Ukraine

Roman Shynkarenko has over five years of experience working in organizations dedicated to improving the social sphere within communities. Roman holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Dnipro National University in Ukraine. He currently serves as a Referral Officer at Humanity & Inclusion, where he collaborates with other organizations involved in humanitarian missions in Ukraine. Previously, Roman served as the Chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk region organization of the political party “”UDAR Vitaliy Klitschko”” and worked as a manager at the company Operational Sociology. Throughout his career, Roman has been driven by a strong commitment to helping vulnerable individuals affected by the war in his country. His primary focus lies within the field of protection, as he currently works in the protection department at Humanity & Inclusion. Roman is dedicated to ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive the necessary support and protection they need in the aftermath of the conflict.

Mykola is a political and military journalist in with over 10 years of experience in media. He earned his Master’s degree in management and economics. Mykola has worked as an investigative journalist covering issues of corruption, including conflict with involving the regime of former president Yanukovich, as well as the conflict of the Russian invasion on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Previously, Mykola was a participant of the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) of the U.S. Department of State as well as a participant of the internship at Deutsche Welle media broadcast in Bonn, Germany. He speaks frequently at think-tanks and other organizations in Washington D.C. on Ukrainian-Russian conflict, Eastern Europe and local politics of Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Mykole worked as a contributor to the Atlantic Council’s “Ukraine Alert” blog, the Jamestown Foundation (EDM) and KyivPost, Lb.ua, Echo of Moscow. In 2017 he was participated in the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation fellowship at SAIS in Washington D.C. where he researched Russian informational warfare in Ukraine, the EU and US. Mykole has authored of over 200 publications and interviews on the US, Ukrainian and Russian issues, conflict in the Donbas and U.S. policy towards the Eastern European region. He speaks Ukrainian, Russian, English and some Polish.

Host Org: Voice of America

Fellow role at Voice of America: Mykola will serve as a journalist, identifying and researching news and feature stories about UR-Russia relations and American life. He will expand his skills in journalism and storytelling on various digital platforms and produce TV reports for international broadcast and/or digital content.

Maksym has more than two years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and has earned both a Bachelor’s Degree with Honors in International Relations and International Law as well as a Specialist’s Degree with Honors in Public International Law from the Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University Institute of International Relations.
Recently, he was awarded a Chevening Scholarship (funded by the UK Government) and was subsequently awarded an LL.M. in Global Environment and Climate Change Law at the University of Edinburgh. At the Renewable Energy Center, he worked on issues related to clean technologies and the renewable energy market of Ukraine with specific
focus on areas such as biomass, solar and wind energy. While working as an Intern at OIES he has conducted research on energy market of Ukraine. At the same time, while working as an intern at UNDP Ukraine he worked on information issues related to UNDP and UN-led activities and provided of administrative support. Through these experiences, he developed strong organizational, analytical and mediating skills. Maksym enjoys focusing on the topics of energy policy and economic development, and has a strong passion for
international relations.

Host Organization : National Conference on Soviet Jewry (NCSJ)

Role at Host Organization: Maksym will monitor and research political, economic, and social trends in the Euro-Asian region, especially with regard to Jews and Jewish affairs, U.S. relations with governments in the region, developing policy recommendations, and attending hearings and briefings in Washington.

Iryna has six years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Master’s of Art in Sociology from the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy in Ukraine. As a Research Associate at the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (IER), a think tank in Kyiv, Ukraine, she applied her expertise in sociology, economics, and project management. She coordinated research projects which focused on the analysis of business climate in Ukraine. Previously, Iryna worked for Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reforms (UDAR), a liberal democratic Ukrainian political party that pursues economic and institutional reforms in Ukraine. There, she gave recommendations for the party’s policy based on electoral research and monitored current events. She also prepared statements and talking points for the party representatives. Outside of work, Iryna founded an informational website for students and youth which highlights events and opportunities in the field of civil society. Throughout her career in think tanks and politics, she has developed research, statistical analysis, and strategic planning skills. She has gained experience in analysis of economic and institutional reforms, benchmark indexes, and giving public policy recommendations aimed at improvement of institutional conditions for business. Her research interests include business climate and civil society development.

Host Organization : Heritage Foundation

Role at Host Organization: Iryna will preform independent research into all aspects of economic freedom and development, with a particular focus on Europe and Central Asia, and assist in the online, print and media packaging and presentation of the research, along with other research by The Heritage Foundation, for audiences in the United States and overseas. Iryna will contribute to research and drafting for the Index of Economic Freedom, and assist with outreach efforts.