Valeriia Ivanova is a visiting senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund (GMF), where she conducts research on Ukraine's postwar recovery and anti-corruption efforts. Her analysis is aimed at proposing effective strategies for rebuilding infrastructure amid wartime challenges. She also develops initiatives to strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms within Ukraine's governmental structures.
Before joining GMF, Ivanova held the position of deputy head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine. During her tenure, the agency focused on addressing the consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine, implementing measures to protect critical infrastructure, and restoring social infrastructure and logistical networks. While in this role, she participated in the development and implementation of policies aimed at ensuring transparency and combating corruption in the execution of infrastructure projects.
Ivanova is the key expert on corruption prevention in recovery efforts within the USAID “Pro-Integrity in the Public Sector” project. She leads a team responsible for implementing a project aimed at developing and executing a framework establishing clear rules and mechanisms for preventing, detecting, and addressing corruption at various stages of the recovery process.
Until 2022, Ivanova served as an official at the National Agency on Corruption Prevention of Ukraine, where she specialized in the strategic analysis of corruption risks and developed strategies to minimize them within public administration. Before joining public service, Ivanova worked in the civil sector and for one of Ukraine’s most influential independent investigative journalism organizations, where she conducted investigations into cases of illicit enrichment by officials and unlawful influence on the formation and implementation of state policy. Ivanova holds a master’s degree from Dnipropetrovsk National University with a major in journalism.
In 2003, Taras Byk was a trainee at the Representative Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in Lviv, afterwards, he worked as a journalist and head of the World news department at the Lvivska Gazeta newspaper. In 2006, he moved to Kyiv where he worked for 3.5 years at the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, and then went for a six-month internship at the European Commission in Brussels. Afterward, for 8.5 years, he worked with the International Republican Institute on the development of democratic practices all over Ukraine.
In 2019, Taras joined Wooden Horse Strategies as a political and business consultant. During 2021, Taras was Head of the Advisory Board to the Mayor of Rivne, Ukraine. When Russia launched Big War on Ukraine, Taras stayed in Kyiv helping Armed Forces as a volunteer and has worked on humanitarian assistance projects. Then, he joined the Community Volunteer Formation of the Territorial Defense of Kyiv. Responding to new challenges before Ukraine, Taras became Director of the NGO “COD Help Ukraine – Operation Palianytsia” organizing support for military and humanitarian projects in Ukraine. Finally, since 2022 Taras has been a Member of the Board of the NGO “Agency for Recovery and Development” providing help to municipalities in different parts of Ukraine, especially, close to the frontline, on their recovery and development.
Penny Pritzker was appointed by President Biden to serve as the Special Representative for Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction.. From June 2013 through January 2017, she served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration.
Ms. Pritzker is an entrepreneur, civic leader, and philanthropist, with more than 30 years of experience in numerous industries. She is the founder and Chairman of PSP Partners, a diversified investment firm based in Chicago
In July of 2022, Ms. Pritzker was elected as the Senior Fellow of the Harvard Corporation and is the first woman to hold the position. Ms. Pritzker has been a member of the Harvard Corporation, the main governing board for the University, since 2018.. Ms. Pritzker also served as chairman of the board of trustees of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, co-founder and board chair of Chicago-based civic-tech organization P33, and chair of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Advisory Council. In addition to those roles, Ms. Pritzker is a member of the Aspen Strategy Group and the Aspen Economic Strategy Group.
Over the course of her career, Ms. Pritzker has launched a number of businesses across a variety of sectors and is the former executive chairman of the board of TransUnion and a past board member of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, Marmon Group, and LaSalle Bank Corporation.
Ms. Pritzker was formerly a member of President Biden’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the board of the Council on Foreign Relations, the board of trustees of Stanford University, the Harvard University Board of Overseers, was co-chair of the Cyber Readiness Institute and founded Skills for America’s Future. Ms. Pritzker also served on President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness and his Economic Recovery Advisory Board.
Ms. Pritzker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Harvard University and a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from Stanford University. Ms. Pritzker and her husband, Dr. Bryan Traubert, co-founded the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation that works to foster increased economic opportunity for Chicago’s families.
Oleksiy Povolotskiy is a law professional, he joined DTEK in 2010 and was the Director of Corporate Governance and Compliance till 2024. He is a member of the Supervisory Boards of DTEK Energy B.V. and DTEK Grids B.V. Since 2022, amidst Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Mr. Povolotskiy headed the Working Group on Humanitarian and Technical Aid. During 2022-2024 fruitful relationships were established with European energy companies, equipment manufacturers, and international and governmental organizations such as USAID and the Energy Community Secretariat. Considering (i) the huge level of destruction of energy infrastructure and (ii) the need to develop Ukraine's energy sector, the Office for Energy Infrastructure Recovery was established this year.
Natalie Jaresko is a leader in EY-Parthenon’s Turnaround and Restructuring Strategy practice, overseeing sovereign advisory efforts and complex public sector turnarounds.
Natalie is a proven executive with a distinguished 30-year career leading large-scale government transformations that restructure debt and marshal limited resources to prioritize essential services and strengthen budgetary practices, financial reporting and transparency. As Executive Director of Puerto Rico’s Financial Oversight and Management Board from 2017 to 2023, Natalie oversaw critical reforms and the largest debt restructuring in US municipal bond market history. Further, as Ukraine’s Minister of Finance from 2014-16, Natalie successfully restructured Ukraine’s sovereign debt and negotiated its wide-ranging IMF program.
Natalie is a CPA with a MPP from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and a BS in Accounting from DePaul University. Two presidents of Ukraine presented awards to Natalie for her distinguished service. Natalie serves on multiple not-for-profit boards, including as Chairperson of Aspen Institute Kyiv.