Oleg Ilyin

Oleg Ilyin is a seasoned public relations professional with over 20 years of experience in corporate communications, crisis management, and media training. His background includes projects for over 100 Russian and international brands, state institutions, and NGOs since 2000 in the roles of both consultant and project leader. Holding degrees in political science and business psychology, Oleg has also extensive track record as a media coach, helping business owners, leaders, and comms teams take the most out of every public and/or media appearance. Oleg is an award-winning author and experienced facilitator, able to combine profound expertise and effective teamwork frames.

Carolina James Bajaj

Carolina has been leading integrated marketing and communications efforts for over 18 years and has spent her career developing insight-driven campaigns with emphasis on marketing communications, digital communications, financial communications, leadership change management and global reputation programs. She has led teams across a range of corporate, financial, lifestyle, FMCG, sports and technology brands.

Skilled in creating high-impact communications campaigns within fast-paced, complex, regulated sectors in support of operational goals, Carolina has been a trusted emissary for brands and Corporate houses and is known for her authenticity, integrity, crisis management capabilities and the leverage to engage at all levels, internally and externally proficiently.

Peter McKillop

Peter focuses on working with management teams on corporate messaging, media relations, marketing and, public affairs strategies. He supports global clients on building strong sustainable brands focused on ESG, impact, sustainability, and climate change. He also counsels financial services clients developing and executing global communication programs with particular expertise in asset management, Exchange Trade Funds (ETFs), and index strategies. Until April, Peter was Managing Director and Global Head of Communications for BlackRock’s iShares ETF business. In this role, he led the communication strategy and oversaw senior media relations, public affairs, issues management, executive communications and internal communications for the world’s largest provider of ETF and Index investment solutions.

Prior to joining BlackRock, Peter held senior communication and public affairs leadership at J.P. Morgan, UBS, KKR, The Clearing House, and Bank of America. He also served as Managing Director of the Japan office of Burson-Marsteller and APAC Regional Media Director for its Asia-Pacific operations, where he provided strategic marketing, public affairs and crisis communications counsel to leading Fortune 500 companies.

Peter was a senior correspondent and bureau chief for Newsweek from 1983-1995 in New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong covering key social, political, cultural and financial events.

Peter is active in civic affairs. He is President of Foundation Hirondelle, a foundation that supports social justice reporting in conflict and post-conflict nations. He is also a board member of the Africa-America Institute, America’s oldest NGO supporting educational programs between the United States and African nations. Peter is also a trustee at Eaglebrook School, in Deerfield, MA.

Peter received his bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University in 1981 where he majored in African Studies.