BRICS: Leaders and Talents Award Ceremony Held
The grand award ceremony for the international BRICS:Leaders and Talents prize was held in the state rooms of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The exclusive high-profile event was attended by prominent entrepreneurs, international figures and diplomatic representatives.
During the official opening, the BRICS Cultural Ambassadors Alliance and the award’s organizing committee signed a cooperation memorandum. “The BRICS:Leaders and Talents Award is a recognition of merit on a new dynamic platform where the future of the multipolar world is being shaped. It symbolizes how business initiatives, cultural exchange, and technological breakthroughs form a common space of trust and growth,” emphasized Anastasia Demicheva, Head of the Award’s Organizing Committee.
Welcoming addresses were delivered by Anatoly Musienko, Advisor to the Honorary Consul General of the Russian Federation in Burkina Faso, and Evgeny Vasiliev, Coordinator of the Strategic Initiatives Club for St. Petersburg and General Director of the “Government Relations Agency.”
The selection and evaluation of the nominees’ projects were conducted by a highly authoritative jury, which included recognized experts, public figures, and international-level strategists:
Alexei Mostovshchikov, Business Ambassador to Kuwait, President of the International Association of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs “MOST”;
Alexander Danilov, Director of the international BRICS House network in St. Petersburg;
Anastasia Dedul, Vice-President of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
Al-Jundi Waddah, Director of the Russian-Arab Center for Cultural and Business Cooperation, Ambassador of Russian Education and Science;
Nina Abrosova, International Public Figure, Assistant to the Governor of the Leningrad Region, the most decorated world boxing champion, motorsport champion, and Russian speed record holder;
Irina Rogova, Founder and President of the international fund “White Dews”;
Valentin Kulikov, Serial entrepreneur and international manager with over 15 years of experience in launching and scaling business projects in Russia and the UAE;
Irina Osipova, Vice-President of the “European-Asian Association for Culture,” and a number of other prominent personalities.
The 2025 award winners were entrepreneurs and public and cultural figures leading the most outstanding projects in the BRICS sphere. Among them, the jury particularly highlighted the following laureates:
Alexander Bespalov, Board Member of the international network “BRICS House,” Honorary Doctor and Vice-President of the Eurasian International University – in the nomination “BRICS Business Ambassador”;
Irina Arkhipova,President of the BRICS Cultural Ambassadors Alliance, received the award as “BRICS Culture Ambassador”;
Medic Mohamad Khasun was recognized”For the Promotion of Russian Medicine in BRICS”;
Another laureate– the “Golden City” eco-hotel brand – received the statuette “For Contribution to Cultural Integration of Russia and China”;
Awards were also presented to the Corinthia Hotel St.Petersburg and international singer Peruquois Frances.
Awards were presented to major entrepreneurs:
General Director of “Kosmos Group” – Igor Klimenko;
Head of the investment company”Mir Investitsiy” – Kirill Putkov;
Development Director of the international VR arena network Warpoint– Erik Kaloyan;
Creator of the international platform World Fashion GALA– Anna-Maria Listvinskaya;
The first Russian industrial investor in Ethiopia– Larisa Boyko;
Expert on entrepreneurial models in BRICS metallurgy– Grigory Menshikov;
And a number of other outstanding leaders.
The ceremony was adorned by classical opera arias performed by Mariinsky Theatre soloist Anna Vinogradova, accompanied by violinist Darina Farberova from the musical project RisolutoVMusic with Violetta Nebesko, as well as a vocal performance by international relations expert Wu Jinyuan.
The award was made possible thanks to the support of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Rosastronomy project, the international fund “White Dews,” the International Alliance of BRICS Strategic Projects, the Eurasian Information Agency, and the “Pharaoh” film studio. Also, gift partners: the Florentika flower brand, JSP Travel agency, the Wai Thai and Oval salon networks, and the Scandic candy and MALUNA candle brands.