Victor Pinchuk is one of Ukraine's most successful businessmen, whose role in civic, international affairs and charitable organizations has made him a leader in Ukraine's growing interaction with Europe and the world.

Mr. Pinchuk graduated with honors from the Dnipropetrovs'k Metallurgical Institute.He earned a Ph.D on the basis of his innovative research in pipe design, engineering and production. In 1990, he founded Interpipe Company on the basis of these patented innovations, which were successfully adopted by leading metallurgical factories in the former USSR. The corporation operates today as an international investment company and is one of the most successful Ukrainian business groups. Its portfolio includes industrial assets such as production of pipes and tubes, railcar wheels, specialty steels and alloys, machinery, as well as banking, media, airlines, real estate, and high tech companies. In 2004, Interpipe became the first Ukrainian company member of the World Economic Forum. It is very active in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the workplace and is the only Eastern European company member of the Global Business Coalition against HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Pinchuk served two terms as an elected Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, from 1998 to 2006. He decided not to run for a third term as he believed Ukraine had reached a level of development where business and politics should be separated.

For more than ten years Mr. Pinchuk has been developing and supporting a number of philanthropic projects in Ukraine. In 2006, he consolidated these activities under the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, which is now considered one of the largest private Ukrainian philanthropic foundation. Its numerous projects include the creation of a network of modern neonatal centres throughout Ukraine, a cooperation program with the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative and the ANTIAIDS Foundation of his wife Elena Franchuk, the creation of the Kyiv School of Economics, a cooperation with the Aspen Institute, the opening of the first large scale contemporary art centre in Ukraine, the creation and development of the only Ukrainian private chamber orchestra, the production and promotion of a film with Steven Spielberg on the Holocaust in Ukraine, human rights projects with George Soros and support of local Jewish communities.

Mr. Pinchuk has long promoted closer ties between Ukraine and the EU. In 2004, he created the Yalta European Strategy - YES - an international independent organization that is promoting Ukraine joining the European Union. Its annual conference in Yalta has become the main high-level Ukraine-EU forum for debate and policy recommendations.

Mr. Pinchuk serves as a member of the Board of the International Crisis Group, a member of the Board of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and a member of the International Advisory Council of Brookings Institution.