On October 26, 2023, another online Expert Session was held, organized by the Mayors’ Club, on the topic “Irpin – Reconstruction Experience”

The purpose of the meeting was to highlight the practical experience of the exceptionally active team of the city of Irpin, led by its undisputed leader – the Mayor of the Hero City of Irpin and member of the Mayors’ Club – Oleksandr Markushyn.

The session was very dynamic and informative, as the energy and cohesion of the Irpin team are truly impressive! As participants shared during the meeting, their secret lies in delegating tasks among team members so that each person focuses on what they do best. And, of course, all of this must happen under the guidance of a true leader.

After Oleksandr Markushyn’s welcome speech, all the speakers briefly spoke about their activities.

• Andriy Kravchuk, First Deputy Mayor of Irpin, highlighted the dynamics of recovery and the city’s positive case studies.
  • Dmytro Negresha, Executive Officer of the Irpin City Council, spoke about international cooperation experience and attracting international partnerships to support the city’s reconstruction.
• Serhiy Kaniura, Head of the Department for Infrastructure Development, Investment, and Housing and Communal Services, shared information about state programs and their implementation in Irpin.
  • Daryna Katkalo, Chief Operating Officer of the Irpin Recovery Fund, outlined key aspects of Irpin’s experience in implementing reconstruction projects in cooperation with local and international partners, engaging international stakeholders, and establishing economic alliances.

Rostyslav Smirnov, Co-founder of Dobrobat, spoke about the cooperation between volunteers and local self-government bodies in the process of community recovery.

An unplanned additional speaker who joined the expert session in real time was Iryna Yarmolenko, Coordinator of the Irpin Reconstruction Summit Project Office. Iryna emphasized how important it is for communities to come out of the shadows, to have a clear profile, an investment passport, and technical documentation. She also stressed that communities should not be afraid to involve the public and must have an international specialist who can attend global meetings.

If you need help with any of the topics discussed during this expert session, please reach out to the representatives of Irpin or the Mayors’ Club. We are always open to cooperation.

Useful information related to the expert session topic:

1. Irpin Recovery Fund
2. Dobrobat (+380961385740 (WhatsApp) – Rostyslav Smirnov)
3. Irpin City Council

Please note that participation in the event, as well as full access to expert session materials and video recordings, is available exclusively to members of the Mayors’ Club – city and community heads, as well as their teams.

If you are a mayor or head of a community but are not yet a member of the Mayors’ Club – please follow the link and register.