Valentin Makarov

President, RUSSOFT

Valentin Makarov was born in April 16, 1955 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia.

He graduated from Leningrad Aircraft Instrumentation Institute (now State University of Space Instruments, St.-Petersburg) in 1978 and had been working in Defense industry until 1985. In 1993 he attended courses of Manchester Business School and in 2000—courses of Diplomatic Academy of Russia.

Since 1985 and until 2000 Valentin Makarov devoted his life and energy to extending economic and cultural ties of St. Petersburg and Russia within the country and overseas, while working in the Leningrad Polytechnic University, then in the Permanent Delegation of Russian Federation to UNESCO, in the “Association of Free Economic zones of St.-Petersburg” and finally as the deputy chairman of the Committee of External Relations of Administration of St.-Petersburg.

In 1999 he was elected the president of the “St Petersburg Consortium «Fort Ross» IT services”, then after amalgamation with the National Software Development Association in May 2004 he became president of the united “RUSSOFT Association”, which is the unique voice of the software development industry in Russia.

Valentin Makarov got significant experience of lobbying interests of the industry in the State of Russian Federation. He had been also involved in conducting Nation-wide market studies and organizing marketing activities of RUSSOFT in Russia and abroad (Russian IT-Seasons, Road-shows, ROSS Forum, etc.). He was also representing APKIT (Russian IT&Computer Association) in WITSA in 2002–2007.

Robert Farish

Vice President and Regional Managing Director, CIS, IDC

Since 1992, Robert Farish has tracked the IT markets of the former Soviet Union. Having spent most of his professional life in Moscow, he now heads IDC’s regional team covering the CIS countries. Joining IDC CEMA in 1995, Farish has personally authored studies on most of the technology areas addressed by IDC. His leadership has resulted in a major expansion of IDC’s research, consulting, and events business in the CIS as well as the opening of offices in Russia, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus.

Farish is widely regarded as one of the foremost specialists on IT markets in the CIS region and is regularly cited by the Russian business and IT press.

Prior to joining IDC, Farish was the director of Russia Data Services, an independent Moscow-based IT research firm. He also worked as a Moscow-based technology journalist. Farish has an Honors BA in history from Birmingham University in the U.K. and was a postgraduate student in communications at Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Sergey Makedonsky

Director General, in4media/Forrester

Alexander Egorov

CEO, Reksoft

Alexander Egorov was born 1969 in Leningrad, USSR and co-founded Reksoft in 1991 while studying in St.Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation. Alexander holds Master Degree in CAD/CAM from St-Petersburg University of Aerospace Instrumentation (1993) and MBA from the Stockholm School of Economics (2004).

Under Alexander’s leadership Reksoft evolved from an IT start-up into one of the leading players on the Russian software engineering market, serving both international and domestic customers. Along with its core business as an IT solutions and services company, Reksoft has served as business incubator and venture launchpad for a number of high-tech companies with a current combined turnover of more than $500 mln. Among them are: largest Russian online retailer Ozon, country’s leading Internet payment gateway, Assist, telecom OSS/BSS product developer Barsum, IT consulting companies Technoserv Consulting and Edelink.

As business angel Alexander also continues to support ventures in field of IT/Internet and sits on the board of directors of several international projects.

Nikolai Puntikov

President, First Line Software
Editor-in-Chief, Software-Russia.com

Dr. Puntikov is the President of First Line Software, a global company offering broad range of software development and technology enablement services and solutions. Nikolai is a serial entrepreneur and business executive with a proven track record in building successful global organizations. He is also a committed advocate for the development of the Russian innovative ecosystem. In 2010, Nikolai co-founded the Russian Chapter of the MIT Enterprise Forum, a non-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the growth and success of high-tech entrepreneurial ventures. Currently, he is the Chairman of CEE-SECR, the largest software engineering conference in Russia and Editor-in-chief of analytical portal Software Russia. Dr. Puntikov holds his M.S. degree from the St. Petersburg State University and a Doctorate degree from the Institute of Informatics of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Nikolay Kuteev

General Director of the Russian Technological Agency
Adviser to the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation

Born on July 17, 1982 in Togliatti

In 2003 graduated from the Management Department at the Togliatti Academy of Management, in 2004 graduated from the Economics Department at the Togliatti Academy of Management.

Since 2014 — general director of the Russian Technological Agency
Since 2012 — advisor to the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
2008–2012 — deputy director / director, Department of System Analysis and Strategic Planning. Director, Department of Strategic Development, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation (Moscow)
2006–2008 — Head, Department of training programs, Moscow School of Management Skolkovo (Moscow)
2005–2006 — Leading specialist of general academic programs (co-ordinator, Council of the The Ministry of education and science of Russia for MBA). Director, Center of Expertise of Educational Programs, Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation (Moscow)

Evgeny Kuznetsov

Deputy CEO, Director of Project Management Office, RVC

Evgeny Kuznetsov – member of the Board of RVC, Deputy CEO, Director of Project Management Office. Specialist in communications and public campaigns.

Education
Graduated from St. Petersburg State University.

Professional experience
2001-2002 – worked at the Foundation for strategic research “North-West”, an independent public institution. Was responsible for conducting strategic research and development of expert advice on a wide range of socio-economic issues. His work was focused on the developments in the field of regional development.

2002-2007 – worked in Imageland Edelman, an international PR Agency. Was engaged in comprehensive campaigns for corporate clients and public-political campaigns at the Federal level.

2006 – together with Simon Kordonsky created the Fund for the promotion of science, education and medicine. Implemented a series of public campaigns in the field of medicine and healthcare.

2009 – Head of the Committee on relations with the scientific community of the Russian branch of The International Association of Business Communicators.

Since 2009 has been working in the Russian Venture Company (RVC). Came to the position of Director of development and communications, later became Director of the Department of Strategic Communications.

From April 2014 – Director of Project Management Office, member of the Board of RVC.