Since the beginning of the Ukraine War in February 2022, the Institute of Strategic Risk Management (ISRM) has been involved in supporting Ukraine’s journey through crisis, recovery and towards national transformation.
Mere days after the conflict began, the ISRM was approached by the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine (NSDC) to facilitate a platform for dialogue and international support. This early engagement marked the beginning of a series of collaborative efforts aimed at addressing the immediate challenges posed by the war, while laying the groundwork for Ukraine’s long-term transformation and revitalisation.
As a direct outcome of the ISRM’s engagement with the NSDC, the International Organisation for Reconstruction of Ukraine (IOR) was established to facilitate connections between international partners and Ukraine and support the development of the required frameworks, policies and programmes for post-conflict transformation. ISRM Executive Director Dr David Rubens has since became one of the key players in the ongoing dialogue around Ukraine’s future, working towards embedding a strategic approach to overcoming the repercussions of the war in Ukraine.In February 2024, Dr Rubens completed his third visit to Ukraine since the war began, marked with engagements that reflected the multifaceted approach to Ukraine’s transformation. A landmark of this visit was his meeting with Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the NSDC, to lay out a vision for Ukraine’s future that extends beyond recovery and reconstruction. Dr Rubens has since been appointment as a member of the NSDC Strategic Policy Council to support the highest level of strategic policy development and decision making across the political, social and commercial sectors of Ukraine.
Dr David Rubens and Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Defense and Security Council of Ukraine
Alongside this appointment, Dr Rubens visited leading institutions across Ukraine’s academic and business landscape, including meetings with Anatoliy Amelin, Co-Founder of the Ukraine Institute for the Future, Gelena Savruk, Deputy Dean of the Kyiv Management Business School, Nataliya Chukhray, Vice Rector for Education and International Relations at Lviv Polytechnic National University, and Anna Mishchenko, Director of the Kyiv School of Public Administration, highlighting the importance of education, economic development and policy reform in shaping Ukraine’s future. Alongside this, his meetings with Gennadiy Chyzhykov and Valeriy Korol from the Chamber of Commerce of Ukraine further emphasised the role of the business community in Ukraine’s transformation, integrating international standards in education, public administration and business practice.
Dr David Rubens at the Lviv Polytechnic National University
Dr David Rubens and Valeriy Korol, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce of Ukraine
As the work to develop a comprehensive framework for engagement between the United Kingdom, international partners and Ukraine continues to unfold, the ISRM and International Organisation for Reconstruction of Ukraine remain dedicated to facilitating Ukraine’s path towards a comprehensive national transformation.
Our collaborative endeavours are expected to drive substantial progress in the coming years, laying the groundwork for a Ukraine that not only recovers from its current challenges but also emerges as a stronger, more integrated member of the international community. Rooted in this vision, we will continue to drive the required partnerships and supporting frameworks to secure Ukraine’s future prosperity.