Maria Romanenko

Multi-award-winning journalist · public speaker · community activist

I’m a Ukrainian journalist, public speaker and community advocate amplifying stories of resilience, identity and human rights. My work has taken me from live TV and radio studios — including BBC Breakfast, ITV and Sky News — to parliamentary venues, universities, festivals, and cultural institutions across the UK.

I’m also the co-founder and project lead of All For Ukraine, a UK-based community initiative supporting Ukrainians affected by the war through cultural events, storytelling and community projects. Our work includes Manchester walking tours, which I lead to explore the city’s history, migration and cultural connections while raising funds for Ukraine.

Alongside my journalism and community work, I co-created How NOT to Flee a War, a live storytelling talk presented with Jez Myers, inspired by our experience of escaping Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion.