The Delegation in Ireland
For more than 400 years at the service of the needy and committed to the defence of the Holy Faith, the Mauritian Order in modern society continues its work of supporting and helping the sections of society in need and handing down values that are ancient but always current.
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Irish Delegation of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy was created in January 2023, and promotes numerous activities in an extremely composite territory, perpetuating the Mauritian and Lazarite charisms.
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The Irish Delegation conducts social fundraising events for various charities in Ireland and supports charity projects and events abroad. It also recognises excellence in people and their achievements through knighthoods, dame ships or an annual award of chivalry.
Dame Yana Zakharchenko
Delegate
Yana is a multilingual business professional with over 11 years of professional experience in people and project management, advertising and market research. Along with her high achievements in academics and sport, Yana is an Associate Manager in leading global professional services company in Dublin, Ireland, specialising in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations services.
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Yana's first career was in ballroom dancing, and started at the age of 7 in Ukraine. Throughout her 12 year ballroom dance career Yana became a multiple finalist and champion of Ukraine, quarter finalist of the Blackpool Junior Dance Festival 2008, bronze medalist of the WDC Junior World Cup 2007, silver medalist of the Blackpool Junior Dance Festival Team Match 2004, and a Master of Sport.
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In 2010 Yana received a quota from Federazione Italiana Danza Sportiva (FIDS) to represent the Italian Dance Sport Federation. Between 2010 and 2012 Yana was a resident in Eboli, province of Salerno in Italy, where she completed her secondary school education with distinction (86/100%) and started a ballroom dance school with her dance partner at the time. Yana represented Italy at a World Championship in 2012, and regularly competed for Italy across Europe between 2010 and 2012.
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Yana graduated from Technological University Dublin with a 1st class Honours in International Business and Languages and a 2.1 MSc in Digital Marketing and Analytics, and possesses a Professional Diploma in Project Management from University College Dublin. She speaks fluent English and Italian, and is a native speaker of Russian and Ukrainian languages.
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Yana is the first member of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy in Ireland and the second female delegate in the history of the House of Savoy. As the Delegate, Yana diplomatically represents the Grand Master of the Dynastic Orders in Ireland. Through the Delegation of the Royal House of Savoy in Ireland, she ensures that the history, traditions and philanthropic goals of the Royal House are met.
Dame Aleksandra Valerievna
Vice Delegate
Aleksandra is one of the top professionals in her industry, with over a decade of experience in eliminating financing of terrorism and money laundering, as well as in business and management. Currently, she is specialising in global financial crime, risk and legal investigations.
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In 2021, Aleksandra graduated from Austrian Higher School of Etiquette. Her authentic and personable style makes her very approachable and well-respected in any environment. Prior to that, Aleksandra graduated from the University of Manchester in England and Shaw Academy in Ireland.
She speaks fluent English, understands German, and is a native speaker of Russian and Ukrainian languages.
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For years Aleksandra has been engaged in volunteering and helping Christian churches in need. It is still her area of interest at heart.
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Aleksandra is the second member of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy in Ireland. She ensures that aims and tasks of the Royal House of Savoy are accomplished successfully.
Bar. Robert P Ruffolo
Counsellor
Robert was born into an ancient family from Southern Italy and is a retired American Army Officer with more than 29 years of distinguished service to the United States. He was selected for diplomatic service as his last military tour and formed Global initiatives Consulting Group (GICG) following his retirement from the United States Diplomatic Mission in Rome Italy.
Robert is a recognized Subject Matter Expert in antiterrorism, having achieved the highest assessment on Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (JSIVA). He continued to build superior security programs and was later lauded by the European Command Inspector General for creating the best of thirty-nine embassy security programs across the European theater.
Robert is trained in disaster preparedness and response having directed U.S Army Japan through three earthquakes and ten Typhoons/storms which “landed” on Japanese shores. He is also the architect of the one of the largest supply chain programs in the history of the U.S. Army known as the Theater Provided Equipment (TPE) program. That program saved the US government more than 48 Billion Dollars in strategic lift costs over ten years and
was recently made a fully funded program of record by the US Army Chief of Staff.
Robert has earned The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, two Bronze Star Medals and has been Knighted eight times for his service internationally.
He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Modern European History, a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University in Chicago, and a Master of Policy Leadership from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.
Robert is also the father of four grown children.