Julia Belyakova
Accomplished Corporate Affairs Leader driving regulatory milestones and high-level government-business partnerships across Tech, Metallurgy, and International Trade. Specialist in pioneering regulatory frameworks and strategic investment conditions, with a proven track record of engaging with the governments of the Russian Federation, the USA, Israel, the UAE, Kazakhstan, and Serbia, as well as contributing to UNECE working groups and the B20 Global Business Forum.
Professional Experience
- Regulatory Sandbox (Level 4 AVs) Spearheaded the creation of Russia’s first regulatory sandbox for Level 4 autonomous vehicles. This landmark initiative enabled the commercial launch of both supervised (with safety driver on the passenger seat) and fully driverless taxi services under Federal Law No. 331 (July 2021) and Government Decree No. 309 (April 2022). Full regulatory text here
- Export Licensing Secured Federal General Export License for autonomous robots and AV technology (2022)
- Permanent Regulation Concept of permanent AV regulation (draft law) proposed to the Ministry of Transport
- Last-Mile Delivery Initiated the regulatory sandbox for autonomous last-mile delivery robots in Russia (May 2025)
- Technical Standardization Proposed the Robot Management System information standard to the Ministry of Industry and Trade as a baseline (also for state subsidy purposes)
- Regulatory & Legal Strategy Led government relations and regulatory strategies to define and secure the legal status of data centers within national telecommunications and infrastructure frameworks (e.g., Federal Law on Communications)
- Infrastructure & Grid Connection Spearheaded negotiations with state authorities and major utility providers to secure high-capacity power grid connectivity and energy allocations for data center facilities
- Site Acquisition & Expansion Partnered with regional governments and land-use authorities to identify, evaluate, and acquire strategic land plots for greenfield and brownfield data center development
- Security & Compliance Advised executive leadership on critical infrastructure security, establishing compliance protocols with state security, anti-terror, and data protection standards
- Stakeholder Management Built and maintained high-level partnerships with federal ministries, regulatory bodies, and industry associations to advocate for favorable policies driving tech infrastructure growth
- Successfully completed land privatization for the Samara plant (2012)
- Integrated the company's position on London Metal Exchange (LME) regulation into the official B20 Summit Communique (2013)
- Secured preferential electricity tariffs for the high-tech plant in Belaya Kalitva (Rostov region) in 2014, ensuring long-term OPEX savings
- Implemented the Alcoa CEO Leadership Program in Russia (2012–2020)
Alcoa was a highly active and influential member of the Foreign Investment Advisory Council (FIAC) in Russia for many years. The FIAC is a high-level body chaired by the Russian Prime Minister, designed to allow the heads of the world's largest international corporations to discuss the investment climate directly with the Russian government. Alcoa’s global CEO, Klaus Kleinfeld, regularly attended the annual plenary sessions in Moscow (held at the Prime Minister's residence). Alcoa Russia was a key participant in several of FIAC's working groups, particularly those focused on tax and customs legislation.
- Eurasian Economic Union Anti-dumping Duty: Aluminum strip from the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People's Republic of China (2020; extended in 2025)
During my tenure at the USRBC I managed the Council relationships with the Russian government, U.S. Embassy in Russia and member-companies. As a trusted organization, USRBC convened numerous discussions with top government officials in the USA and Russia engaging its members and on behalf of them in the frame of:
- US - Russia Presidential Bilateral Commission activities (2009 - 2014)
- Russia’s accession to the WTO (August 2012)
- U.S. granted the Permanent Normal Trade relations (PNTR) to Russia (December 2012)
- Roadshows to Russia regions
Education
University Côte d'Azur
Executive Education & Professional Development
- • Skolkovo - Yale Joint Program - Behavioral Economics (Marketing) (July 2016)
- • The Bell Educational Program at Stanford University - «Design thinking and industrial dilemma: new strategy for Business leaders» (August 2019)
- • «Human Brain: Core Functions» course by Vyacheslav Dubynin, PhD in Biology, Professor at the Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Biology Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University (April - June 2020)
- • Yandex Practicum online course «System Administrator» (October 2025 - present)
Languages & Interests
Sports: Table tennis, Basketball, Wakesurf, Yoga