Programme

Modern economic policy is focused on delivering an optimal combination of economic efficiency, social security, and equity. The emergence of the non-commercial sector as a meaningful factor in the country’s economic life is becoming an urgent issue. The contribution made by not-for-profit organizations to Russian GDP was less than 1% in 2016, while it reaches 10% in many developed economies. Why is the social sector still undervalued in Russia, and what steps should be taken to enhance the financial and legal capabilities of non-profits? How can the financial stability of NPO operations be strengthened, and what can be done to broaden the sector’s role in the social services market?

Moderator:
Lev Jakobson , First Vice Rector, National Research University Higher School of Economics

Lev Jakobson

First Vice Rector, National Research University Higher School of Economics

Lev Jakobson is a Doctor of Economics, First Vice Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics (NRU HSE), a professor of the Department of Applied Economics. He is the research supervisor of the Center for Studies of Civil Society and the Nonprofit Sector at NRU HSE and the director of the International Laboratory for Nonprofit Sector Studies NRU HSE. Dr. Jakobson graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Moscow State University, in 1975. He worked as a senior lecturer, associate professor and professor at the Faculty of Economics from 1975 through 1997. Since 1997 Dr. Jakobson has been Vice Rector and First Vice Rector of the Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia. Currently Dr. Jakobson is on the Presidium of the Council for the Implementation of National Priority Projects and Demographic Policy under the President of the Russian Federation. He is a member of the following boards and councils: Presidential Council for Combating Corruption, Expert Council under the Russian Federation Government, Higher Attestation Commission under the Russian Federation Ministry of Education and Science. Dr. Jakobson authored over 300 academic publications in Russian and international journals focusing on issues of public administration, social policy, and finance, including monographs, manuals and educational materials. Dr. Jakobson was decorated with the Order of Honor (2009) and the Order for Services to the Nation, 4th Degree (2012). He was also awarded with two Certificates of Appreciation by the President of the Russian Federation.

Panellists
Anna Bitova , Director, Center for Curative Pedagogics
Vladimir Zernov , Rector, Russian New University (RosNOU)
Nadezhda Kosareva , President, Institute for Urban Economics (IUE)
Alexandra Levitskaya , Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation
Svetlana Makovetskaya , Director, Centre for Civic Analysis and Independent Research (GRANI Centre)
Nigel Timmins , Humanitarian Director, Oxfam
Maxim Topilin , Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation
Elena Topoleva-Soldunova , Director, Agency for Social Information
Anna Federmesser , Board Member, Vera Charitable Foundation for Hospice Care
Xenia Frank , Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Elena and Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation
Ilya Chukalin , Chief Executive Officer, Presidential Grants Foundation

Anna Bitova

Director, Center for Curative Pedagogics

Anna Bitova, Director and Board Member of the Centre for Curative Pedagogics (Moscow) Since 1980, has worked in rehabilitation and education of children with psychological development disorders. Anna is a speech therapist, author and a co-author of numerous programmes for children with development disorders. Anna is involved in implementing educational programmes and internships for professionals of specialized organizations throughout Russia, leading scientific research, consulting on launching and managing similar organizations. Member of the Presidential Council on Social Protection, the interagency workgroup on support for children and adults with disabilities under the Russian Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, as well as various commissions.

Alexandra Levitskaya

Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation

Born February 7, 1954, in Moscow. 1976 – graduated from Moscow State University. 1976–1993 – worked at the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Geophysical Prospecting Methods. 1993–1994 – deputy director of Geomidl limited liability company. 1994–1995 – executive director of Tereza, a Russian branch of the French association Medical and Social Assistance to Russia. 1995–1999 – head of department, President of Federal Stock Corporation open joint-stock company. 1999–2000 – Aide to the Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office. 2000–2003 – First Deputy Government Chief of Staff. 2003–2004 – First Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office. 2004–2007 – Deputy Health and Social Development Minister. 2007–2008 – Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister. 2008–2012 – Deputy Economic Development Minister. 2012–2013 – First Deputy Government Chief of Staff. From August 2013 – Presidential Adviser.

Svetlana Makovetskaya

Director, Centre for Civic Analysis and Independent Research (GRANI Centre)

Makovetskaya Svetlana Gennadievna (Perm), director of “Civic Analysis and Independent Research Center “GRANI”, the member of Advisory Council on state administration improvement at the Government Commission on administrative reform, the member of the Government Commission on coordination of Russian Federation’s Open Government activity, the Board member of ARETT (Association of Russian economic think-tanks), the member of Public Board at the Ministry of territorial development of Perm region. In 1986 she graduated from history department of A.M. Gorkiy Perm State University. In 2002 she graduated from economics department of A.M. Gorkiy Perm State University. • From 1995 till 2003 – the head of Ural agency of small and medium enterprise support. The expert of the FEED (Forum of Entrepreneurship and Enterprises Development) of OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development). In 2003 she was awarded with honorary diploma of the Ministry of antitrust policy and entrepreneurship support of the Russian Federation “For the huge personal contribution into development of small entrepreneurship in Russian Federation”. • From 2007 – the director of the “Civic Analysis and Independent Research Center “GRANI”. • In 2012 she was awarded with the Golden honorary sign of The Chamber of Commerce for fruitful cooperation on establishment of effective system of statutory acts’ expert evaluation in the interests of entrepreneurs and dissemination of civilized principles of business conduct.

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).”

Maxim Topilin

Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation

Maxim Topilin, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation From 1988 to 1994, engaged in scientific research. Since 1994, various posts in Russian Government Office. In 2001, appointed Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation. Supervised the issues of employment and human resources development. In 2004, appointed Head of the newly formed Federal Service for Labour and Employment. In 2008, appointed Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation. Нe was responsible for issues of national labour market policy, and social and demographic policy. One of Mr. Topilin’s successful projects was the development of anti-crisis measures for the labour market during the economic crisis of 2008-2010. Moreover, family social support measures taken at that time improved the demographic situation in the country. Mr. Topilin directly participated in the development of the 2011-2015 state programme "Friendly environment" aimed at the improvement of the quality of life for people with disabilities. On 21 May, 2012, Mr. Topilin was appointed Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation. The following issues fall within his competence: labour-management relations, employment, demographic policy, social protection, social security, including retirement security, and state civil service.

Xenia Frank

Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Elena and Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation

Xenia Frank has been the Head of the Timchenko Foundation’s Supervisory Board from the date it was established in December of 2010. Since then the foundation has become one of Russia’s leading family-driven grantmakers that supports projects in the areas of active ageing, sports, culture, and assistance to families and children. These strategic priorities seek comprehensive solutions to a wide range of social issues in Russia with a special attention to local communities. The Foundation’s program portfolio includes over 100 projects both within Russia and abroad such as ‘A Society For All Ages’ National Conference, ‘Active Generation’, ‘Cultural Mosaic of Small Towns and Villages’, ‘Dobryi Lyod /Good Ice/’, ‘Right Family Course’ countrywide grant competitions, and others. In 2009, Xenia graduated from the Edinburgh University with a first class degree in philosophy and French.

Ilya Chukalin

Chief Executive Officer, Presidential Grants Foundation

Graduated from Saratov State Academy of Law, had multiple internships abroad. Graduated from the Federal Management Training Programme at The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) and Pudong Academy (China). 2001: head of the Saratov Gubernia Community Foundation that implemented projects in social management, regional social development projects and various regional events. 2006–2011: held various management positions in medium-sized and big companies overseeing legal, corporate, real estate management issues, as well as GR. 2011: Deputy Director of the Department for strategic development and innovation, adviser to the Minister for communications and telecommunications. 2016: Deputy Director of the project office of the National technology initiative. April 3, 2017: appointed Secretary of the Coordinating Committee on presidential grants for civil society development and General Director of the Presidential Grants Foundation.