Meet The Team

As the CEO of International Relations Centre and the director of Global Education Institute for the last ten years Ekaterine Maisuradze has been successfully managing the companies, challenging all stuff members to grow personally and professionally. She brings with her more than ten years of experience in medicine, education and tourism.

Ekaterine Maisuradze is actively involved in doing business that contributes to expand economic prosperity and opportunity.

Union of Business ladies is mentored by her, who has achieved commendable fame as a successful entrepreneur in Georgia and internationally. The noblewoman from joint family, Mrs. Maisuradze sets a good example for the women who find it challenging to maintain family and business together.

Mako Abashidze, Founder Director, British Georgian Chamber of Commerce.

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Mako was born in Georgia to two highly artistic parents. Her mother was a piano player and her father was a famous ballet dancer and choreographer. 

She graduated from Tbilisi State University 1991 with a BA in Psychology and worked as a researcher for the Institute of Psychology in Georgia.

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In 1993, Mako moved to London and has held positions with various UK companies since then, mainly dealing with the CIS market. 

She co-founded The British Georgian Chamber of Commerce with Lord Cromwell in 2007.

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The main objective of BGCC is to advise companies in Georgia and the UK on the business and financial markets each respective country, in order to establish contacts and facilitate business between each country. We hope to achieve this goal through gathering relevant information efficiently and accurately and by establishing and nurturing contacts.

Mako Abashidze is closely working with the Government of Georgia and Britain; The British Georgian Chamber of Commerce became an instrumental body in bilateral trade and cultural and social relations between Britain and Georgia.

In 2015, April- during the official visit of David Lidington State MInister of Europe officially opened the BGCC representative desk in Georgia, Tbilisi and highlighted the importance.

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BGCC works very closely with the Georgian National Wine Agency to promote the Georgian Natural Wine in UK.  

Georgian Wines are now in famous Hedonism Wine Shop, various top end restaurants, at the Ritz London.

Mako is very actively involved in many Charity organizations in UK and in Georgia: Chair at the Creative Women International Platform, Member of the Board and a great supporter of the British Animal Charity - Mayhew International.

Nona Mamulashvili has earned her BA in Business Administration from the International Black Sea University (Georgia), MA in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Westminster (London/UK), MA in Arab and Islamic Studies from University of Sorbonne (Paris/France), PhD in International Relations from University of Sorbonne/Harvard University (France/USA). Mrs. Nona is currently heading the Corporate Affairs function in Georgia for Philip Morris International. Previously, she worked as the Country Manager and Regional Market Access Director for Pfizer covering Caucasus & Central Asian countries. Prior to Pfizer she worked for British American Tobacco as Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs for Caucasus.

Mrs. Mamulashvili also has an extensive experience working in the public sector as the Senior Advisor to the Analytical Group of President of Georgia, as well as political analyst at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia at a later stage. Mrs. Nona is currently an an Associate Professor at the International Relations faculty of the International Black Sea University.

Personal and business development coach.
Senior Executive with extensive expertise in financial and operational management roles in service, retail, consulting and banking industries. Well versed in servicing privately held companies and heading risk management teams. Strong reputation for developing strategic partnerships with functional leaders to effectively bridge the gap between operational decisions and financial targets. Proven success leading start-up operations to sustained profitability. Promoting innovative solutions in complex environments.

President of the Georgian Positive Psychotherapy Association, psychoconsultant and coach in personal and business profiles.

Pooja Backliwal is the Founder and Director of Traditions by Pooja Backliwal -- a bespoke jewellery brand based in New Delhi, India. She also serves as a Director of ITPL India Group, a leading multi-sector consulting group. Pooja is the Managing Editor of Career Ahead, a magazine that priorities the empowerment and development of the youth, preparing them for futures as business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and global citizens. Additionally, she is a Director in Vivkiy Healthcare -- an international pharmaceutical and medical device marketing company.

Larisa Miller attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States, studying Political Science and Hungarian.  In her early career, Larisa worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, first as assistant to the director of the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission, and later as the personal assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture.  Ms. Miller went on to work for the Governor of Pennsylvania in public policy. 

For the last several years, Larisa worked as Director of Public Relations and Stakeholder Engagement for Alliances for Global Sustainability, which focused on investments such as, renewable energy, food security, and waste management; Also as director of the Circle of Hope Foundation, which focused on making a sustainable impact on youth in impoverished or challenged regions of the world.   Ms. Miller now serves as the Chief Operating Officer & Head of Social Responsibility for Vela Investments/Vela Management, based in their New York City, which specializes in sports and entertainment asset acquisition.

Kety Gorgiladze has been living and working in Spain for quite a long time. She is a founder of Spanish- Georgian Chamber of Commerce and a managing director of the company. “I have been always trying to serve as a bridge between Georgia and Spain, in culture, sport, education, business and politics”. In 2006 she established the Spanish Education and Culture Center “IBERIA”,  which supports cooperation among Georgian and Spanish companies. Various events and activities between two countries are held and organized by “IBERIA”.

Mrs. Gorgiladze is actively involved in educational field as well. She represents different Georgian Universities in Spain and vise versa. She helps to develop exchange programs, implement  interesting projects and lucrative partnership. As a founder of “IBERIA”, she works on the bases of different universities and supports Spanish language and culture popularization with the help of Spanish teachers and students. Mrs. Gorgialdze is a co-founder of Spanish Georgian Research and Innovation Center /RIBS/ and holds the position of the director. Kety is member of Spanish Association of Business Women in Madrid (ASEME).

Counting 17 years of management experience including 7 years of her dedication to Georgia’s public sector as a senior executive, Ketevan Bochorishvili has successfully served as vice minister of Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, under four consecutive leaderships of two democratically elected governments. Her area of work included Economic Policy, FDI Attraction, SME Sector Development, Export Promotion and Development, Tourism Development, Special Development and Construction Policy, R&D, National and International Promotion Campaigns. Ketevan has an impressive record of cooperation with all leading International Financial Institutions and International Organizations through development and implementation of multimillion dollar economic development programs.

Ms. Bochorishvili holds MA degree in International Public Management from SDA Bocconi School of Management (Milan, Italy) and BA/MA degrees in International Conflict Resolution from Georgian Technical University. She has accumulated several intercultural experiences and developed entrepreneurial skills through participating in programs at Georgetown University (USA), the Iacocca Institute (USA) and Charles University (Czech Republic).

Tea Papiashvili, a co-founder of Georgian French Friendship Club, is famed to be involved in variety of economic, historical, cultural and social activities. Her efforts has brought out spectacular change in Georgian society and its women. With her vibrant energy she makes women highly motivated to achieve their goals in Business and personal life. Mrs. Papiashvili has helped thousands of people in need by providing them with different supportive measures according to their needs.

The festival Sacres Da Folklore, Mrs. Papiashvili being one of the main organizers, will be held in Reims, which aims to collect funds for supporting people in need from Georgia and worldwide. Sacres Da Folklore hosts more than 400 artists from the globe. Mrs. Papiashvili is representative of Polyclinic Saint André Board at Reims, France and works to maintain the integrity of the structure. The lady also supports students worldwide being part of International Students Organization.

Marika Gogitidze counts more than 25 years in business sector. She started her privet business when it was hard to set up an organization by women. At present Mrs. Gogitidze is a CEO Of confectionery ,,Cherry’’, successful employer and a role model for many people. Her organization had a collaboration with  ,, Etalon-Geneva’’ LTD.

Mrs. Gogitidze is often involved in different charity events. That’s why she got special thanks from the government of the autonomous republic of Abkhazia. As Mrs. Gogitidze says ‘’People start making things that are essential, then things that are possible. Step by step you learn to do impossible things, but nothing is impossible’’.

Mrs. Natia Javakhishvili, General Director of the “Chamber of Commerce and Industry France – Georgia”, executes her activities considering such main goals and tasks of the Chamber as development and extension of economic, investment and trade relations between France and Georgia.  Mrs. Natia as a Member of Board of  the  “Union des Français de l’étranger ”  and also as a Member of the Management  Committee of the  “French School of the  Caucasus” is actively engaged in organization of various events, which  assist  to develop the professional network of Georgian and French business society.

Mrs. Javakhishvili graduated from Sorbonne University and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in European Studies Faculty with a degree in Europe-America.  She also completed a private international law special course in Panthéon-Assas University of Paris.

Irina Mchedlidze has been active business woman for more than 20 years. Mrs. Mchedlidze graduated from Asia-Africa Institute. Her profession - sinology, helped her to develop business in Georgia. Ms. Mchedlidze was a director of several European, Chines and Asian restaurants in Georgia.

At present Ms. Mcedlidze is a successful woman in business, who is a co-founder and owns several companies: “International Innovational Technology”, “RGA” (Regional Cultural-Educational and Business Development Association) and “Unica Group” charity organization, with the aim to protect human rights.

Mrs. Javakhishvili graduated from Sorbonne University and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in European Studies Faculty with a degree in Europe-America.  She also completed a private international law special course in Panthéon-Assas University of Paris.

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Irina Mchedlidze has participated and developed B coach competencies by the standards of European coach federation in the program “3D Coaching Basic”.

Magda Kajaia is a founder and Director of the business consulting company Terramia
Consulting which is reputable for the professional and investment wining business plans and consulting services. Company’s portfolio includes more than 25 successful business projects which were financed by the international and local donors and financial institutions.

She has graduated Kutaisi State University with Bachelor’s Degree and Georgian Institute of Public Administration with Master’s Degree. She studied her professional English language
in Boston, MA.

Magda kajaia started her business consulting career with the World Bank financed project
CERMA to provide restructuring services to large scale enterprises in Georgia. She has
been a Project Manager for the USDA and US Embassy in Georgia for Trade and Investment Missions in 2006 and 2007. She provided significant business consulting services to more than 20 American investors in Georgia.

During her significant career she has been the National Expert of the European Union in
vocational education, director of the American investor company SJS USA for 10 years.