A Conversation with Ambassador Valeriy Chaly, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States

Join the World Affairs Council and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for a special event with Ambassador Valeriy Chaly, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, to discuss the domestic and external challenges and opportunities that Ukraine is currently facing. The discussion will be moderated by Lara Iglitzin, Executive Director of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation.

This event is part of the 2015-2016 Community Programs Russia and the Surrounding Region Series.

Further venue directions: from the 5th Avenue lobby in the Columbia Center, take the elevator bank that services the 40th floor sky lobby, then take the elevators that service floors 56-78. Exit on the 61st floor.

Ambassador Valeriy Chaly:

Valeriy Chaly assumed his duties as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the USA in July 2015.

In June 2014 Valeriy Chaly was appointed as Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of Ukraine following his foreign policy advisory to Mr. Poroshenko during his presidential campaign.

During the work as Deputy Director General of a leading Ukrainian think-tank in 2006-2009 and 2010-2014 – Razumkov Centre Valeriy Chaly supervised the foreign policy, international law and security programs. During the course of his NGO career Mr. Chaly developed a significant expertise gaining a wide recognition in Ukraine and internationally.

In November 2009 Valeriy Chaly was appointed as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. He resigned in April 2010 in protest against the foreign and security policy pursued by the then President Victor Yanukovych. Following his resignation Mr. Chaly resumed his work at the Razumkov Centre and advised the Foreign Relations Committee of Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine.

Valeriy Chaly’s earlier public sector career also included service as Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council (1997-1999) and Senior Consultant at the Assistants’ Group to the President of Ukraine (1995).

In 1995 he graduated with the postgraduate international law studies from the Institute of International Relations, National Taras Shevchenko University, Kyiv and in 1992 from Vinnytsia State Institute of Pedagogy, Faculty of History.

Lara Iglitzin:

Lara Iglitzin has been the executive director of the Foundation since 1995. Arriving at the Foundation in 1992 as a program officer, she developed the Foundation's Russian human rights program in Russia. Lara did her undergraduate work at the University of Washington in Russian and East European studies, and received master's degrees in Russian history and Russian studies, from the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University respectively. She specialized in U.S.-Soviet relations and early 20th century political history. Her master's thesis was dedicated to the impact of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment on Soviet foreign policy. Prior to her work at the Foundation, Lara managed the Congressional Roundtable on U.S.-Soviet Relations in Washington, D.C. Active in the national grantmaking community, she helped to establish the group Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement and served as board president for three years. She was also integral to the creation of the International Human Rights Funders Group. Lara has published many articles in national and regional publications on Russian politics and human rights as well as issues in philanthropy. She is active in the Northwest philanthropic community, serving as a long-time trainer for Philanthropy Northwest in its Best Practices in Grantmaking workshops.