Human capital in wartime. Results of the 26th EBA Annual General Meeting

01/ 12/ 2025

On 25 November, the 26th Annual General Meeting of the European Business Association took place. After a year of challenges and change, the business community gathered to reflect together and outline the way forward. In her opening remarks, the EBA Executive Director, Anna Derevyanko, emphasised that at the heart of every decision and every small and major achievement are people — those on the front line and those on the home front, who choose Ukraine and its development every day. “This year, the EBA strengthened its traditional areas — advocacy, educational programmes, media engagement, SME development and global activities — and also launched new initiatives designed with people in mind: a platform for exchanging veteran reintegration practices; training programmes for creating a barrier-free environment; a psychology and wellbeing hub, among others,” Anna noted. Tiberiu Dima, СEO, BASF Ukraine, and President of the European Business Association for the past four years, also gave an opening speech. Concluding his term at the Association, Tiberiu thanked the community for their cooperation: “The EBA is not just a union of companies, it is a family of leaders who are able to stand firm, unite, and act even in the most difficult times. Over the past four years, we have worked together to build trust between business and government and to create an environment in which companies can operate and grow. I am proud to have been part of this community and will always remain its friend.” Conversation with Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka highlighted that the government is now focused on cultivating a culture in which any manifestation of corruption becomes impossible. In the context of European integration, the state will continue to support exporters and plans to expand access for Ukrainian producers to EU markets. According to Taras, EU accession negotiations may be concluded as early as 2028. By then, business and government must learn together to operate under the new European rules. Conversation with Ivan Nikolaychuk, Founder of the NIKO Group of Companies, Director of the film “The Eternity Man” A special highlight of the event was the dialogue with Ivan Nikolaychuk, the founder of a major business who spent many years pursuing his dream, which became the film “The Eternity Man”. This is Nikolaychuk’s directorial debut, on which he and his team worked for more than 12 years. The filming itself took place during the full-scale war, from 2022 to 2024. Based on real events and filled with philosophical insight, the film is a kind of confession — a deep reflection on life and universal human values. The director noted that when evil spreads actively across the world, cinema helps preserve national history and becomes another form of resistance, for an idea cannot be destroyed by a missile. Panel I. Generation growing up during the war The first panel focused on young people — those who will shape Ukraine’s economy in the coming decades. The discussion featured Maksym Zakarlyuka, a 10th-grade student and President of KMD School, and Kateryna Kostikova, an 11th-grade student at KMD School. Participants discussed how the new generation’s view of the labour market has changed: safety, employer transparency, and a genuine social mission are becoming not “bonuses” but basic expectations. Maksym and Kateryna stressed that they expect from employers not only career growth but also the opportunity to influence projects and to be heard.Panel II. New business culture: how the war transforms people and values This panel centred on key priorities for businesses during wartime, including: responsibility to society, transformation of corporate culture, development of barrier-free and inclusive practices, solutions to staff shortages, and supporting teams under chronic stress. In today’s conditions, this is not only about equal opportunities, but about practical support, accessible services, safe working conditions and the reintegration of those returning from the front. Participants placed particular emphasis on the importance of coordination and knowledge-sharing between the military and business — from logistics and technology to approaches to leadership and planning. The panellists also discussed the role of business and volunteer initiatives in supporting Ukraine’s defence capability, particularly through the development of defence tech. The speakers agreed that the war has not halted the development of companies; on the contrary, it has pushed them to act faster, adapt, and respond to new challenges. Business has become more flexible, decisive, and people-centred — this is the new culture of entrepreneurship. We extend our gratitude to the panellists: Inga Andreeva, General Manager of Mastercard in Ukraine and Moldova; Taras Kytsmei, Co-Founder of SoftServe; Viktor Shevchenko, CEO of Zammler and an officer of the logistics command of the Territorial Defence Forces; Maksym Vedyankin, CEO of Bureau Veritas Ukraine and Operator of the VIRII strike unmanned aerial vehicle complex; Serhiy Zhuykov, Private equity manager, private investor, PhD in Economics, unit commander, sergeant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Dmytro Sholomko, Сonsultant and board member in companies of Mil Tec, Banking, Advertising and Media industries; and Serhiy Prytula, founder of the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation, for an open and sincere discussion. At the end of the event, the composition of the newly elected EBA Board was announced. You can read more about it in the publication. The European Business Association extends its sincere gratitude to its general sponsors, Raiffeisen Bank and Mastercard, for supporting the event, as well as to this year’s social partner — the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation. We would also like to thank our special guests — composer and virtuoso pianist Yevhen Khmara and stand-up comedian Anton Tymoshenko — for their captivating performances! View the event broadcast https://youtu.be/7wXZcnPIASQ

In her opening remarks, the EBA Executive Director, Anna Derevyanko, emphasised that at the heart of every decision and every small and major achievement are people — those on the front line and those on the home front, who choose Ukraine and its development every day.

“This year, the EBA strengthened its traditional areas — advocacy, educational programmes, media engagement, SME development and global activities — and also launched new initiatives designed with people in mind: a platform for exchanging veteran reintegration practices; training programmes for creating a barrier-free environment; a psychology and wellbeing hub, among others,” Anna noted.

Tiberiu Dima, СEO, BASF Ukraine, and President of the European Business Association for the past four years, also gave an opening speech. Concluding his term at the Association, Tiberiu thanked the community for their cooperation:

“The EBA is not just a union of companies, it is a family of leaders who are able to stand firm, unite, and act even in the most difficult times. Over the past four years, we have worked together to build trust between business and government and to create an environment in which companies can operate and grow. I am proud to have been part of this community and will always remain its friend.”

Conversation with Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine

Taras Kachka highlighted that the government is now focused on cultivating a culture in which any manifestation of corruption becomes impossible. In the context of European integration, the state will continue to support exporters and plans to expand access for Ukrainian producers to EU markets. According to Taras, EU accession negotiations may be concluded as early as 2028. By then, business and government must learn together to operate under the new European rules.

Conversation with Ivan Nikolaychuk, Founder of the NIKO Group of Companies, Director of the film “The Eternity Man”

A special highlight of the event was the dialogue with Ivan Nikolaychuk, the founder of a major business who spent many years pursuing his dream, which became the film “The Eternity Man”.

This is Nikolaychuk’s directorial debut, on which he and his team worked for more than 12 years. The filming itself took place during the full-scale war, from 2022 to 2024. Based on real events and filled with philosophical insight, the film is a kind of confession — a deep reflection on life and universal human values. The director noted that when evil spreads actively across the world, cinema helps preserve national history and becomes another form of resistance, for an idea cannot be destroyed by a missile.

Panel I. Generation growing up during the war

The first panel focused on young people — those who will shape Ukraine’s economy in the coming decades. The discussion featured Maksym Zakarlyuka, a 10th-grade student and President of KMD School, and Kateryna Kostikova, an 11th-grade student at KMD School. Participants discussed how the new generation’s view of the labour market has changed: safety, employer transparency, and a genuine social mission are becoming not “bonuses” but basic expectations. Maksym and Kateryna stressed that they expect from employers not only career growth but also the opportunity to influence projects and to be heard.Panel II. New business culture: how the war transforms people and values

This panel centred on key priorities for businesses during wartime, including: responsibility to society, transformation of corporate culture, development of barrier-free and inclusive practices, solutions to staff shortages, and supporting teams under chronic stress. In today’s conditions, this is not only about equal opportunities, but about practical support, accessible services, safe working conditions and the reintegration of those returning from the front.

Participants placed particular emphasis on the importance of coordination and knowledge-sharing between the military and business — from logistics and technology to approaches to leadership and planning. The panellists also discussed the role of business and volunteer initiatives in supporting Ukraine’s defence capability, particularly through the development of defence tech.

The speakers agreed that the war has not halted the development of companies; on the contrary, it has pushed them to act faster, adapt, and respond to new challenges. Business has become more flexible, decisive, and people-centred — this is the new culture of entrepreneurship.

We extend our gratitude to the panellists: Inga Andreeva, General Manager of Mastercard in Ukraine and Moldova; Taras Kytsmei, Co-Founder of SoftServe; Viktor Shevchenko, CEO of Zammler and an officer of the logistics command of the Territorial Defence Forces; Maksym Vedyankin, CEO of Bureau Veritas Ukraine and Operator of the VIRII strike unmanned aerial vehicle complex; Serhiy Zhuykov, Private equity manager, private investor, PhD in Economics, unit commander, sergeant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Dmytro Sholomko, Сonsultant and board member in companies of Mil Tec, Banking, Advertising and Media industries; and Serhiy Prytula, founder of the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation, for an open and sincere discussion.

At the end of the event, the composition of the newly elected EBA Board was announced. You can read more about it in the publication.

The European Business Association extends its sincere gratitude to its general sponsors, Raiffeisen Bank and Mastercard, for supporting the event, as well as to this year’s social partner — the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation.

We would also like to thank our special guests — composer and virtuoso pianist Yevhen Khmara and stand-up comedian Anton Tymoshenko — for their captivating performances!

View the event broadcast