Leadership.

Key people.

Last updated: 17 July, 2022

Leadership.

Key people.

Last updated: 17 July, 2022

Alexander Kormishin

Chairperson, Director-General

Since 2017, Alexander Kormishin has served as Chairperson and Director-General at the BRICS Youth Energy Agency. In 2015-2017, Alexander was a leader of the coordination team for establishment of the BRICS Youth Energy Association.

In 2018, Alexander graduated with honors from the MGIMO-Univeristy’s Institute for International Politics and Diplomacy (MIEP). In 2020, he received a joint master’s degree of MGIMO-University and the University of Leipzig in “International Energy Economics and Business Administration” (MBEEA).

Since 2020, Alexander is a member of the Commission for International Humanitarian and Youth Cooperation at the Public Council of Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian Federal Agency for Humanitarian Cooperation.

Alexander supervises major national and international initiatives aimed at development of international youth cooperation in the field of climate and energy transition, as well as promotion of the role of young people on the international landscape.

In particular, A. Kormishin acted as a supervisor of Russia’s Day of Youth and Climate Education of the 26th UN FCCC Conference of Parties (UNFCCC COP26) in Glasgow. In 2015-2020, Alexander co-ordinated international youth agenda at the Russian Energy Week International Forum. 

In 2020-2022, A. Kormishin served as a member of the Project Team for delivery of the Future Energy Leaders Summit of the 25th World Energy Congress in 2022 in St. Petersburg, where he represents the Russian Organizing Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia A.Novak.

In 2021, he was appointed as Supervisor for Rosatom Corporation’s Impact Team 2050, a global partnership with youth.

Arsenii Kirgizov-Barskii

Assistant to Chair

Arsenii Kirgizov-Barskii has served as Assistant to Chair of the BRICS Youth Energy Agency since 2019.

Previously, he served as the SDG №7 Youth Envoy to Russia (2017-2019) and Founder of the BRICS YEA Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Platform, leading collaboration with UN entities and youth organizations on sustainable development and climate issues.

In 2020-2021, Mr Kirgizov-Barskii held a leadership position as the Regional Coordinator of the Global Youth Energy Outlook by Student Energy and presented the project at the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, UK. As COP26 Party Delegate, he organized events in the framework of the Youth and Arctic Days at the Russian COP26 Pavilion.

In 2021-2023, Arsenii Kirgizov-Barskii has participated in the official program of Russia’s Chairmanship in the Arctic Council. As the First Secretary of MGIMO Arctic Student Research Club, he was among the hosts of the International Model Arctic Council (MAC). Over the years, he participated in a number of international conferences on Arctic issues in Iceland, Norway, Russia, Finland and Japan.

Mr Kirgizov-Barskii holds a B.A. in International Relations and Energy Policy from MGIMO International Energy Policy and Diplomacy Institute, and an M.A. in International Relations from MGIMO University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. In 2021, he completed a Master’s exchange program at the University of Bergen, Norway, having studied international law and global energy and climate governance.

Vadim Kuznetsov

Director, Sustainability & Climate Initiatives

Vadim Kuznetsov has served as Director, Sustainability and Climate Initiatives since late 2020. Previously, he joined the Agency in 2019 as a Project Manager of the SDG Platform.

In 2022, Mr Kuznetsov is a Youth Delegate from Russia to the Group of 20 (G20) at the Sustainable and Livable Planet Working Group aimed at developing proposals for sustainable growth, climate solutions and carbon regulation in twenty participating countries.

In 2022, he took part in «Sustainable Energy for All» Forum in Kigali, Rwanda representing the BRICS Youth Energy Agency. He co-organized two sessions on the energy transition and green economy.

Vadim also serves as the UN SDG №7 Youth Envoy to Russia (2021-2022) working to promote efforts aimed at ensuringaccess to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Internationally, he also acts as Regional Focal Point for Europe at the SDG7 Youth Constituency by the UN MGCY.

Previously, in 2021, Mr Kuznetsov was selected to participate in the first International Youth Summit on Climate Change «Youth4Climate» in Milan, Italy. Notably, he co-drafted a section of the final communiqué on measures strengtheningmultilateralism in international climate negotiations.

As Party Delegate, Vadim also took part in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, UK where he co-organized a series of sessions on energy and climate for the COP26 Youth Day.

Mr Kuznetsov holds a B.A. in International Relations from MGIMO University. In 2022, he successfully completed a nine-week School of Climate Change by Oxford Climate Society.

Harsh Suri

Director, Communications

Harsh Suri is the Co-Founder of The Geostrata, an independent youth-led think tank based in India. Hailing from the region of Jammu and Kashmir, Harsh recently completed his BA in Political Science Honours from Hindu College, University of Delhi.

As part of the W20 Secretariat Team under India’s G20 Presidency, he will be attending the W20 Meet in Mahabalipuram as a special invitee by the Government of India.

With a notable inclination towards dialogues surrounding geopolitics and climate-related issues, Harsh welcomes the opportunity to engage in conversations on these subjects, making himself available for discussions at any convenient time.

As a professional, Mr Suri holds prominent roles within the organisation. He serves as the head curator for the graphics and illustrations, wherein he demonstrates quintessential expertise in crafting visually compelling and emotion-provoking graphics for the Geostrata.

He also serves as a member of the leadership committee of Covering China and Covering MEA, two specialized sub-divisions of The Geostrata.

Additionally, he is part of the Strategic Desk and Planning Committee, contributing his strategic insights and meticulous planning abilities to drive the organization’s vision and initiatives forward.

Irina Kulinenko

Director, Research Initiatives –
Head of BRICS Youth Energy Outlook 2024

Irina holds Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (Belarusian State University, 2018) and Master’s Degree in History of International Relations and Foreign Policy (Belarusian State University, 2020). Currently, she is a young researcher on the BRICS studies at the HSE University.

Irina has participated in the Erasmus+ exchange programme (University of Kent, 2020), and has successfully completed the Early Career Training School for young researchers (Canterbury, the UK).

Irina has been the Head of student participation working groups of two academic projects with universities in Sweden and the UK. She has work experience at non-profit organizations in the field of sustainable development and green economy, and has been a UNDP intern in Belarus. Now she is taking the Oxford Climate Society course on climate change.

Since 2023, Irina has served as the BRICS YEA Director for Research Initiatives