Valentina Pivnenko was elected Chairman of the BSPC for 2011-2012 at the BSPC Standing Committee meeting 28 August. Valentina Pivnenko has been a member of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation since 2000. She is Chairman of the State Duma Committee on North and Far East Issues. The 21st Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference will be convened in St Petersburg on 26-28 August 2012. The Standing Committee also appointed Laine Randjärv Vice Chairman of the BSPC. Laine Randjärv is Vice President of the Estonian Parliament and Chairman of the Baltic Assembly Presidium.