On June 11, 2026, Khmelnytskyi became the center of women’s leadership, international dialogue, and new partnerships, hosting the 10th anniversary international Business Women Forum 2026 under the slogan “The Woman Shaping the World: From the State to Global Impact.” The event brought together over 400 participants in offline and online formats from 17 countries around the world.
The event was organized by the international magazine Business Woman, which has been holding the forum for 10 consecutive years, bringing thousands of women together. The co-organizers of the forum were the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council represented by its Chair Violeta Labaziuk, and the NGO “MOZHU” represented by its Chair Alina Skomorokhova, with the support of the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights and the international business community Business Woman Club.
The venue for the forum was the hotel and restaurant complex Sobkoff, which gathered representatives of business, politics, the diplomatic corps, the public sector, and international organizations. The welcome coffee turned into an active networking space, where introductions, exchange of experience, photo zones, and the first partnership agreements created an atmosphere of openness and mutual support.
The official opening of the event was filled with deep meaning: the performance of the National Anthem of Ukraine and a minute of silence served as a reminder of the price the country pays today for the opportunity to develop, unite, and speak about the future.
The event began with a significant highlight: Anna Krysiuk, President of the Business Woman Club and owner of the international magazine Business Woman, presented the publication’s activities, its transformation into an international communication platform, and its role in supporting women’s entrepreneurship, diplomacy, and social initiatives. A particularly emotional moment was the screening of an anniversary video, which captured the 10-year history of the forum—from the very first event to a large-scale international platform that unites thousands of women.
Welcoming remarks were addressed to the participants by representatives of state government, local self-government, law enforcement agencies, and the diplomatic corps. Among them were Serhiy Tyurin, Head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Military Administration; Violeta Labaziuk, Chair of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council; Mykola Vavryshchuk, Deputy Mayor of Khmelnytskyi; Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (online); Andon Sapundži, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Serbia to Ukraine; and Andrija Đuranović, Representative of the Embassy of Montenegro.
The forum program was structured into three thematic sections, each becoming a distinct, content-rich block regarding the role of women in shaping modern Ukraine and the world.
Section 1. “Woman in Politics,” moderated by Violeta Labaziuk, Chair of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council, was dedicated to women’s participation in state-building, their influence on legislative processes, and their role in the country’s recovery amidst the war. Speakers included Mariia Mezentseva-Fedorenko, Member of the Parliament of Ukraine (online); Oksana Schoorlemmer, Representative of the Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs of Germany (online); Olena Lemeshchuk, Deputy of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council; and Kateryna Lutsyk, Director of the Communal Institution “Veteran Space.” The participants discussed the barriers women face in politics and the tools to overcome them.
Section 2. “Woman in Diplomacy,” moderated by Anna Krysiuk, brought together representatives of the international diplomatic community. Joining the discussion were Elena Leticia Mikusinski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Argentina to Ukraine; Borjanka Simićević, Ambassador of Montenegro (online); Mateja Prevolšek, Ambassador of Slovenia (online); and Yaroslava Khortyani, President of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations. Also speaking within this section were Andon Sapundži, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Serbia to Ukraine, and Andrija Đuranović, Deputy Head of the Embassy of Montenegro in Ukraine, First Secretary. The discussion covered the role of women in international politics, support for Ukraine at the global level, and new formats of diplomatic interaction.
Following the lunch break, the forum continued with Section 3. “Socially Responsible Business,” moderated by Alina Skomorokhova, CEO of TINIMPEX and Chair of the NGO “MOZHU.” The speakers presented practical business case studies in wartime conditions—ranging from legal support for enterprises to the development of the construction industry, investments, exports, and social projects. Sharing their experiences were Anastasiia Didukh, Head of LLC “LCC “BUSINESS DOCUMENT”; Yuliia Skichko, owner of the construction machinery company “Alef Stroy” and board member of the Confederation of Builders; Olha Semanchakova, Director of the NGO “Nasha Tsedra” and author of the “Healthy Nation” project; Mariia Chorna, Founder of LLC “MARONA GLOBAL ADVISORY” and former Head of the Kirovohrad Regional Military Administration; and Iryna Zelenina, Head of the Export Support Center and President of the “Ukrainian HoReCa Cluster” Association.
The culmination of the event was the signing of memoranda of cooperation between the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council and a number of non-governmental organizations. This step solidified the intentions of the parties to develop joint social, educational, and economic projects.
The second part of the forum expanded beyond the official program and turned into a symbolic act of unity. The participants traveled to the Medzhybizh State Historical and Cultural Reserve, where a diplomatic alley was planted as a sign of international support for Ukraine and long-term partnership.
This is more than a forum. It is an environment where women do not just talk about change, but become its driving force.
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Photo: Business Woman