Georgia’s Digital World 

Tuesday 25th July at 6pm

Room 113, UCL, 26 Bedford Way, WC1H 0AP 

As you arrive at Tbilisi airport there is a Bitcoin ATM facing you. Georgia has long been on the radar of crypto entrepreneurs since energy-intensive crypto-mining exploded in Svaneti and to some extent Khaketi. Georgia is also currently a hotspot for digital nomads with Tbilisi as its beating heart offering fantastic opportunities. Recently the global Indigo Design Awards took place on the stunning rooftop of the Stamba Hotel. What are the implications and what will the future hold? Or perhaps you’re interested in finding out about blockchain, web3 and NFTs. BGS is delighted to welcome two young lively speakers with a wealth of experience to introduce us to Georgia’s Digital World, followed by Georgian wine and canapés.

Kitty Horlick recently lived and worked in Tbilisi developing NFTs with various companies and digital artists. She is the founder of Blackwood, a consultancy firm focused on onboarding traditional businesses into web3 and its associated technologies including blockchain, NFTs, the metaverse and cryptocurrencies. As well as running Blackwood, Kitty remains closely involved in a selection of web 3 projects. She is a Director at Rarify Services which develops the protocols and infrastructure required to transfer NFTs and cryptocurrencies between blockchains. In addition to her background in blockchain, Kitty is an experienced communications expert and a vivid storyteller. She has worked as a PR executive for Portland Communications, and a multi-media journalist, writing for publications such as The Sunday Times and producing award-winning documentaries.

Liza Zhvania is currently a post-graduate student at LSE, Msc in Media and Communications: Data and Society. After graduating from Yale University with a Bachelor in Mathematics and Philosophy, she went back to Georgia to pursue a professional career as a media and cultural manager. Past roles include being an Editor in Chief at Liberali – online political and literary magazine, campaign manager at Greens (Georgia) – an environmentalist movement, producer at Rustavi 2 – Broadcasting company. In 2018 she founded MAUDI. – artist-run multidisciplinary arts space, hosting exhibitions, concerts, screenings and artist-talks.

RSVP essential due to changed security arrangements at UCL and limited places.