The all-day event was held in the Sammy Ofer Centre, attracting some 200 distinguished guests representing Ukrainian, British, and international businesses and associations with the shared intention of building bridges within the private sector and undertaking a visible role in the recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation of Ukraine.
The URBD followed the international Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2023) in London on 21-22 June 2023, which attracted leading world political and business figures, including the UK’s Prime Minster, Rishi Sunak, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. That event led to the announcement of billions of dollars in pledges for new recovery assistance to Ukraine, aimed at addressing the staggering destruction wrought by Russia’s invasion.
The URBD provided a platform for discussing the involvement of the business sector in shaping a collective vision for Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation. The event also focused on exploring existing and future business and investment prospects, both in the current and the post-war context.
The key themes centred around private capital in recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation, rethinking European and global value chains, green recovery and green transition, as well as insights on lessons learned from the international experience of post-war recovery and reconstruction.
The event attracted a strong LBS student, alumni and staff presence, including politician, lawyer, and Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Andrii Zhupanyn, who is a student on the School's Executive MBA programme as well as Social Boost Head of Board and Co-Founder and LBS Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy alumnus, Denis Gursky.
Speaking about the event, Executive Director of the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development at London Business School, Tiago Ivo Martinho, said: “We were proud to host this ground breaking event, bringing together 200 influential business leaders from Ukraine, the UK, and around the world. Focusing on the recovery and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine, the event emphasized the transformative role that business plays in addressing global challenges. We were deeply impressed by the courage, resilience, and innovation demonstrated by Ukrainian companies. Their unwavering determination to overcome obstacles and drive positive change in their communities is truly inspiring and aligns perfectly with the mission of the Wheeler Institute - to improve lives through business.
“The event provided a platform for engaging discussions, fostering new partnerships, and promoting collaborations between business leaders in Ukraine, the UK, and internationally. We firmly believe that through innovative solutions and shared expertise, we can collectively drive sustainable growth and contribute for a better future for Ukraine and its people.”
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