About Foundation
+7 912 154 51 79
Vagonov Kirill
GIS-Specialist. Has been working in the Foundation since 2020.
I was born in Syktyvkar in 1990.
In school my favorite subjects were Geography, Biology, and Informatics, which determined my further choice of the occupation.
In 2008, I entered the Syktyvkar State University on the specialization of “Ecology”. Starting from the third year of education, I chose the scientific advisor engaged in the subject I was interested in, and soaked myself in the study of such area as geoinformation systems.
+7 912 142 72 38
Davydov Sergey
Driver. Has been working in the Foundation since 2005.
I was born in Syktyvkar. I have studied there. I began my career on the motorship “Gurjev”, we rafted wood to Arkhangelsk and transported goods on barges back.
In 1992 I became a car driver. At first I worked for Syktyvkar Hunting and Fishing Society. Then I had been working for Passenger Auto-Transport Enterprise for 11 years before I found a job in Silver Taiga Foundation in 2005.
I have found the job in the Foundation entirely by accident. I had been looking for a job for about a year before I casually got acquainted with Przemyslaw Majewski and he invited me to take part in the job interview. Finally I was invited to the staff of the Foundation. As soon as I considered all pros and contras, I decided to work for the Foundation and have no regrets so far.
At first I couldn’t understand the Foundation’s activity to the end. Thanks to participation in different workshops and meetings conducted by the colleagues I quickly got into the work.
I like my work very much. It combines working activities, active rest and a very nice team.
I work in the Foundation as a driver. I participate also in different expeditions and field tours by assisting in arrangement of everyday life in the forest, preparation of the demonstrational routes and field data collection.
+7 912 966 61 73
Kalmykov Vladimir
Chief Accountant. Years of employment in the Foundation 1999 – 2008, since 2012 – till now.
I was born in Syktyvkar in 1971. I’ve been dreaming to become an accountant since early childhood when I found 2 Bulgarian stotinkas in a sand pit. After graduating from Syktyvkar State University (department of accounting) I had been working in foreign exchange departments of Syktyvkar commercial banks before I found a notice about a vacancy for an accountant in Syktyvkar branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature in 1999.
Working in the Foundation I can arrange my activity and manage my working and free time myself. A wide range of nonstandard transactions and reports of the Foundation always keeps me awake.
My hobby is watching football and travelling. As a result I have visited all six continents of our planet.
+7 912 141 19 45
Pautov Yury
Director of the Foundation since 2013.
I was born in the Kazakh steppe in the family of virgin lands pioneers. I was brought up by my grandmother in Siberia, graduated from school in Perm, and Forest-Technical Academy in St. Petersburg. As a student, I traveled around half of the country: from the Khibiny on the Kola Peninsula to the Caucasus (vicinity of the Mt. Elbrus) and from the source of the Volga in the Valday Hills to the source of the Ob in Altai. So, according to my style, I’m rather a nomad than a person with a settled lifestyle.
I came to Syktyvkar in 1977 to work in the Komi Scientific Centre, Ural Division of Russian Academy of Science. I started as a junior research scientist and finished my scientific career as the head of the forest department. I’ve travelled all over the Komi Republic while pursuing science.
I’m acquainted with the Komi Model Forest project from its very beginning, i.e. pre-project discussions and proposals. I was actively cooperating with the project at the first stage (1996-1999), developing ecological routes in the reserve and Priluzje, creating a working group on certification, and preparing the proposals to the Komi Model Forest concept.
I became a part of the project in 2002, based on the competition results. At that time, it was WWF branch in the Komi Republic. I was a forest policy coordinator and Deputy Director. Since 2013, I’m the Director of the Silver Taiga Foundation. I love my job. I’ve always been dreaming to see the fruits of my labors during my lifetime, and not just in the scientific monographs. Dreams come true!!!
+7 912 156 71 91
Popova Anastasia
Administrator. Has been working in the Foundation since 2007.
I was born in the north of Komi Republic in a small village called Novy Bor. I had very good teachers at school and I was dreaming to become a teacher as well. In 1997 I entered the lyceum of the Komi State Pedagogical Institute and two years later I became a student of the Institute (department of foreign languages).
After graduating from the Institute, I worked as a teacher of foreign languages in Syktyvkar Gymnasia named after A. Pushkin. It was very hardship for me to change the work, as I loved my schoolchildren with all my heart. However, now I am happy to work for Silver Taiga. I was born and lived in the rural village close to the river and forest but people of Silver Taiga have opened the doors to the World of Nature all over again.
+7 912 158 62 15
Sazhina Olga
Public Relations Specialist. Has been working in the Foundation since 2017.
I was born in Chukhlem village, Sysola district of Komi. After school in 1985 I entered Syktyvkar State University (philology department) and three years later made a transfer to Leningrad State University named after A. Zhdanov (department of journalism).
My working career started in Komi Gor Radio. Then I worked in Respublika newspaper. Before coming to Silver Taiga, I was in the press office staff of the Ministry of Nature of Komi. Working as a journalist I have managed to get acquainted with many interesting and motivated people, had an opportunity to broaden my horizon. But now being a part of Silver Taiga team I understood that I have a chance to change myself. The project activity requires the combination of business qualities and creative approach, continuous growth of professional competence. Hope I will be useful for the Foundation in all its directions.
+7 912 142 74 29
Semyashkina Valentina
Deputy Director, Local Communities Project Manager. Has been working in the Foundation since 2009.
I was born and spent the early childhood in the village Kolva, on the river with the same name, a tributary of the Usa – in the places located far away from the centre, with pristine nature and authentic history, which have been changed beyond recognition by the efforts of various conquerors of Nature over the last forty years. I have finished school in Pechora. After graduation from the Faculty of Philology of the Syktyvkar State University, I worked as a teacher, correspondent of the district newspaper, editor of the basin newspaper “Rechnik Pechory”, editor of the city TV. I’m a member of the Russian Journalists’ Union.
In the 90s, as a journalist and Head of the non-governmental organization “Save Pechora committee”, I’ve traveled almost around the whole basin – from the Troitsko-Pechorsk district to the Nenets district.
It was Przemyslaw Majewski, who invited me to participate in the Komi Model Forest project when it was in the development stage. I have coordinated the activity related to the development of the public participation in the forest management process. I’ve been doing this as an invited expert for over a decade, and since March of 2009 – as a staff member of the Silver Taiga Foundation.
I enjoy my job! My knowledge and skills – both professional and social – are in demand here. We have understanding and common vision of the problems in our team. There is a possibility to travel and communicate with a wide variety of people. The work brings the results and the confidence that we are moving in the right direction.
+7 912 181 76 87
Shilov Nikolay
Educational Coordinator. Has been working in the Foundation since 2014.
Since childhood, I have been fond of the natural sciences, especially biology and ecology.
I graduated with Bachelor of Ecology and Master of Biology (ichthyology) degrees from the Syktyvkar State University.
I have been in a private entrepreneur’s employ as an ichthyologist. I have been curing and breeding fish.
Besides, I have worked as a leading expert in the Center of Specially Protected Nature Areas under the Ministry of Nature of Komi, where I have been engaged in the environmental education, organization and coordination of the ecological activities.
Currently, I am the Foundation ecologist. My basic activity is related to the projects: “Model River Mezen – restoration of fish resources” and “Assessment of the long-term logging impact on the water resources”.
The main interests are ichthyology, fishing, and aquarium husbandry.
+7 912 155 02 47
Shuktomova Anna
Public Relations Specialist. Has been working in the Foundation since 2011.
On maternity leave at the moment.
+7 912 155 02 48
Shuktomov Nikolay
Forestry Coordinator. Has been working in the Foundation since 2012.
I was born in a small city of Sosnogorsk in 1987. I graduated from high school with a silver medal and entered the Syktyvkar State University for the speciality “Ecologist”. After a successful graduation of the university I was called up to the army.
Since childhood, my uncle, an experienced hunter, instilled in me respect to our home and the entire community of life. I like hunting and fishing, and various forms of active rest.
Due to my nature, I cannot stay long in one place; I like new acquaintances and communication with people.
In 2012, I passed an interview and was enrolled on the staff of the Silver Taiga Foundation. I work as an ecologist, GIS-specialist in two basic areas: HCVF and Model River Mezen projects.
My work is my hobby: we can provide real help in terms of preservation of the environment; we spend much time traveling and communicating with interesting people. I’m happy, that the knowledge I obtained during the studies is in demand, but, at the same time, we never stop studying and upgrading our skills. A great benefit and treasure of our Foundation is its team. It’s a pleasure to work and create here!