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Julia Belyakova

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.

Location: Sophia Antipolis, France
Experience: 15+ years
Email: julie.kulagina@gmail.com
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Professional Experience

Corporate Affairs Director
August 2020 – June 2025
Yandex Company
Autonomous Vehicles · Robotics · Smart Devices · IT Infrastructure
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Key Accomplishments for Autonomous Vehicles Business Unit:
  • 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.
  • Secured Federal General Export License for autonomous robots and AV technology (2022)
  • Concept of permanent AV regulation (draft law) proposed to the Ministry of Transport
  • Initiated the regulatory sandbox for autonomous last-mile delivery robots in Russia (May 2025)
  • Proposed the Robot Management System information standard to the Ministry of Industry and Trade as a baseline (also for state subsidy purposes)
Head of Government and Industry Relations
March 2012 – August 2020
Alcoa Russia, Arconic Russia
GR, External Communications, Business Development
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Key Accomplishments:
  • 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)
Head of the Representation in Russia
January 2006 – March 2012
U.S.-Russia Business Council (USRBC)
Led the Moscow office of the premier Washington-based business association dedicated to promoting bilateral economic ties. My tenure coincided with the "golden age" of commercial cooperation, marked by an unprecedented surge in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the Russian Federation—growing from $3B to $75B annually between 2002 and 2008. Served as a strategic interface for over 300 member companies, focusing on business intelligence, government relations, and high-stakes regulatory troubleshooting.
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Accomplishments:

  • 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

MSc Engineers for Smart Cities
Mediterranean Institute of Risk, Environment and Sustainable Development (IMREDD)
University Côte d'Azur
2022 — 2023
Global Politics (Bachelor & Master Degree)
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)
Master's Thesis: Transformation of U.S. Foreign Policy Identity after the Cold War
2003 — 2009

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

English French Russian

Federal Elections Watchdog in Moscow (2012 - 2016)

Member of the Moscow Election Commission (with voting rights) Monitored the 2012 Presidential and 2016 Legislative (State Duma) elections; maintained qualification for the 2018 Presidential election cycle. Ensured compliance with electoral laws and transparency of the voting process. →

English Teacher at Odintsovo Orphanage (Spring 2007)

Volunteering by Kidsave Organisation

Sports: Table tennis, Basketball, Wakesurf, Yoga