Professional Experience:
Risk and governance professional with 10+ years of international experience spanning international law, fintech compliance, and humanitarian security operations in active conflict environments.
Currently serving as Director for Risk Management at People in Need (PIN) Ukraine — the first person to hold this role — overseeing enterprise risk, security, crisis management, and safeguarding across a USD 100M+ humanitarian operation during active armed conflict: 400+ staff, 11 frontline field offices, and 200+ implementing partners across a multi-donor portfolio (BHA, ECHO, FCDO, BMZ, SDC). Built PIN Ukraine's first Enterprise Risk Management framework, risk acceptance strategy, crisis management architecture, and safeguarding mainstreaming system from scratch. Personally conducted security risk assessments in the 0–5 km frontline zone. Zero staff casualties across three years of active conflict. Crisis management protocols and digital tools developed for PIN Ukraine adopted globally by PIN headquarters.
Prior to PIN, served as Safety Advisor at the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) — the primary security risk advisory authority for 350+ international humanitarian organisations operating across Ukraine. Built and managed a 60+ person country-wide field monitor network. Core team member during INSO Ukraine's scale-up following Russia's full-scale invasion, maintaining uninterrupted advisory services under live war conditions.
Earlier career in international law and digital assets: Co-founded Brightman, one of Eastern Europe's first specialist blockchain and digital assets law practices, building full-spectrum AML/KYC/CFT, FATCA, and GDPR compliance architecture across 50+ jurisdictions for financial sector clients including VC/PE funds, hedge funds, fintech operators, and institutional investors. Active member of two Ukrainian legislative working groups contributing to national crypto regulation. Recognised among the Top 50 Ukrainian law firms and nominated for Law Firm of the Year.
Additional background includes international commercial arbitration at Eterna Law (LCIA, ICC, ICSID, SCC, VIAC, UNCITRAL), a USAID-funded Parliamentary Fellowship with the National Democratic Institute advising the US-Ukraine Interparliamentary Group on governance reform, and an intelligence internship at NYPD Headquarters.
Certified: SRMP-C (INSSA), IQTS Tier 2 — SEAH Investigations (CHS Alliance), HEFAT, Crisis Management, Humanitarian Negotiation, PM4NGOs. US and Ukrainian citizen. Open to relocation across Europe.