Our Staff

Kateryna Kovalenko | Global General Manager

I grew up in Kyiv and relocated to the US in 2022. I’m driven by my passion for establishing, guiding, and facilitating the work of transdisciplinary teams, uniting people through a shared mission and purpose. Over my career, I’ve received international certification as an expert in organizational development and acquired experience in the public and commercial sectors, leading organizational transformations, innovative project management, and new market development. I bring over 20 years of experience in campaign management and strategic communications, including a decade at Microsoft, where I contributed to the building and developing of Ukraine’s IT ecosystem. In 2015, I broadened my professional scope, becoming an HR Director at AXA. I’m a resident of the innovation platform ReactorUA, a mentor at the annual Smart City Hackathon, and a trainer-facilitator of the Design Thinking methodology. In 2022, I assumed the role of Global General Manager at Nova Ukraine.

Taras Dumenko | General Manager in Ukraine

I consider myself a friend of all mankind. My main characteristics are well-developed empathy, combined with expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship, and the ability to quickly establish trusting and fruitful dealings. During my career, I have brought fun and value to world-renowned companies and become a trusted project executor for business, local, and state authorities, as well as international organizations. Since the full-scale invasion, I have been actively volunteering – I was involved in evacuations from occupied areas and even the administration of de-occupational activities. At Nova Ukraine I direct all my strength and skills to the development of our organization and to the support of Ukrainian society.

Read an interview with Taras »

Lyudmyla Vovk | POC Lead

Originally, I’m from Ternopil. I lived and worked in Kyiv for some time, and have been living in Lviv for several years. Previously, I worked with children in alternative educational children’s projects – such as children’s camps and democratic private schools. Although I am not a teacher by education (I’m a journalist), I had the pleasure of learning for several years from one of the best brave innovators of children’s education in Ukraine. This experience helped me to acquire good skills in working with people and conflict resolution, and helped me learn flexibility as well. Even now, I am lucky to have incredible people next to me on the team. I am honored to be on the NU team and to be able to be of service to the country at this time.

Read an interview with Lyudmyla »

Zoya Aleksandrova | Back Office Lead

I received my master’s degree from the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, where I devoted my entire working life to book publishing. I have always considered my main goal to be quenching the thirst of Ukrainian readers with interesting international and domestic novels, high-quality translations, and excellent printed publications. I have been working at Nova Ukraine since the summer of 2022. The work of reporting resembles the final chord of a brilliant and majestic work that inspires with its symphony. The dedication of our partners and the organization’s team is inspiring and gives confidence that we are invincible.

Read an interview with Zoya »

Andriian Dorosh | Warehouse Lead

I love mountaineering, water sports, and cycling. I live for traveling and hiking in the mountains. I was always involved in the Ukrainian scouting organization, Plast, where I had the privilege of mentoring youth; before the full-scale invasion, I dedicated several hours each day to this. Additionally, I worked in the souvenir business, producing textile products and promotional materials with a team, and I just finished my training as a software developer.

Read an interview with Adriian »

Andrii Rudenko | Medical Lead

Kyiv is my hometown – I was born and raised here. I graduated from Kyiv Medical Institute in 1998, and for some time worked as a doctor in one of the Kyiv city hospitals. I decided to continue my career in the pharmaceutical business, and advanced from Medical Representative to Director of Marketing & Sales. In 2013, I received an MBA degree from the International Institute of Management. On February 24, 2022, my life was changed radically and I started volunteering, joining the Nova Ukraine medical team in January 2023. Recently I was promoted to the position of the head of the medical team in Ukraine. I want to apply all my knowledge and skills to help more patients in Ukraine faster and more efficiently.

Read an interview with Andrii »

Iryna Roik | PR and Marketing Manager

I was born in Kryvyi Rih, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philology and got my first job as a journalist. Before the full-scale war, I worked in advertising and volunteered in a non-profit organization. I dreamed of celebrating my twenty-ninth birthday in Italy. Instead, on my birthday, just like millions of Ukrainians, I stayed home and raised a glass of champagne for the victory of Ukraine. At Nova Ukraine, I work as a writer, manage projects, and interact with our volunteers and partners. Together, we are working to move a victory for Ukraine closer every day.

Read an interview with Iryna »

Ira Berezhnytska | Project Manager

I was born and raised in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. After a brief period majoring in law at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, I studied publishing and printing at the Ukrainian Academy of Printing. In 2018 – aged just 22 at the time – I opened my first restaurant in Lviv. By January 2020, I opened my second restaurant. Notwithstanding the various challenges I faced, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, I remained in the restaurant industry until early 2022. However, this did not stop me from pursuing other studies, and throughout 2021 I was also studying motion design. At the end of February 2022, I joined Nova Ukraine, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine. Since then, I have spearheaded numerous projects, as well as leading the warehouse and team in Lviv, and being in charge of the logistics and distribution of tactical medicine. By March 2023, I was appointed as project manager within the organization.

Read an interview with Ira »

Svitlana Dreval | Project Manager

I was born and raised in Kyiv. After I graduated from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Technology and Design, I began to explore different directions to find myself, changing cities as I moved from project to project. For many years, I lived and worked in many parts of Ukraine. I created the first shopping complexes in the Poltava region, the Chernihiv region, and Crimea. I implemented projects for the processing of sludge and slag deposits in the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions. I also managed commercial real estate in Odesa.

Read an interview with Svitlana »

Rodion Bronnikov | Project Coordinator

Kharkiv is in my flesh and blood, and during my entire adult life I have been trying to make this city better within my modest means. “Kharkiv is Ukraine” – these are not empty words for me. As a film critic and arthouse evangelist for the last few years, my inner task was to instill a love of art within cinema and promote culture. Notably, I often said that community service was not my thing; I always considered myself a loner. However, the war in my country and right in my city in 2022 has significantly shifted my position and attitude. There is no morality in remaining indifferent. This led me to Nova Ukraine, where I am happy to be a part of this big, international, motivated team. “Big ship, big sail”, as we say here. I could say the same about my beloved and strong Ukraine.

Read an interview with Rodion »

Igor Noshchenko | Key Partner in Ukraine

I was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine. I graduated from the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute with a master’s degree in system engineering. Since the year 2000, I’ve founded and developed many business projects in Ukraine. I have been participating in social movements since the Orange Revolution in 2004. After the Revolution of Dignity in 2014, I graduated from the Civil and Political (CAP) School in 2015, where I discovered my social responsibility to drive positive changes in Ukraine. Since the war began, I have led a Ukrainian NGO that became a key partner for Nova Ukraine.