and grew up in Syktyvkar, the capital of the Komi Republic. In 2005 he was admitted to the Saint Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics and in 2009 he graduated with the Bachelor’s degree. Two years later, in 2011, he graduated from the National Research University Higher School of Economics Sankt Petersburg with the Master’s degree in Public Administration.CareerAlexander has started his career path in the human resources department of the Leningrad Optical Mechanical Association.In 2007 he came as an assistant to the Kelly Services, and then was promoted to the consultant role.From 2010 to 2011 he worked as a consultant in the ANKOR. In 2012 he launched his own company Smart Start that aims to help the recent graduates to find a job through the social networks.In 11 months Smart Start had more than 45,000 students from 20 regions of Russia registered, and more than 350 companies placing their vacancies in the application. In 2012 Alexander was elected as member of the board of “Opora Rossii”.In 2015 he became an assistant of the Secretary of the Civic Chamber.Also, in 2015 he became the head of the project “Perspectiva”, launched by the Civic Chamber.In 2015 he headed the “Perspectiva” fund, the grantee of the presidential grants.In 2017 he became an Economic Counselor of the Head of the Udmurt Republic.Then in 2017 he was appointed to the acting First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Udmurt Republic.Since 2017 he is the First Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Udmurt Republic. From November 2020 - Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Singapore.