2026 APRI Forum

Sketching the Architecture of Change

Yerevan, Armenia

  • September 23-25, 2026

The best way to predict the future is to design it. 
— R. Buckminster Fuller

Amidst the chaotic fractures of the global order, Yerevan’s figurative and physical landscape is changing. A new layout is emerging. And, paradoxically, in this volatility, Armenians’ reliance on crisis management is being replaced by a more forward-looking confidence. The time to sketch the first drafts of our future has come.

The theme for APRI Armenia’s 2026 Yerevan conference is “Sketching the Architecture of Change.” It will provide a platform for engagement on the fundamental building blocks required to boost Armenians’ agency and secure a sovereign future. 

The 2026 APRI Forum will bring together policy, diplomatic, private sector, civil society leaders and engaged Armenians to investigate the way forward for Armenia in key areas of development. The program will feature multidisciplinary discussions and in-depth keynote sessions with officials and foreign guests throughout the three days.

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Preliminary Program

09:25

Welcome and Opening Remarks

  • Lara Setrakian, President, APRI Armenia

10:00

Fireside Chat: Armenia–US Relations 3.0

Armenia–US relations have reached a new level, entering a particularly dynamic phase in 2025. What Armenia, a small and remote South Caucasus country, has achieved in furthering its partnership with the US in a short time is notable. In this fireside chat, two Armenian thinkers with years of engagement in advancing Armenia–US relations will reflect on efforts to consolidate recent gains and explore a timely question: where does the partnership go from here?

10:30

Fireside Chat: Armenia–Russia Relations: Looking for a Modus Vivendi | Supported by the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund

Amid the growing Russia–West confrontation, Armenia is pursuing Western-focused diversification of its foreign relations, expanding relations with both longstanding and new partners while seeking a safe and constructive transformation of its relations with Moscow. Yerevan’s expanding relations with Washington and particularly with Brussels are viewed negatively by Moscow and have led to economic restrictions on segments of Armenia’s trade. But a new modus vivendi is necessary for both countries to move forward. What can the two countries achieve? What should the new configuration of the relationship look like, considering the changing geopolitical environment, past relations, and geography?

  • Ruslan Pukhov, Director, Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies
  • Moderator: Sergei Melkonian, Research Fellow, APRI Armenia

11:00

Coffee Break

11:30

Fireside Chat: Armenia and Iran: Morphing Relations in a Changing Strategic Environment

The ongoing Iran–US–Israel war has reshaped the Middle East. For the South Caucasus in general, and Armenia in particular, the conflict raises questions about the risk of spillover, the feasibility of regional connectivity projects currently under development, and how to navigate Great Power competition. The session will examine Iran’s strategy toward the South Caucasus and the future of Armenia–Iran relations, as the two countries continue to expand economic, energy, and diplomatic cooperation.

12:00

The Armenia–Azerbaijan–Türkiye Triangle: Breaking the Impasse

Consolidating peace with Azerbaijan, normalizing relations with Türkiye, and unblocking regional communications remain central to Armenia’s foreign policy agenda and to the region’s peaceful future. Yet the momentum generated by the 2025 Washington Summit has slowed, amid Azerbaijan’s insistence on constitutional amendments as a precondition for signing the peace agreement, and Türkiye’s continued linkage of normalization with Armenia to progress in Armenia–Azerbaijan relations. Between Baku’s precondition and Ankara’s Baku-first policy, is there a way to break the circle and bring lasting stability and security to the South Caucasus? And if not, what does the future look like?

  • Ambassador Mehmet Fatih Ceylan, President, Ankara Policy Center and Turkish Atlantic Council Association
  • Vasif Huseynov, Head of Department, Center for Analysis of International Relations and Multiculturalism (AIR Center) (Zoom)
  • Benyamin Poghosyan, Senior Research Fellow, APRI Armenia
  • Moderator: Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President, Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia

12:45

Strengthening Agency for the South Caucasus Countries Amid Great Power Competition

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the South Caucasus has been a theater of geopolitical and geoeconomic rivalry among multiple external powers. Ethnopolitical conflicts and the differing foreign-policy orientations of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan have contributed to a deeply fragmented region. Today, the South Caucasus is undergoing unprecedented change amid a profound transformation of the global order, the weakening of multilateralism, and a renewed emphasis on hard power. How will Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan fare given their complex geography? How can the three countries claim greater agency and play a more decisive role in shaping their own trajectories, rather than being driven by the interests and rivalries of external powers?

  • Rusif Huseynov, Director, Topchubashov Center (Zoom)
  • Alex Petriashvili, Senior Fellow,  Georgian Foundation for Strategic & International Studies (GFSIS)
  • Benyamin Poghosyan, Senior Research Fellow, APRI Armenia
  • Moderator: Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President, Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia

13:30

Networking Lunch

14:15

Armenia’s Economic Resilience in an Era of Geopolitical Uncertainties

In the context of rapidly changing geopolitical realities and global financial fluctuations, ensuring economic resilience and swiftly responding to newly emerging challenges have become key prerequisites for Armenia’s steady development. In his keynote speech, Martin Galstyan, Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia, will address ways to ensure the stability of the country’s economic system, mechanisms for absorbing external shocks, and long-term perspectives on economic growth, sketching the foundation of our economic future.

  • Martin Galstyan, Governor, Central Bank of Armenia
  • Moderator: Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President, Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia

14:45

Defining and Driving Armenia’s Economic Security

The Washington Peace Summit gave Armenia new momentum for economic development by promoting foreign direct investment and fostering economic empowerment. At the same time, it posed fundamental questions about the future of industries operating in Armenia and their alignment with Armenia’s long-term national interests, as laid out in the government’s Doctrine published in January 2026. This cross-industry panel will bring together speakers to discuss how their respective sectors can contribute to strengthening Armenia’s economic security.

  • Hakob Avagyan, President, SME Cooperation Association
  • Vardan Jhanyan, First Deputy General Director, ZCMC
  • Bakur Melkonyan, Co-founder, Art Lunch LLC
  • Moderator: Eduard Mkrtchyan, Vice President, Operations, APRI Armenia

15:30

Growing our Talent, Trees, and Civic Space 

Talent, trees, and civic spaces take time to grow, and their results often become visible only years after the seeds are planted. Yet patiently nurturing talent, creating spaces, building communities, and developing infrastructure are essential to Armenia’s prosperous future. This session is about the patient side of building a country: raising skilled people, greening our cities, and creating public spaces. It is about how investment in people, sustainability, urban development, and innovation can work together to create an environment in which talent can grow, communities can connect, and civic life can flourish—and what it takes to keep doing so in a fast-changing and uncertain world.

  • Vanane Ararktsyan, Executive Director, Keron Development Foundation
  • Katerina Danekina, Chief Executive Officer, Green Rock
  • Aram Salatian, Chairman of Board, Engineering Association 
  • Moderator: Seda Arzumanyan, Vice President, Donor Relations, APRI Armenia

16:15

Reading the Waterscape of Araks: When Borders Become Bridges

“Borders are often seen as lines that separate us. But what if they could instead become spaces of connection? Art, architecture, ecology, and landscape can shape how we experience borders: as barriers or shared spaces. Shifting our outlook on spaces can open new possibilities for bringing people and communities closer, helping us sketch new possibilities for the future in Armenia and the region. Nairi Khatchadourian revisits her talk “Sharing a River, or the Poetics of Relation” and its vision of a bridge connecting Armenia and Iran along the Araks River, in light of the 2026 APRI Forum.

  • Nairi Khatchadourian, Founding Director, Curator, AHA collective

16:30

Coffee Break

16:45

Global Defense Reindustrialization: The Role of Small States and Firms

Growing security challenges are driving countries worldwide to expand defense production, strengthen supply chains, and accelerate innovation. These efforts are not limited to major powers or large defense companies. Smaller states and specialized firms can also contribute through niche manufacturing, software, maintenance, testing, and AI-enabled, autonomous, and data-driven systems. Drawing on lessons from Ukraine, South Korea, and Armenia, the panel will explore how smaller defense industries can identify competitive niches, overcome barriers to finance, procurement, and market access, and become credible partners in broader defense ecosystems.

  • Yeongkyun Jang, Senior Researcher, Korea AI Safety Institute
  • Michael Kofman, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment
  • Leonid Nersisyan, Senior Research Fellow, APRI Armenia
  • Moderator: Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President, Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia

10:30

Fireside Chat: Understanding the EU to Understand Our Future with the EU

2026 has been a landmark year for EU–Armenia relations, starting from the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agenda in December 2025 and continuing with the EU–Armenia bilateral Summit in May 2026 and the launch of the EU Partnership Mission in July. Political will on both sides has driven these achievements, along with broader geopolitical developments affecting regional stability and prosperity. In this fireside chat, Ambassador Delcorde will reflect on the evolving nature of the European project and opportunities for further expanding Yerevan’s relations with Brussels.

  • Ambassador Raoul Delcorde, Ambassador (Ret.), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium
  • Moderator: Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President, Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia

11:00

Bridging Disconnections: The South Caucasus and the New Logistics of Eurasia

Growing geopolitical rivalries, the disruption of supply chains, and the need for economic resilience and diversification have made connectivity a critical feature of the emerging global order. The South Caucasus, a crossroads of East–West and North–South transit routes, is one of the active theaters where these dynamics are playing out. This session will discuss what needs to happen in the South Caucasus for it to facilitate connections between Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

  • Ambassador Mehmet Fatih Ceylan, President, Ankara Policy Center and Turkish Atlantic Council Association
  • Alex Petriashvili, Senior Fellow,  Georgian Foundation for Strategic & International Studies (GFSIS)
  • Moderator: Shant Arzoumanian, Macroeconomist, Central Bank of Armenia

11:45

Coffee Break

14:15

Beyond the Headlines: What Do AI Factories Bring to Armenia?

The establishment of Firebird’s flagship AI factory in August 2026 in Hrazdan, followed by the Eleveight AI factory operating in Gagarin, has been a breakthrough moment for Armenia’s economic development. These big investments come with the promise of a more prosperous future for Armenia’s technology sector and society at large. This intersectional panel will debate what these factories can bring to Armenia—from technological, environmental, and social perspectives—as well as the challenges that must be addressed to realize their full potential. The discussion will help the audience gain a broader, more holistic understanding of the implications of AI factories for Armenia and Armenians.

  • Tigran Jrbashyan, Partner, Director of Management Advisory Services Ameria CJSC
  • Irina Seylanyan, CEO, Afeyan Initiatives for Armenia
  • Tigran Tshorokhyan, Innovation and Sustainable Finance Portfolio Manager, UNDP Armenia
  • Moderator: Nazareth Seferian, Board Member, Impact Hub Yerevan

15:30

Why Armenia? Building a Competitive Technology Nation | A panel in partnership with UATE

Overcoming its small size and structural constraints, and leveraging both its engineering Soviet past and diasporans working in Silicon Valley, Armenia has built a well respected ecosystem of high-tech engineering talent and able technicians. That ecosystem is transitioning from a services-based model toward a more product- and innovation-driven one in line with global shifts driven by artificial intelligence. This raises questions about Armenia’s positioning in the tech landscape. What is distinctly Armenian in high tech? What makes our talent and firms globally competitive? How can the current trajectory be converted into sustained competitiveness, economic value creation, and diplomatic leverage for the country at large? This eminent panel will address these questions and explore the elements of a strategic national vision for building a competitive technology nation.

  • Syuzanna Azoyan, Managing Director, Sada Armenia
  • Armen Kocharyan, CEO & Founder, Spark.work
  • Suzanna Shamakhyan, Executive Director, Foundation for Armenian Science & Technology 
  • Moderator: Edita Ghazaryan, Executive Director, Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE)

16:15

Coffee Break

16:45

Institutionalizing AI Strategy: The Case of the Korea AI Safety Institute

The Korea Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute represents the Republic of Korea in international partnerships aimed at building global AI governance frameworks. It helps Korean AI companies enhance their global competitiveness while strengthening international cooperation and standards for AI safety. This fireside chat will offer an exclusive window into how the Republic of Korea built and institutionalized its AI strategy through the Korea Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute, and what lessons the Armenian government can draw at a time when it is honing its National High Tech Strategy and seeking to build synergies with its diplomatic endeavors.

  • Yeongkyun Jang, Senior Researcher, Korea AI Safety Institute
  • Moderator: Anahit Budaghyan, Tech diplomacy advocate

17:15

Unleashing the Power of Diaspora–Country Connection

This fireside chat will host a conversation between representatives of Armenian diaspora foundations and the founder of the Diaspora Institute, a Dublin-based organization championing diaspora empowerment, to discuss diaspora–homeland connections. In the Armenian context, such debates often center on questions of identity and the nature of ties between the homeland and diaspora communities, with less attention paid to lessons from other diasporas and to the agency diaspora individuals can exercise in contributing to their home country. This panel will explore the role of diasporas as strategic assets for national empowerment and transformation, drawing on lessons from the Irish experience.

  • Vicken Cheterian, Director, Diasporan Perspectives, Gulbenkian Initiative on Armenian Issues, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Zoom)
  • Martin Russell, Co-Founder The Diaspora Institute
  • Moderator: Vasken Yacoubian, President, AGBU Armenia / Member, AGBU Central Board

10:00

Public Administration Reforms: Can Armenia Build its Own Good Governance Model? | Supported by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

It is imperative for Armenia to translate its recently announced and ambitious public administration reform (PAR) agenda into reality with measurable results. Doing so requires more than policy commitments and a strategic management framework. It also means addressing fragmented inter-agency coordination, limited capacity for evidence-based policymaking, and weak institutional ownership. Drawing on relevant international experience and adapting lessons to Armenia’s institutional context, this panel will explore how to strengthen good governance, strategic management, civil service performance, and accountability in practice, and how stronger local ownership of the planned PAR strategy can help deliver lasting results.

  • Viktorya Aydinyan, Head of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia
  • Vache Gabrielyan, Dean, College of Business and Economics, AUA
  • Nane Harutyunyan, Public Sector Specialist, World Bank
  • Moderator: Armenak Minasyants, Senior Research Fellow on Public Administration Reforms, APRI Armenia

10:30

Smarter Services, Stronger State | Supported by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Digital transformation can improve policy design, public service delivery, and citizen–state interaction. Yet digital tools create value only when they address clear governance needs, protect data, build public trust, and support institutions and civil servants. This panel will explore how responsible digital and artificial intelligence-enabled solutions can help build more citizen-centered, responsive, and resilient public services, while ensuring safe, ethical, accountable, and locally owned implementation through cooperation between public institutions and the private sector. It will consider what Armenia needs to do to make digital transformation work for citizens and the state.

  • Andres Kütt, CTO, Proud Engineers
  • Nayiri Shorjian, Governance and Policy Innovation Lead, UNDP Armenia SDG Innovation Lab
  • Nerses Yeritsyan, Chairman, Information Systems Authority
  • Moderator: Armenak Minasyants, Senior Research Fellow on Public Administration Reforms, APRI Armenia

11:15

Coffee Break

11:45

Beyond the Stereotype: Armenian Youth as Civic Stakeholders

Conventional wisdom loads expectations on the young generation as agents of positive change. But this stereotype hides a complex reality for Armenian youth, with a mix of emerging civic leaders and evidence of political apathy. This panel, drawing on the advocacy and research work of its speakers, will explore how Armenia can move beyond symbolic inclusion and create spaces where young people are heard, trusted, and empowered to contribute to civic thinking.

  • Arpy Manusyan, President and Researcher, Socioscope
  • Yuri Movsesyan, Project manager, Restart Civic-Youth Foundation
  • Narek Ohanyan, Climate & Environmental Researcher, AUA Acopian Center for the Environment
  • Moderator: Greta Avetisyan, National Communications Lead, APRI Armenia

12:30

Rethinking Armenian Civil Society Organizations’ Watchdog Function

Civil society organizations (CSOs) play an important watchdog role in advancing civic debate, encouraging public engagement, and holding public institutions accountable to reforms. In Armenia, this role has been important since independence and remains so as the government works to meet international commitments requiring transparency, monitoring, and effective implementation. Bringing together perspectives from education, the environment, justice and anti-corruption, this panel will explore the evolving role of CSOs in civic debates and relations with state institutions, and the ways in which CSOs can monitor reform implementation, identify gaps, engage constructively with institutions, and build public trust—especially as civic space faces growing pressure.

  • Shamam Gevorgyan, Founding Director, 405 Educational Alliance
  • Marina Mkhitaryan, Director for Strategic Partnerships and Impact, Armenia Tree Project
  • Hasmik Harutyunyan, Lawyer, legal expert, Protection of Rights Without Borders
  • Moderator: Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President, Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia
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Speaker Name
Leonid Nersisyan
Affiliation
Senior Research Fellow, APRI Armenia
Bio
Leonid Nersisyan is a defense analyst and a Senior Research Fellow at the Applied Policy Research Institute of Armenia (APRI Armenia), focusing on military reform, defense technologies, and the interplay of geopolitical and regional stability. Leonid’s research interests include Russia and CIS countries’ armed forces, defense industry and technology, armed conflicts, and arms control. He is co-author of the books Waiting for the Storm: The South Caucasus, Storm in the Caucasus and The Air War in Ukraine: The First Year of Conflict.
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Leonid Nersisyan
Senior Research Fellow, APRI Armenia
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Speaker Name
Sergei Melkonian
Affiliation
Research Fellow, APRI Armenia
Bio
Dr. Sergei Melkonian is a Research Fellow at APRI Armenia, focusing on Russia and Iran. He is also a visiting professor at Yerevan State University and Russian-Armenian University. Before joining APRI, he served as an Assistant to the President of Armenia from 2020 to 2022, covering post-Soviet countries and the Middle East. Dr. Melkonian was a Research Fellow in the Institute of Oriental Studies (RAS) for four years, focusing on Israeli foreign and defense policy, as well as security dynamics in the Middle East. From 2018-2020, he was Head of the Eurasian and Middle Eastern Department at the Armenian Research and Development Institute. He holds a PhD in History. He has authored multiple academic papers for peer-reviewed journals and written several book chapters, analytical reports, and articles for different think-tanks, as well as op-eds for international platforms.
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Sergei Melkonian
Research Fellow, APRI Armenia
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Speaker Name
Anahide Pilibossian
Affiliation
Vice President of Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia
Bio
Anahide Pilibossian is the Vice President of Strategy and Development of APRI Armenia since its launch in 2022. Between 2013 and 2022, Anahide was a member of BlackRock’s EMEA Public Affairs team, the leading asset management firm, where she engaged with policymakers and other stakeholders on stakeholder capitalism and climate finance. She also worked as a research and policy officer in a London-based think tank, Tomorrow’s Company. Anahide graduated from the London School of Economics in 2008 earning a MSc in Comparative Politics, Politics and Markets. She also graduated from Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne in 2007 with a Master 2 in International Economic Law.
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Anahide Pilibossian
Vice President of Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia
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Speaker Name
Vache Gabrielyan
Affiliation
Dean, Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics, American University of Armenia
Bio
Vache Gabrielyan received his Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration from Rutgers University. He has served as Vice-Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia (2008–2010), Minister of Finance (2010–2012), and Minister-Chief of Government Staff (2013–2014), as well as the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia and the Minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms (2014–2018). Since 2019 Dr. Vache Gabrielyan has been appointed as Dean of the Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics at the American University of Armenia.
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Vache Gabrielyan
Dean, Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics, American University of Armenia
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Speaker Name
Nane Harutyunyan
Affiliation
Public Sector Specialist, World Bank
Bio
Nane Harutyunyan is a Public Sector Specialist in the Governance Global Practice at the World Bank. Her work focuses on justice, public administration, and anti-corruption reforms in Armenia and across the Europe and Central Asia region.
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Nane Harutyunyan
Public Sector Specialist, World Bank
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Speaker Name
Viktorya Aydinyan
Affiliation
Head of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia
Bio
Viktorya Aydinyan is a policy and institutional architect specializing in government reform, strategic management, digital transformation, and development finance. She currently serves as Head of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, where she leads major national reforms and coordinates partnerships with international financial institutions and the European Union. Previously, she served as Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and held senior reform and advisory roles at the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, leading work on strategy, governance, and human capital development. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government and completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business’s LEAD Executive Education Program.
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Viktorya Aydinyan
Head of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia
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Speaker Name
Suzanna Shamakhyan
Affiliation
Executive Director, Foundation for Armenian Science & Technology
Bio
Suzanna Shamakhyan is an education strategist and policy leader working at the intersection of policy innovation and education. As Executive Director of the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), she drives large-scale initiatives that shape innovation and education ecosystems and catalyze systemic change. With more than 15 years of experience, she has led transformative programs in education and research, developed policy frameworks in collaboration with government bodies, and built international partnerships spanning more than 40 countries. Her work focuses on designing sustainable systems, influencing national agendas, and enabling the next generation of innovators and changemakers.
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Suzanna Shamakhyan
Executive Director, Foundation for Armenian Science & Technology
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Speaker Name
Armen Kocharyan
Affiliation
CEO & Founder, Spark.work
Bio
Armen Kocharyan is the Founder and CEO of Spark.work, an AI-powered People and Strategy Management platform designed to help organizations turn strategy into execution. He co-founded VOLO nearly two decades ago and led its growth into an international software engineering company before launching Spark.work to address the growing need for better strategy execution and people management. Today, he is focused on expanding Spark.work across international markets.
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Armen Kocharyan
CEO & Founder, Spark.work
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Speaker Name
Tigran Jrbashyan
Affiliation
Partner, Director of Management Advisory Services, Ameria CJSC
Bio
Tigran Jrbashyan is a leading management consultant with extensive experience in economic development, public policy, strategic planning, and institutional reform. As an advisor to public- and private-sector institutions, he has led major national and international projects, working closely with governments, development partners, and businesses. Under his leadership, key national strategies and other sectoral and institutional frameworks have been developed.
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Tigran Jrbashyan
Partner, Director of Management Advisory Services, Ameria CJSC
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Speaker Name
Tigran Tshorokhyan
Affiliation
Innovation and Sustainable Finance Portfolio Manager, UNDP Armenia
Bio
Tigran Tshorokhyan is a development professional with more than 20 years of management experience across more than a dozen sectors. He has designed and led numerous initiatives and institutions aimed at creating positive impact in areas such as environment, education, social protection, community development, tourism, employment, law enforcement, public administration, innovation, finance and digitalization. Tshorokhyan’s passion is leading people and driving systemic transformation. By combining strategic leadership with operational management skills, he excels at engaging and inspiring team members to unlock their potential and capabilities. As an innovation evangelist, he takes pride in strategizing out-of-the-box, state-of-the-art solutions and driving visionary work to shape and institutionalize citizen-centric and evidence-informed decision-making in Armenia, ultimately making a positive impact on the lives of its citizens.
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Tigran Tshorokhyan
Innovation and Sustainable Finance Portfolio Manager, UNDP Armenia
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Speaker Name
Vanane Ararktsyan
Affiliation
Executive Director, Keron Development Foundation
Bio
Vanane Ararktsyan is the Executive Director of the Keron Development Foundation, bringing more than 15 years of leadership experience in the development, fundraising, international relations, and cultural sectors. She has held executive roles at prominent institutions including AmCham Armenia and SOS Children’s Villages, and served as a UNDP expert on women’s empowerment, a Board Member of the 4090 Foundation, and a Honorary Board Member of the “City of Smile” Charitable Foundation. With multiple advanced degrees in law, international relations, and art history, she combines strategic thinking with a deep understanding of societal change. Ararktsyan is known for building impactful partnerships and driving transformative initiatives across Armenia.
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Vanane Ararktsyan
Executive Director, Keron Development Foundation
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Speaker Name
Katerina Danekina
Affiliation
Chief Executive Officer, Green Rock
Bio
Katerina Danekina is the CEO of Green Rock, where she shapes the company’s strategic vision and leads large-scale projects that drive Armenia’s development at both regional and urban levels. Under her leadership, Green Rock is developing infrastructure that integrates the local context with international standards. One of the company’s flagship projects is a multifunctional complex in Dilijan, which includes a hotel, a music hall, an art park, community hub, co-living, and new cultural venues. Danekina has more than 15 years of experience in real estate and territorial development, holds an MBA degree, and teaches at the Russian-Armenian University. She has previously served as an expert for the Ministry of Economy of Armenia and has overseen major international initiatives, including STARMUS VI Armenia and WCIT 2019 Yerevan.
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Katerina Danekina
Chief Executive Officer, Green Rock

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