SPIBA’s 30th Anniversary
SPIBA's 30th Anniversary
SPIBA – Shaping Prospects for Individuals with Big Ambitions: Continuing to Build Bridges
On October 8, 2025, the St. Petersburg International Business Association celebrated its 30th anniversary in the splendid interiors of the House of Architects.
It’s rare for SPIBA events to take place without a pre-announced agenda. But this meeting was special. Elegant women, sophisticated men, smiles at the sight of familiar faces, conversations in different languages, a welcome glass of sparkling wine in luxurious surroundings – all this created a festive atmosphere from the very entrance.
In the Bronze Hall of the Polovtsov Mansion, which was intended for receptions and gala dinners, words of congratulations and admiration echoed. SPIBA was celebrating its anniversary, and the main topic of conversation was centered on love.
The tone for the subsequent speeches was set by Stefan Van Doorslaer, Chairman of the SPIBA Executive Committee and representative of the owner of Astros Logistics, who opened the meeting. His words about ‘building bridges’ in SPIBA even in ‘special times’ became the leitmotif of the congratulatory speeches.
Representatives of leading St. Petersburg companies, both Russian and international, were addressed by Alexey Alekseevich Korabelnikov, Vice Governor of St. Petersburg; Anastasia Viktorovna Mikhalchenko, Director of the State Budgetary Institution “Agency for Economic Development of the Leningrad Region”; Maxim Kalinin, Managing Partner of the St. Petersburg branch of Melling, Voitishkin & Partners; Yury Vasilyevich Fedotov, First Deputy Director of GSOM SPbU; Fernando Rojo, General Manager of the Corinthia St. Petersburg Hotel; Sergey Anatolyevich Morozov, Artistic Director of the Liteiny Drama Theater; Ekaterina Zelenina, General Director of Konsu LLC; and Sergey Vladimirov, Head of the St. Petersburg branch of IBC Real Estate. Congratulatory letters from the Congress Palace State Complex and the Russian charity organization SOS Children’s Villages were read. All guests of the evening were invited to leave a note in the Wish Book.
Perhaps, in order to describe the event and the community’s overall attitude toward the Association, it’s enough to simply quote the speakers, who were unanimous:
“SPIBA is not only a business, but, above all, people.”
“Nothing would be possible without a human touch and a sense of humor.”
“An atmosphere of trust reigns here between business, government, and academia.”
“SPIBA is an exceptionally morally stable organization: always true to itself and never changing its orientation.”
“In the ‘business architecture,’ SPIBA is what has been binding the individual elements together as a whole for many years.”
“St. Petersburg is developing, and its economy is growing, thanks to the unity of people and organizations in business communities like SPIBA.” After all, a St. Petersburg resident isn’t someone who was born in this city, but someone who lives here and makes every effort to make the city prosperous.
“30 years is the pinnacle of an organization’s development, a time when ideas, plans, and results can be compared.”
“SPIBA is a large, beautiful flagship that set sail 30 years ago and has already picked up speed and set a course that nothing can influence.”
“SPIBA has always kept pace with modern Russia, which is only 35 years old.”
“We’ve come a long way,” but “life is just beginning.”
“This is a powerful bridge for building trust and a spirit of cooperation.”
“SPIBA members will continue to develop, build bridges, and enjoy themselves—not only for themselves, but also for future generations.”
All the congratulations mentioned the beauty of SPIBA and expressed love for the Association and its members. People wish the Association to keep building bridges and moving forward with their heads held high, preserving the enthusiasm, drive, energy, positivity, and fire that attract organizations and people.
Congratulations on the Association’s anniversary were received by SPIBA Executive Committee Chairman Stefan Van Doorslaer, Executive Director Karina Khabacheva, whom Stefan called the embodiment of SPIBA, and all members of the city’s leading business community.
The guests raised their glasses, congratulating each other: “To our shared celebration!”
SPIBA’s greatest value and strength are its people. It is no coincidence that the new acronym for the Association’s name, proposed by Sergey Morozov, was greeted with applause: Shaping Prospects for Individuals with Big Ambitions.
