About Us

Organisation Structure of Ukrainians in Geneva

Christine Batruch – Advisory Board

Historian and lawyer by training, graduate of the University of Toronto and McGill University respectively, admitted as barrister and solicitor at the Law Society of Upper Canada. Based in Geneva, Ms. Batruch has worked in the non-profit, academic, and business sectors. Christine was liaison officer and assistant professor at the International Academy of the Environment.  As of 2021, she acts as Strategic Sustainability Advisor for the Lundin Group. Ms. Batruch has been a speaker in several international environmental, social, and governance (ESG) conferences and has lectured on ESG issues at international business schools (IMD, IMI-Kyiv, Business School of Lausanne) and universities (Dundee, Geneva, Stockholm). In 2020, Ms. Batruch was recognized as one of the “top women influencers in the energy sector” by the Oil Council.

Ms. Batruch is President of the Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation (Kyiv), a member of the Board of Directors of Josemaria Resources Inc. (Vancouver), of the Lundin Foundation (Vancouver), and is member of the Advisory Board of the Lundin Sustainability Chair at IMD. She is on the Advisory Editorial Board of I by IMD, on the Editorial Board of the Journal of World Energy Law and Business (Oxford University Press), and of the Oil, Gas, and Energy Law Intelligence. Ms. Batruch has published sustainability and energy-related articles in the UCLA Review, the Journal of World Energy Law and Business, in the Oil, Gas, and Energy Law Intelligence.

Dimitri Chichlo – Head of Geneva Branch

Independent Non-Executive Director in the Financial sector, expert in Cybersecurity and Digital Transformation, holds MSc degree in Auditing and Controlling and Executive MBA from INSEAD. Dimitri has a strong multicultural financial experience, i.e. he worked as an auditor at PriceWaterHouseCoopers (Bordeaux), financial controller at Imerys (Donetsk), Audit and Control Director at Société Générale and its ProstoFinance (Kyiv), Head of Risk Management at ING (Geneva), and VP of Information Security at Edmond de Rothschild (Geneva), information technology advisor at Union Bancaire Privée, and member of the Supervisory Board of JSC “Ukreximbank”. Dimitri is the founder and CEO of Demine Foundation with the focus of the demining the Ukrainian territories.

Inna Decreme (Akhtyrska) – Head of Geneva Branch

Freelance journalist working in the EU specializing in higher education topics. Graduated with an Executive MBA degree from Kozminski University in Warsaw, MA in Political Science (PL) and MA in Journalism from Karazin Kharkiv National University (UA), studied also in the University of Missouri-Columbia (USA). Inna was a chief-editor of the English version of Ukrainian news internet portal gordonua.com, worked as International Relations Officer at Lodz University of Technology (PL), helped in the creation of Polish-Ukrainian centres in Ukraine, was a journalist for Perspektywy Press Education Magazine in Warsaw (PL) and a news reporter for TV channel Inter in Ukraine. Currently lives in Geneva leading several education projects in business schools.

Oles Ilchenko – Honour Member

Poet, writer and scenario producer, has literature and environmental science education. The author of more than 30 books for children and adults, 7 poetic books, 2 romans and a story among them. Oles Ilchenko’s poems were translated into English, Serbian, German, Lithuanian, Russian. In the critic’s opinion, one of the best Ukrainian poets in free verse style. Member of three literature clubs.

Oxana Kobzar – Vice President / Communication with media

PhD in Economics, an experienced specialist in the sphere of energy trade. For the last 12 years of her life, was taking posts as a trader in many European companies. All her free time spends supporting social and charity projects to help Ukraine. Created her own Foundation (2006-2013) to support the House for orphanages in the city of Bilopillia (Sumy region, Ukraine). Gathered more than 220’000 EUR to build the infrastructure of the Institution, bought lots of necessary things that were in lack before. Lives in Geneva and plays an active role in the work of Ukrainian Society of Switzerland Geneva Branch.

Olena Neskorod – Humanitarian Aid Program Coordinator

Graduated from Donetsk National Technical University in accounting, worked as an accounting specialist in Donetsk and Kyiv. In 2009 emigrated to Geneva, was one of the activists to create the children club “Butterfly” (acting since 2013). Active participant in the life of the Ukrainian diaspora, as a Humanitarian Aid Program Coordinator helping to support orphanages and refugees from Ukraine.

Maryna Romanenko – Our Co-Partner, President of Association D 

Senior commodity trading specialist, co-founder and president of Association-D which she started in 2017 focusing on support of education for young generation. From the start of the war the activity of the association covers all the regions and aspects of the humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Today Association-D together with Ukrainians in Geneva Association created one of the biggest and strongest cooperation tandem in Switzerland implementing and executing numerous projects, i.e. fundraising value in 2022 is CHF 786’609.

Karyna Pavlova – Events and Manifestations Coordinator

Professional translator and language teacher, graduated from Kharkiv National University, and later Geneva University, highly experience in creating and managing SMEs companies in Switzerland. In Geneva since 2014, has been continuously supporting Ukraine and organizing numerous manifestations, cultural and fundraising events. Since October 2022, actively implicated in human rights advocacy at UN.

Alina Sergeichuk – Marketing Coordinator

Design and marketing expert, who successfully implemented her hobby into the professional business activity. Alina generously supports Geneva Branch events designing flyers, posters, business cards, announcements, and ensuring events recording by photos and videos.

Maria Vashchuk – GeCare Manager & Volunteers Coordinator

Global Change Coordinator expert, holds MSc degree in economics and diploma in Marketing and Communication, experienced in project management and customer service in large-scale companies. Maria coordinates the Ukrainian Cultural House GeCare in Geneva, where weekly up to 700 Ukrainians of all the ages enjoy all kind of workshops and classes. She is also a member of Ukraine Reborn association.

Inna Simachenko – Events Designer Coordinator

Ukrainian refugee who saves her life and the life of her family now in Switzerland. The best florist of Ukraine, business lady who built up the whole business structure and logistic flow of the flowers production and sell, and direct import from the Netherlands to three regions in Ukraine, Sumy, Chernihov and Poltava. Passionate landscape designer and decorator, decorated streets and shopping centers in Ukraine. Organizes birthdays and wedding parties, ensuring festive and cheerful ambiance, everything what she touches becomes beautiful.

Natalia Kontsur – Cultural Project Manager

Escaped from the war, Ukrainian media expert. Co-founder of Afisha and Novyj journals, director and organiser of festivals and festive markets in Ukraine. Today Natalia is a journalist at Walliser Bote and co-author and presenter of Ukrainian weekly news on the Radio Cite Geneva. You are welcome to listen to her delightful voice and fascinating stories each Thursday at 19:00.

Tetyana Bilyk – Medical Aid and Supplies

Experienced manager with many years of experience in health care management in Ukraine and the CIS countries. Has a unique mix of professional experiences in UNICEF, non-governmental organizations and in the pharmaceutical business. Received pedagogical, economic and management higher education. In the last ten years has been supporting various charitable and volunteer projects. The last two years lives in Geneva.