The Journey explained
An expert in international event planning, soft skills and IT, Yury recently retired from the International Monetary Fund. He is passionate about sharing his experience with students, conducting research, and helping organizations optimize performance through systems and tools of the trade.
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Yury brings nearly three decades of experience at the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, where he organized and managed high-profile international conferences in economics and finance, often hosting 15,000 to 20,000 participants. His portfolio includes leadership of flagship ministerial-level events such as the G-7, G-20, and the International Monetary and Financial Committee.
A recognized authority on diplomatic protocol and VVIP coordination, he oversaw visits by heads of state, ministers of finance, and central bank governors from 190 member countries. His expertise spans the full spectrum of large international event logistics including airport and transportation coordination, plenary session management, cultural programs, security and emergency preparedness.
Complementing his achievements in global event management, his career also encompasses strategic work in information systems implementation and interpersonal communications.
International Events
Yury has organized high-level IMF and World Bank events in global hubs including Washington, Tokyo, Singapore, Istanbul, Dubai, Bali, Lima, and Marrakech. His extensive hands-on experience provides a rich foundation of subject matter expertise, making him well-equipped for both teaching and consulting across a wide array of disciplines.
Official Events
Government protocols, arrangements for keynote and plenary sessions and other high-level functions.
Open Events
Planning for press briefings, open attendance seminars, educational and information sharing sessions.
Cultural Events
Social and cultural activities. Receptions and tourist programs.
Transportation
Airport arrangements, VIP arrival and departure management, lounges, signage and information for participants.
International Shipping
Collection of goods, air and sea fast forwarding, customs clearances.
Campus Space Management
Campus design, decor, room arrangement and venue management.
Security
Campus access and security, personal safety and emergency preparedness tools.
Information technology
IT/AV setups, registration and badging, RFID, on-line collaboration technologies.
Information Tech
Yury brings years of experience as an IT project manager, where he specialized in developing and implementing systems to support large-scale event management. This dual expertise in IT systems implementation and event management allowed him to apply his knowledge to the world of international conference coordination — enhancing structure, predictability, and accountability across complex operations.
His background in IT also includes project supervision and budgeting, procurement of systems and services, drafting detailed requests for information, and evaluating tenders and RFPs. This multifaceted skill set positions him as a strategic asset in both technical and logistical domains.
Registration and RFID
Under his supervision several enterprise-grade systems were rolled out including a large conference management systems Ungerboek (Europe), registration systems such as Cvent and Certain (North America).
Facial Recognition
He pioneered the Radio-frequency ID badging, facial recognition, and self-badging technologies for the World Bank Group and IMF Annual and Spring Meetings.
IMFCONNECT.ORG
He developed and managed an intergovernmental information exchange network utilized by by the governments of 190 countries for exchange of information since 2010. It is used during and in between the annual conferences.
Communications
After joining the IMF and working alongside colleagues from over 100 nationalities, Yury developed a deep interest in cross-cultural communication and the nuances of workplace behavior across cultures. Why people express themselves differently? Why does time allocation for tasks vary by culture? Most importantly, how can one build genuine rapport and communicate effectively with individuals from every corner of the globe?
Becoming fluent in international communications was a journey marked by years of hands-on experience, formal education, cultural awareness training, and fieldwork. Today, Yury brings a thoughtful approach to building rapport, anticipating situational dynamics, guiding diverse teams, and shaping communication campaigns with confidence and cultural insight.
Education
Yury holds a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences and post-graduate diplomas in Influence, Negotiations, and Public Relations from Georgetown University. Also, he holds a degree in Skilled Facilitation from John’s Hopkins University. He is a neuro-linguistic programming practitioner and a body-language specialist. Over the years he received training in Media engagement, Conflict resolution, Cultural awareness, Change Management and Leadership.
Public Speaking
Yury has led speaking engagements at various venues including the Eurasia Association, International Association of Professional Congress Organizers, Moscow Educational Forum, International Finance Corporation. Among his favorite topics are interpersonal effectiveness, influence, rapport and management of international conferences.
