Awards Jury

It was the desire of the late Stanley Peterson — the founder of the Peterson Literary Fund — that the Literary Fund bearing his name have a Canadian-based jury composed of individuals who understand the unique historical culture of the Ukrainian people

The jury will, from time to time, include a mix of writers, editors, journalists, academics, literary translators, and other professionals qualified to undertake a balanced review and assessment of the works submitted to the various prize, awards, and grants programs offered by the Peterson Literary Fund. When warranted, the Awards Jury will have access to the Peterson Literary Fund’s advisors and international language evaluators.

In addition to their professional qualifications, members of the Awards Jury are selected with consideration to fair representation of gender, age, language competency, community engagement, and global awareness.

All books and manuscripts submitted to the various prize, awards, and grants programs of the Peterson Literary Fund will be evaluated using a particular set of JUDGING CRITERIA

2024 Awards Jury

CANADIAN ADVISORS

  • Daria Darewych

    Dr. Daria Darewych holds a Ph.D. in Art History from the University of London (UK). She has taught at York University (Toronto) and currently serves as President of the Shevchenko Scientific Society of Canada. She is the recipient of several Canadian and international awards recognizing her contribution to the field of fine art and culture education.

    Dr. Daria Darewych

  • Olga Klymenko

    Olga Klymenko holds an M.A. in History (Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University), M.A. in Central European History (Central European University) and an MSc in Research, Economic and Social History (University of Edinburgh). She currently holds a research position with the Holodomor Research & Education Consortium in Toronto, Canada.

  • Anton Sestritsyn

    Born in Crimea, Ukraine, Anton holds a Public Affairs and Policy Management degree from Carleton University. Fluent in three languages, with working knowledge of three others, his journalistic, NGO, and policy work on foreign affairs and human rights led him to advise delegations at the UN, the U.S. Senate, and Canadian Parliament. He has served as a senior consultant at Earnscliffe Strategy Group, held senior executive and advisory positions with leading Canadian firms, and is currently an Ottawa-based foreign policy and communications consultant.

  • Oksana Smerechuk

    Oksana Smerechuk has a degree in Linguistics from the University of Sydney (Australia). She was a researcher and fixer for CBC News and BBC Newsnight in Moscow in the last years of the USSR, and co-hosted Hromadske Radio’s Ukraine Calling in Kyiv. Ms. Smerechuk spearheaded Ukrainian-English interpretation and translation for Canada at the head of state-level. She was President of the International Women's Club of Belgrade, President of the Ambassadors' Spouses Club of Kyiv and contributed to the recent podcast and book edition of Ukrainian Public Radio’s Ukraine Calling.

    Oksana Smerechuk