STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS. IDEAS & INSIGHTS
2ND INTERNATIONAL AKOS FORUM
June 30, 2026
Digital Business Space
Moscow, Pokrovka, 47
Organizer
Co-organizers
Supported by

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Speakers
  • Igor Pisarsky
    Chairman of the Board of Directors, R.I.M.
    Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Silver Archer Award
  • Timur Shafir
    Secretary of the Union of Journalists of Russia,
    Head of International Department
  • Mikhail Khomich
    Chief Managing Director – Chief Strategist, VEB.RF,
    Deputy Director of the New Business Directorate, ASI
  • Vyacheslav Lashchevsky
    Chairman of the Board of Directors, AGT Communications Group,Co-Chairman of the Coordinating Council for the Communications Industry under the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation
  • Sergey Piskarev
    President of AKAR,
    Advisor to the General Director of NRA LLC
  • Olga Berek
    President of the National Association of Bloggers
  • Sergey Skripnikov
    Chairman of the Advisory Council,
    Executive Director for Public Relations, AFK Sistema
  • Dmitry Smolnikov
    Deputy General Director of the CSR (Center for Strategic Research)
  • Lilia Glazova
    CEO of PR News,
    Head of the AKOS Committee for Industry Research and Ratings
  • Svetlana Baranova
    Director of Communications at the Association of Managers
  • Andrey Lapshov
    Chairman of AKOS,
    President of Insiders Communications Group
  • Olga Terno
    Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
  • Elena Reshetova
    First Vice President of the Association of Communication Agencies of Russia (AKAR)
  • Sergey Zverev
    President of KROS Group of Companies, Head of the AKOS Committee for Education
  • Alina Yashina
    Co-founder of So.Tvortsy Bureau, Business Mediator and Facilitator
  • Maria Zhmak
    Director of Marketing and PR at MB Rus JSC
  • Sergey Koshkin
    Head of Public Relations Department at CEMROS JSC
  • Ekaterina Cherkes-Zade
    Advisor to the CEO on Creative Economy at ASI
  • Daria Levchenko
    Head of External Relations Department, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
  • Andrey Kirpichnikov
    Advisor to the President of PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel
  • Alexey Goryachev
    Investment Banker and Investor, Managing Partner at RB Partners
  • Marina Tishchenko
    Head of PR Department at SberTech
  • Kermen Mandzhieva
    International Expert on Strategic Communications
  • Yuri Armand
    Director of the Center for Modern Communications, Institute of Higher School of Government and Management, Presidential Academy
  • Irina Mineeva
    Head of Communications Efficiency Development Department at Dialog Regions
  • Valery Sidorenko
    CEO of R.I.M. – Interium Communications Group, Head of the AKOS Committee for Digital Communications
  • Ksenia Nikolaeva
    Head of the Bureau of Territorial Research "Blagonika", invited expert at the ZIRCON Research Group
  • Sergey Denisenko
    PR Director at VseInstrumenty.ru
Program Highlights

  • Current challenges & long-term effects
  • Resetting communications as a state and business priority
  • Elevating communications to strategic management
  • International experience exchange in strategic communications
  • Industry-sensitive discussions: challenges and opportunities
  • Communications tools for Russian business competitiveness
  • Countering negative information phenomena
  • Russia's economic strategy as a brand economy
  • Federal & regional communications services market
  • Communications as creative industries: growth drivers
  • New research and product presentations
  • The role of consultants in strategic and economic goals
  • Launching international and domestic projects aligned with the forum's mission
Program
The Forum is a response to the call of the industry community. Its focus is on communications as a strategic tool for governance, interaction, and development both within Russia and at the international level. The program is shaped with input from members of AKOS and the AKOS Advisory Council, independent experts, and partners to ensure that the Forum is as relevant and useful as possible, while also delivering long-term effects for the development of the communications industry.
Open Master Classes on Communications for SMEs (and Beyond)
ALL-RUSSIAN SEMINAR FOR PRESS SECRETARIES AND PR SPECIALISTS OF THE "MY BUSINESS" REGIONAL CENTERS AND REGIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT
YOUTH PROGRAM
MUSIC PROGRAM
  • Denis Shekhovtsov
    Saxophone
PARTICIPATION
The forum is designed with long-term goals in mind—to foster an engaged community of professionals whose connections and collaborations will continue to grow well beyond the event itself.
OUR COMMUNITY
The forum's community is composed of key stakeholders from across the communications ecosystem:
  • International representatives – Communications professionals from BRICS, SCO, and EAEU countries
  • Industry bodies – Leaders of professional associations and sectoral organizations
  • Public sector – Officials from government authorities and regulatory agencies
  • Corporate sector – Directors of Communications, PR, GR, IR, and ESG functions at Russian and multinational companies
  • Agency sector – Senior executives from marketing, advertising, and PR agencies based in Moscow and across the Russian regions
  • Non-profit sector – Heads of resource NGOs and civil society organizations
  • Thought leaders – Communications experts, authors, and champions of professional standards and best practices
Participation in the forum is free of charge. The impact of the platform extends far beyond the one-day forum format—offering expert support and new professional opportunities that continue well after the event itself.
PARTNERS
The forum is organized by the Association of Communications Consultancies (AKOS) – Russia's leading expert platform for the development of the communications and PR industry.
Founded over 25 years ago, the Association today brings together Russia's most respected communications agencies, consolidating their recognized expertise, experience, and knowledge.
Organizer
Co-organizers
Supported by

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
Strategic Partners
Strategic Program Partner
Organizational Partner
Research Partner
Media Partners
International Information Partner
Organizing Committee
  • Andrey Lapshov
    Chairman of the Organizing Committee; Chairman of AKOS; President of Insiders Communications Group
  • Marina Vashukova
    Program Director and Forum Coordinator; Executive Director of AKOS director@akospr.ru
  • Maria Olshanskaya
    Forum Producer, Director of Strategic Development, SKC
  • Andrey Ermoshkin
    Director of the International Track; Executive Director, RIM-Interium Group
  • Anna Talanina
    International Track Coordinator; Head of the International Department, Interium Digital Agency
  • Maxim Shiyan
    PR Director of the Forum; PR Director, SKC
  • Oleg Shulzhenko
    Technical Director of the Forum; Technical Director, SKC
  • Yakov Minevich
    Director of the Youth Track; Managing Partner, Brand Affairs
  • Ekaterina Tuzova
    Youth Track Coordinator; Team Lead, cultcomms; Account Manager, Brand Affairs
  • Elena Malyvanova
    Volunteer Corps Coordinator; Client Service Director, Brand Affairs
  • Mikhail Struchkov
    Director of the Operations Track; Director, Sobytie