‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’

Moderator
Valdis Pelsh,

Panellists
Nikolay Korchunov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, Arctic Council
Vyacheslav Fetisov, Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Goodwill Ambassador, The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Chairman, All-Russian Society of Nature Conservation
Alexey Chekunkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic
Artur Chilingarov, Special Presidential Representative for International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic; President, Association of Polar Explorers
Irina Yarovaya, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Nikolay Korchunov

Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, Arctic Council

Vyacheslav Fetisov

Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Goodwill Ambassador, The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Chairman, All-Russian Society of Nature Conservation

Viacheslav Alexandrovich “Slava” Fetisov is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and coach who earned two Stanley Cups during his time as a player and one as coach with the NHL. He also earned two Olympic gold medals, one silver and one bronze during his hockey career as both a player for the Soviet national team and as manager for the Russian national team. Slava is a currently an acting member of the State Duma of Russia—one of the two bodies that make up the Russian Federal Assembly. After the 2002 Winter Olympics, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered him the position as Minister of Sport, a post he held until 2008. Fetisov has become passionate about polar conservation and was a formidable advocate on behalf of the Ross Sea within Russia with a commitment to work for long-term protections through a network of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean. In 2018 he was appointed UN Environment Patron for Polar Regions.

Alexey Chekunkov

Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic

Alexey Chekunkov has been the head of the Far East Development Fund since October, 2014.In 2013-2014 Alexey managed his own investment company PAMIR Capital before appointment to the position of the Far East Development Fund Chief Executive Officer. In 2011-2013 he worked as a Director, Member of the Management Board and Investment Committee in the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). Mr. Chekunkov was responsible for investments in healthcare, energy saving, raw materials sector as well as for establishing of the Russian-Chinese Investment Fund with 2 billion dollars capital. In 2009-2011 Alexey managed his own investment company New Nations Capital (venture capital investments, investment banking). In 2006-2009 he worked in the position of Managing Director in the investment company United Gold Company (UGC), being a part of Alfa-Group consortium.In 2003-2006 he was Vice-President in Delta Private Equity, one of the leading private equity companies in Russia, managing over 500 million dollars capital. He participated in a number of landmark deals including sale of Delta Bank, of TV channels STS and TV-3, of the National Cable Networks holding, of the company Compulink. In 2002-2003 Mr. Chekunkov took part in consolidation of gold-mining assets in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) as the Projects Director in the Investment Group Alrosa. On November 10, 2020, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, he was appointed Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic.

Artur Chilingarov

Special Presidential Representative for International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic; President, Association of Polar Explorers

In 1963 he graduated from the S.O. Makarov Leningrad Higher School of Marine Engineering with a degree in Oceanology.1963–1969: Worked at the Tiksi Arctic Research Laboratory.1969–1974: Headed the North Pole 19 and North Pole 22 drift ice-based research stations and the Bellingshausen research station.1974–1979: Head of the Amderma Territorial Hydrometeorology Division.1979–1986: Head of the Personnel and Education Institutions Division of the USSR State Committee for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Control.1986–1992: Deputy Chairman of the USSR State Committee for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Control.In 1985 he was awarded with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for rescuing the Mikhail Somov ship that was stuck in ice.In 1987 he led a research expedition on-board the Sibir nuclear-powered icebreaker.1989–1990: Organized the International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition.In 1991 he led the Airborne Expedition to the Antarctic.In 2003 he initiated the establishment of the North Pole 32 drift ice-based research station.In 2008 he was elected a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.He is a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the 1st–5th convocations.2011–2014: member of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, representing the Tula Region.Since 2014: Member of the Board of Directors, Rosneft.

Irina Yarovaya

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

Born 17 October 1966. Has a degree in Law, as well as in Public and Municipal Administration.
1988: joined Public Prosecutor’s Office in Kamchatka Territory, where she held positions of the Deputy City Prosecutor of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and the Head of Investigation Department in Kamchatka Territory.
Since 1997: won single-member district election to the Council of People’s Deputies of Kamchatka Territory twice.
2007 and 2011: elected Deputy of the State Duma (Member of the United Russia Party). First female Chairperson of State Duma Security and Anti-Corruption Committee in the history of Russia’s parliaments.
2016: headed the regional group №1 of the Federal list of Candidates for Deputy of the 4th State Duma from the United Russia Party (Kamchatka Territory, Khabarovsk Territory, Amur Region, Magadan Region, Jewish Autonomous Region, Chukotka Autonomous District).
In 2016 elected Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma.
According to expert polls, she is one of Duma’s five most efficient Deputies. Authored over 200 legislative acts.
Most memorable acts for the Far East include: ban on drift fishing, ban on multiple border crossing by fishing vessels, compulsory registration of fishing facilities in the region where fishing is held, simplified call at the Far-Eastern ports for international cruise lines.
Head of the Central Control Commission of the United Russia Party.
Member of the Russian Language Arts Society, headed by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Rus.

Participants
Yuri Bezdudnyi, Governor of the Nenets Autonomous District
Roman Kopin, Governor of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
Vladimir Uiba, Head of the Republic of Komi
Alexander Tsybulskiy, Governor of Arkhangelsk Region
Andrey Chibis, Governor of Murmansk Region

Yuri Bezdudnyi

Governor of the Nenets Autonomous District

Roman Kopin

Governor of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug

Roman Kopin was born on March 5, 1974.
In 1996 he had finished Volgo-Vyatskaya Academy of government service having graduated of department of the State and municipal administration.
Since 2001 till now Roman Kopin lives and works in Chukotka.
In 2001 he was Governor’s adviser on economical issues.
In December 2001 he was the head of municipal administration of Chaunskiy district, and in 2003 he was the head of Bilibino municipal district.
In April 2008 he was appointed as the Vice-Governor of Chukotka Autonomous Region and at the same time he was the chief of Department of industrial and farming policy.
13 of July 2008 during the close vote of deputies of regional Duma Roman Kopin was appointed as the Governor of Chukotka Autonomous Region.
On September 8, 2013 he was elected the Governor of Chukotka Autonomous Area. On September 24 Roman Kopin took the oath and officially entered a position.
He was awarded by "Medal of honor" the decree of the President of Russian Federation
He is married and has two children, a son and a daughter.

Alexander Tsybulskiy

Governor of Arkhangelsk Region

Born on July 15, 1979 in Moscow.
Education:
Graduated from the Military University attached to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in 2001.
Graduated from the Moscow Institute of International Business in 2006.
Fluent in English, Greek and French.
Work experience:
1996-2005: Military service.
2005-2008: Worked in various positions at the Department of Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry
of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation.
2008-2011: Worked in various positions аt the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation.
2011-2013: Director of the Department of International Relations and Development of Cross-Border Cooperation, Director of the Department for the Coordination of State Industry Programs, Ministry
of Regional Development of the Russian Federation.
2013-2014: Aide to the Minister, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Director of the Department for Interaction with Customs Union Authorities and Economic Cooperation with CIS Countries, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
2014-2017: Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
Since September 2017 - Acting Governor of Nenets Autonomous Area.
On October 1, 2018, assumed the post of Governor of the Nenets Autonomous Area.
From April 3, 2020 - Acting Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region.
From October 8, 2020 - Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region.

Andrey Chibis

Governor of Murmansk Region

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.
21 March 2019: Acting Governor of Murmansk Region