Business programme

The challenges and trends we are seeing in the 21st century, such as growth in global migration, global warming, the deterioration of living conditions in certain parts of the world, a scarcity of resources, the rethinking of the material economy, population growth, and aging, may have much more serious consequences than anything humanity has ever faced before. In addition, it is becoming increasingly difficult to shape an agenda for the future given the current global geopolitical, strategic, and economic standoff. At the same time, tools and institutions have been created around the world to provide opportunities that did not exist before: global institutions for the accumulation of scientific knowledge, institutions to manage megaprojects, a worldwide communication network, a global transport system, and more. In the current conditions, it is crucial to hold open discussions about the image of the future and share experience in solving urgent problems. Strategic research and planning institutions that have been set up in different countries that are interested in forming sustainable models for future development are of particular importance. The sharing of knowledge and a vision of the situation between such institutions is a key source for developing the most effective solutions. What responses are countries coming up with to the existing global challenges? How are the benchmarks and goals of socioeconomic, innovation, and technological development changing? What socioeconomic factors for the well-being of citizens will dominate in the future? What instruments should be introduced now to influence these factors? What role can strategic research and planning institutions take on in the new conditions?

Moderator
Dmitry Peskov, Head of Young Professionals Direction, Agency of Strategic Initiatives; General Director, Platform of the National Technology Initiative; Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Digital and Technological Development

Dmitry Peskov

Head of Young Professionals Direction, Agency of Strategic Initiatives; General Director, Platform of the National Technology Initiative; Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on Digital and Technological Development

Panellists
Vladimir Mau, Rector, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)
Nenad Popovic, Minister for Innovation and Technological Development, Government of the Republic of Serbia
Yerkin Tukumov, Director, Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazISS) (online)
Svetlana Chupsheva, General Director, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects
Robert Agee, President, Chief Executive Officer, American Chamber of Commerce in Russia

Nenad Popovic

Minister for Innovation and Technological Development, Government of the Republic of Serbia

Nenad Popović was born in Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in 1966. In 1991, he graduated from the University of Belgrade.
He started his own business as he had successful experience as an employee of leading Western companies. In 1994, he founded a company, which later became an electric power holding company that employs over 3,000 people. He is currently the owner and president of ABS Electro. The company’s enterprises have been in business for more than half a century and they have always been and still are the leading ones in the field. In 2016, the company’s annual turnover exceeded RUB 10 bln. Its production facilities are located in Cheboksary and Saint Petersburg, and its Head Office is in Moscow.
In 2014, Nenad Popović founded the Serbian People’s Party (SNP), which is focused on political and economic rapprochement with Russia. In March 2014, as Vice-President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, he was the head international observer of the electoral process in a referendum on the status of Crimea. He was awarded the Order of Friendship for contribution to the development of economic and social relationships between Serbia and Russia; the decree was signed by the President of the Russian Federation in 2010.
In 2002, Nenad Popović established ABS Slavyanskiy charitable foundation. Since then, the foundation is vigorous in helping those in need. It implements child support programs, develops and carries out projects in the fields of culture, science, education, sports, and healthcare. Since its establishment, the foundation has organized a lot of events involving cultural professionals, music groups, artists, athletes, and journalists. It also carried out projects so patients could receive medical treatment from the leading Russian physicians. There are educational and other fundraisers to support orphaned children in Russia in Serbia being organized on a regular basis.
Since 2003, Nenad Popović has been teaching at the Department of Economy of Foreign Countries and International Economic Relations of the Faculty of Economics of Lomonosov Moscow State University. Since 2001, he has been Professor at the Department of Economics and Mining Operations Planning of the Moscow State Mining University. Years of his academic activity resulted in 90 scientific papers on economics and regional development and 7 books.

Svetlana Chupsheva

General Director, Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects

Svetlana Chupsheva was born in Prague. In 2001 she graduated from Samara State Academy of Economics with Honors.Commencing from 2000 Svetlana Chupsheva worked at the Central Department of the Bank of Russia for Samara Region, then at the Government of Samara Region.From 2004 she held position of the Director General of the Rating Agency of the Government of Samara Region, and was the head of the State Institution Agency for Economic Development of Samara Region.From 2009 – adviser to the Deputy Chairmen of the Government of Samara Region – Ministry of Economic Development, Investment and Trade of Samara Region, then adviser to the Chairman of the Board of the CB Regional Credit, LLC.From 2011 – corporate director of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI). On August 10, 2015 she was appointed as the line director of the Social Projects of the ASI.From 2017 – Director General of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives.She is awarded with the Certificate of Merit issued by the President of the Russian Federation, she has the certificate of acknowledgement issued by the President of the Russian Federation and the certificate of acknowledgement issued by the Mayor of Moscow.She brings up four children.

Robert Agee

President, Chief Executive Officer, American Chamber of Commerce in Russia

Robert Agee, President and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, comes to this role with substantial proven experience in the Russian market. Robert has a track record of more than 30 years of innovative leadership in the technology sector, and he has also worked with a number of small and medium-sized businesses.

Robert has played a key role in Cisco’s success in Russia. Leading the company in 1997-2009, he established Cisco as a key player in Russia and in the ICT industry. Prior to joining Cisco, Robert was the General Manager of Xerox Corporation for the CIS from 1991 to 1996. Robert was a Senior Vice President and Adviser to RTEC, Russia's first company specializing in the manufacturing and development of world-class trusted telecommunications equipment. In addition to his work at RTEC, Robert also served on the boards of MobileAccess (USA), Le Pain Quotidien Russia and H2oil Russia.

Robert is well-acquainted with AmCham Russia and has already taken an active part in its operations: he was twice elected as a member of the AmCham Board of Directors and has served on its Executive Committee. In 2004, he received the Darin Russian National Award of the Russian academy of business and entrepreneurship for his contribution to the international development and integration.