Irina co-founded BQ9, a crypto-fintech boutique advisory firm on a mission to turn great ideas into great Web3 products. BQ9 works on business model creation, product ideation and development, Sustainable Metaverse Strategy, and more. With over 13+ years of experience, Irina has established herself as an international business development professional in strategic partnerships, analysis of foreign markets, and business planning across the UK, EU, and Russia. Irina holds a BA from the Southern Federal University in Russia, and an MSc in Urban Planning and Policy Design from Politecnico di Milano, Italy. Irina is also Head of Ecosystem Growth & BD at Unique Network, a NFT parachain on Polkadot, Head Ambassador for Western Europe of the Polkadot network, and also London’s Regional Co-Chair to FIBREE (Foundation for International Blockchain and Real Estate Expertise), co-coordinator of DigitalArt4Climate initiative, and European Climate Pact Ambassador. She is named one of the Top 100 Women of the Future, the winner of 2022 Rising Women in Crypto Power List by Wirex and The Cryptonomist.