Taras Shevchenko

Taras Shevchenko serves as a Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine since August 2020. In 2017 when he participated in YWF Program he was an activist and Co-Founder of the Reanimation Package of Reforms (RPR), a coalition of reform-oriented NGOs and experts, which began after the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine. Taras served as Board Co-Chairman for RPR, which brings together 73 NGOs that develop, promote, and control implementation of reforms. It has proved to be a unique coalition that has advocated more than 100 laws.

Taras is also Founder and was during 15 years an Executive Director of Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law, an influential Ukrainian think-and-act-tank that focuses on rule of law, independent media, anti-corruption, and civil society development. He established this organization in 2005 after the Orange Revolution. Taras has been involved with drafting numerous legislative acts, including the Access to Public Information Law. He has started successful civic initiatives in different areas including good governance, transparency, media self-regulation, anti-tobacco, and road safety. He was elected as a member of the Supervisory Board of the Public Service Broadcasting Company in 2015. Taras holds two Masters degrees in law and in economics from the Kyiv National University.