OUR TEAM
Partners
Lada L. Roslycky LLM, PhD
Founder and Managing Partner
E-mail: Lada@theblacktrident.com
Dr. Lada L. Roslycky is the founder and Managing Partner of Black Trident Defense and Security Consulting Group. She consults businesses, non-governmental and governmental organizations on matters pertaining to national security and defense policy, analysis, advocacy and media relations.
With over 25 publications including top-level sources as The United Nations Yearbook of International Law and Newsweek magazine, she has presented at, and coordinated, over 30 high-level international conferences and work groups including NATO’s Cyber Security Science for Peace Program. An American-Canadian-Ukrainian international security expert, she is the lead author of the national security section of the 2019 Toronto Principles, the 5-year Roadmap for Ukrainian Reforms...
Working in different capacities with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, NATO, the Harvard Black Sea Security Program, The Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces, the Ukrainian Vice-Prime Minister’s Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, and Transparency International Defence and Security Program, her experience includes anti-corruption work, strategic communications, the analysis of NATO Trust Funds and private military corporations in Mongolia’s mining sector.
A co-founder and former Head of Content of the Independent Defence Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO) in Kyiv, she led research and advocacy pertaining to defense housing, democratic oversight and control, secrecy, the state defense order, national security, and defense real estate matters. She has significant experience in media relations having developed television programing for stakeholders including the European Commission and 1+1 Media.
Her analytical and research skills are exemplified by the fact that in 2011, her PhD dissertation (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen) classified Russia’s hybrid warfare as strategic separatism, and predicted the illegal 2014 annexation of Crimea through the use of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, psychological operations and political-criminal relations. As a fellow of the Harvard University Black Sea Security Program, she applied Regional Security Complex Theory to corruption as statecraft.
A Master of International & European Law (University of Amsterdam), she created guidelines for the use of weather modification technology as an instrument of sustainable development. Her legal skills have been applied to analyze international treaties and Ukrainian laws to co-author legislative roadmaps including the introduction of a temporary international administration in the non-government controlled territories in Ukraine’s east.
She is fluent in English, Ukrainian and Dutch with advanced ability in Russian. Her skills ensure she is able to engage sensitively and productively. Her special interests include research, advocacy, strategic communications, international networking, strategic planning, project management, security studies, sailing and flowers.
Taras Yemchura
Partner
E-mail: taras@theblacktrident.com
Taras Yemchura is a defense sector analyst. His professional experience includes work in governmental institutions (The National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities, Ministry for Regional Development, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine) and non-governmental projects (NGO "Let's Do It, Ukraine”, Peter-Weiss-Stiftung für Kunst und Politik eV and others).
During 2016-2019 Taras Yemchura worked as an analyst of Transparency International Defence and Security Program, working on projects aimed at increasing transparency and lowering corruption risks within Ukraine's defense and security sectors.
Well versed in Ukraine's defense sector legislation and institutions, Taras has created advocacy plans for governmental and non-governmental stakeholders.
Mykhailo Samus
Partner
E-mail: samus@theblacktrident.com
Having served 12 years in the Ukrainian Armed Forces after graduating from the Kyiv Naval Academy, Mykhailo is a seasoned security and defense expert.
As the Deputy Director of The Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies (CACDS), one of Ukraine’s most prestigious non-governmental think-tanks and voluntary association of experts from the armed forces, security and defense industry, Mykhailo’s work includes the promotion of Ukraine’s defense industry in the EU. For over six years he has been consulting Western companies on how to enter Ukraine’s defense market...
In the private sector since 2002, he gained his Master’s Degree in International Journalism from the Institute of Journalism, Kyiv Shevchenko National University (2007). There, he developed sector specific journalistic and analytical skills.
Having started his career as a journalist at Defense Express, he became the Editor-in-Chief of the Export Control Newsletter magazine, and then the Deputy Director of CACDS. Today, he is regularly published in Defense Express, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, Radio Svoboda, Dilova Stolytsia, Espreso, Lidovky, Komentari, NatoAktual.cz and other media.
He is the founder of the EU CACDS office in Prague (Czech Republic). and was responsible for the coordination of CACDS international activities, its regional sections, and projects with NATO and the EU. Mykhailo also partook in the publication of the CACDS Analytical Bulletin Challenges and Risks (http://cacds.org.ua/ru/bulletin/).
Mykhailo is actively engaged in developments related to new generation warfare, Russia’s so-called hybrid warfare against the West and matters pertaining to national resilience.
He is fluent in Ukrainian, Russian and English. His special interests include research and analysis in defense and security, armed forces, new generation warfare, national resilience, geopolitics, history, psychology, half-marathon running...
Associates
Philipp H. Fluri, DDr.habil.
Associate, Security & Defense Reform
Currently Executive-in-Residence at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and formerly Deputy Director of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF), Philipp Fluri lectures, writes and advises on democratic oversight of the defense and security sector, human rights in defense and security, peacebuilding, and integrity.
He has an extensive track record operating as a valued adviser in demanding and complex environments, fostering trust, fresh thinking and new policies and laws in order to establish agreed political governance and collaboration for the future. As co-founder and Deputy Director of The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces he has worked in some 40 countries across the world, often in cooperation with international organizations...
From 2014 Philipp directed the Public Monitoring of Security Sector Reform in Ukraine (funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs) see: www.ukrainesecuritysector.com. Cross-culturally sensitive and fluent in most of the official languages of the UN, he has notably played a leading role in tackling security sector management and governance challenges in the former Soviet Union, in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
An anthropologist and philosopher by training, with doctoral degrees from the universities of Bern and Fribourg, formerly he was the Sergio de Mello Chair at the Seton Hall University School of Diplomacy and International Relations. He is especially interested in state- and nation-building and in the reform and oversight of the defense and the state security/intelligence sector.
He has edited and published some 50 books and articles, including Defence Institution Building: A Sourcebook in Support of the Partnership Action Plan (with Wim van Eekelen, 2006), The European Union and Security Sector Reform (with David Spence, 2008), Building Integrity and Reducing Corruption in Defence: A Compendium of Best Practices (with Todor Tagarev et al. 2010)...
Michael Topolnytsky, MBA
Associate, Investment and Risk Management
Michael Topolnytsky helps financial and strategic investors internationally more reliably execute strategy and improve performance in acquisitions, scale-ups and organizational change. He has spent his career helping guide organizations through significant and risky transitions, using project management discipline, change management expertise and targeted learning & development to make change stick. Michael also teaches and conducts research on operational resilience and managing organizational risks.
Michael began his career in strategy and operations consulting in Germany, serving clients in energy, public utilities, package express, financial services, and rail transportation privatizing and adapting to liberalizing European markets. He then joined the Mercer/Oliver Wyman group, acquiring and building consulting firms in leadership and change management and serving as Finance and Operations Manager in Germany, including responsibility for compliance and risk management in his unit. He later managed the scale-up of the Kets de Vries Institute, a global leadership consultancy founded by faculty at INSEAD. Most recently, Michael has been affiliated with AlixPartners in Munich and Spark Leadership in London, delivering organizational change and learning programs for boards and executives in Europe, the Middle East and Asia...
Michael has served global clients in a variety of industries like Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Cairn Energy, Cambridge Judge Business School, Credit Suisse, DMGT, ElectroComponents, Enzen, KKR, McKinsey & Co., Mubadala ATIC, National Australia Bank, National Grid, Nomura, Petrofac, Philips Lighting, Prêt-à-Manger, Shell, Skolkovo School of Management, Razak School of Government, Russian Standard, Sberbank, Siemens, and others.
Next to his consulting practice, Michael has been teaching Leading Change and Innovation at SciencesPo’s Paris School of International Affairs, working on creating resilient and agile organizations in security, public administration and non-profits, while also doing pro bono work with social projects in Ukraine, India and the Middle East. Currently, he is supporting a team at Queens University in Canada with their research in organizational aspects of anti-money laundering and risk management.
Michael earned his MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau and Singapore and BA (Hon) in Political Science from McGill University in Montréal with specializations in international relations and political philosophy and a minor in German Studies. He is a Canadian who recently relocated home to Toronto, his mother tongue is English, he is fluent in French and German, proficient in Ukrainian, and speaks some Czech and Russian. He is a wilderness traveler who enjoys canoeing, mountain sports and cuisines of the world.
Mariia Symonova
Associate, Societal Security
Mariia is experienced in monitoring and evaluation as well as strategic planning in Ukraine's security and defense sectors. Her professional experience includes research and managerial positions within cross-border and national projects/initiatives (under the auspices of the EC, USAID, UNDP, UNFPA), leadership in international expert networks.
In 2018, Mariia joined the defense policy path by supporting the creation of the strategic appraisal of Ukraine's Navy (institutional and human development analysis). In 2016-2017 - she was the Group Facilitator at the Black Sea NGO Forum, and, between 2016-2019 Mariia served as the Working Group Coordinator in the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.
Management
Maya Woloshyn
Manager, Business Development and Operations
E-mail: Maya@theblacktrident.com
As Black Trident's operations and business development manager, Maya draws on her multifaceted experience and knowledge in a diverse range of industries and markets to facilitate best business practices, identify information gaps, and deliver targeted opportunities and services to clients and partners.
Having started her career in New York City's finance industry, Maya served as a core member of The Rockefeller University's investment team, working in multiple capacities over her five-year tenure to collaboratively manage a $1.8 billion portfolio across a variety of asset classes. From 2013, she shifted her focus to strategic communications and open-source intelligence analysis, providing daily briefings to senior executives and government officials as a Senior Analyst at Bulletin Intelligence...
A second generation Ukrainian-American, Maya has lifelong ties to Ukraine and the diaspora community and has spent extended periods of time in Ukraine to further cultivate her knowledge and understanding of current affairs and developments. She has also participated in several Election Monitoring missions over the years.
Maya holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia with a second major in Foreign Affairs and a minor in Slavic Languages and Literature. Her special interests include researching and analyzing opportunities and best practices, identifying and implementing innovative solutions, developing meaningful connections, walking across countries, and traveling the world. She is based in the United States.
Advisory Council
Prof. Dr. Maryna Bilynska
Prof. Maryna Bilynska is a public policy expert and consults non-governmental and governmental organizations on security and defense sector policy making and analysis. With over 35 publications including international conferences and textbooks, she has presented at high-level international conferences including NATO Headquarters.
As Vice-president of the National Academy of Public Administration under the President of Ukraine, she researched and developed public administration reforms, conducted institutional and policy analysis pertaining to peace and security issues. In her 10 years of tenure Maryna also supported capacity building processes for government officials.
A a Professor of Public Administration and Public Service Department she organized Master`s, PhD and Post-doctoral Programs as well as training for Senior civil servants from all regions of Ukraine...
A Co-founder and Chair of the Board of Directors of Ukraine's Resilience Center, Maryna leads research and advocacy on resilient public administration and management in the defense and security spheres. She has significant experience in media relations having participated in radio programs for national radio and TV.
She participated in multiple advanced trainings such as Advanced training on Security Sector Reform, 2018 held by Irish Defence Forces in association with the International Security Sector Advisory Team of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, the Workshop CENTROC “Central Role of the Commander Accomplish the Mission Respecting the Law”, Geneva, Switzerland, NATO training course “Defence Leadership in Building Integrity" in 2011, and studied advanced project management in the German – Ukrainian School of Governance in 2017.
She has practical oriented knowledge of human rights, gender equality, peace and security frameworks during reform of decentralization in Ukraine and participated in L’ENA Training visit “The French system of in-service training for public servants”, Paris - Strasbourg.
She is fluent in English, Ukrainian and Russian. Her skills ensure she is able to organize and participate in high-level dialogues, consultations and workshops; to coordinate and organize multiple stakeholders’ activities and liaison with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders.
Her special interests include research, advocacy, strategic communications, international networking, strategic planning, project management, security studies, yoga and philosophy...
Michel Duray
* Michel Duray is an honorary member of Black Trident's Advisory Board. His valued participation is fully voluntary.
Mr. Duray is a former NATO official, where he served for 22 years, occupying various positions in the fields of defense economics, defense governance and reform, public diplomacy, risk management and modern internal auditing. He is very familiar with Ukraine, where he headed twice, as Director, the NATO Information and Documentation Centre. Prior to this he played a key role in developing defense economic related programs between NATO and Ukraine. Some programs, launched in 2000, are still running...
In 2013, Mr. Duray became Senior Advisor on Risk Management to the NATO International Staff Financial Controller. He promoted and actively contributed to the creation of a proper Internal Audit Service for the International Staff in NATO Headquarters in Brussels. In 2016, he became Senior Internal Auditor of the NATO Headquarters International Staff, with a direct reporting line to the Office of the Secretary General. His favorite topics are governance auditing, joint international cooperation and reform programs, in particular in the field of defense and security.
Mr. Duray has regularly been invited as a subject matter expert in the NATO-led Trust Fund Building Integrity program, briefing staff and students in security-related universities and academies, both in Georgia and Ukraine.
He left NATO in June 2019, and is now a member of the Board of the Belgian Euro-Atlantic Association. He advises on a voluntary basis various entities and NGOs on international security and policy issues.
Mr. Duray is a citizen of the Kingdom of Belgium. He has a Degree in International Relations (Louvain University), Master in Slavic studies (Brussels Free University) and another Master in Russian philology (Paris Sorbonne). He holds a certificate in Risk Management (Brussels Solvay Business School). He is a retired officer of the Belgian Armed Forces (Army) and was deployed to operations in conflict zones. He is fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, English and French.
Drago Kos
As one of the most known international anti-corruption and integrity experts, Mr. Drago Kos is Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions, Co-Chair of MOBIN (MENA – OECD Business Integrity Network), leading expert of CIPE (Center for International Private Enterprise, USA) and a former Co-Chair and member of the Defence Corruption Monitoring Committee (NAKO) in Ukraine...
Between 2011 and 2015 he served as International Commissioner and Chair of the Joint Independent Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (MEC) in Afghanistan. He also chaired the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) between 2003 and 2011. From October 2010, he is managing partner in R.U.R., LLC, consultancy company, registered in Slovenia (active in the areas of corporate integrity, prevention of corruption, forensic auditing, due diligence, anti-money-laundering, asset tracing and recovery), he also chaired a group for developing Slovenian Corporate Integrity Guidelines.
Sergei Konoplyov
Sergei Konoplyov is a Program Director at Harvard University. From 1997 to 2017 he was Director of the Harvard Eurasia Security Program.
He served as Director of the Eurasia Foundation for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova in 1994‐1996. A former officer of the Soviet Armed Forces, Sergei has served in several military missions in Africa, Latin America and Central Asia.
A graduate of the Moscow Military Institute, he also holds a degree from Kyrgyz University in Journalism (Cum Laude) and a Master degree in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government. Since 1998 he has been a member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies (London). He was also a NATO Fellow in 2000 and received his Ph.D. at the Kyiv Institute for International Relations.
From 2000-2008 Sergei has served as Assistant to the Head of the National Security Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament. He has received awards from Ministers of Defense of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine. Currently he is a pro bono advisor to the Mayor of Kyiv and the Minister of Finance of Ukraine.