Natasha was named after the heroine in Tolstoy's War and Peace. Her relatives used to joke that with her Russian name and Polish surname she would never be allowed out if she visited the Soviet Union. Natasha studied Russian at the University of St Andrews and spent her year abroad in exile on the IFES team in Irkutsk, Siberia. Following graduation Natasha returned to Russia. She worked with IFES for 7 years based in St Petersburg but also travelled extensively throughout Russia.

Natasha was born in Scotland, brought up in England and her parents now live in Wales. She is excited that there are lots of Russians and Eastern Europeans living in London as well as the many other different cultures and languages represented.