Meet Our

Speakers

Ellen Wasylina

Founder and CEO of Trocadéro Forum

Ellen Wasylina

Ellen Wasylina is the founder and executive director of the Trocadero Forum Institute. She is a respected specialist in European affairs with extensive experience in leading projects in public, private and non-profit organizations in France and Europe. She spent her career in France as a former director of Environment of a French city, former President of a Paris-based think tank, International Geostrategic Maritime Observatory (IGMO), former Editor in Chief of their flagship publication, Geostrategic Maritime Review, former Senior Expert to EUROPEAID, former adjunct professor in several Parisian business schools. She is the author a several books, essays and has been on the international speaking circuit since 2013 and has given commentary and analysis on French and international media outlets from 2008-2020, in English and French. Ellen started a podcast during the pandemic , entitled “Mediterranean Sustainability Partners” now heard in 76 countries , in English and French.

Zsófia Beck

Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group

Zsófia Beck

Zsófia Beck is a Partner at Boston Consulting Group, based in Budapest, Hungary, focusing on the Energy sector primarily on power and gas utilities. In the last 15 years she has worked with leading international and local energy companies in the Central Eastern European (CEE) region, supporting them to achieve their business goals through strategy development, M& A support, operational improvement, regulatory management, and sales strategies. She received her MSc in Engineering and Management from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Prior to BCG she was a strategy consultant at Accenture. Zsófia is a member of the Women in Energy Association and a Board Member at Unicef, Hungary.

Sven Gentner

Head of Corporate Reporting, Auditing and Credit Rating Agencies in the European Commission

Sven Gentner

Sven Gentner is the head of unit for corporate reporting, audit and credit rating agencies in the European Commission’s directorate-general for financial stability, financial services and capital markets union. Sven joined the European Commission in 2004 and has served in various positions in its Brussels headquarters and abroad. From 2004-2006 he was responsible for the coordination of the EU-US Financial Markets Regulatory Dialogue, in 2006 he served as a member of the private office (cabinet) of the Commissioner responsible for the Internal Market, from 2007-2011 he was executive assistant to the director general of Directorate General Internal Market and Services with special responsibility for financial services. In 2011 he was seconded to the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa to advise the AUC on building an African internal market. From 2012 to 2013 he was head of unit for human resources and planning in DG Internal Market and Services. From 2013 to 2015, Sven was a counsellor in the Economic and Financial Affairs Section of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. From 2015 to 2021 he headed DG FISMA’s unit in charge of asset management. Sven started his professional career in the private sector in Germany where he worked for an insurance company. Sven holds masters degrees in economics from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, and the University of York, UK.

Denys Strobykin

General Manager of Philip Morris Bulgaria

Denys Strobykin

Denys Strobykin, General Manager of Philip Morris Bulgaria, began his professional career at Philip Morris International nearly 20 years ago. He started in the company's finance department in Ukraine and held various positions in Moldova, Poland and Romania related to sales and marketing. As Director of Marketing and Digital Technologies at Philip Morris Romania, his team achieved significant results in attracting adult smokers to smoke-free alternatives. From August 2024, Strobikin takes on the position of General Manager of the local branch. He holds a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Sheffield, UK.

Stephanie Borowiec

Co-Founder of CORE

Stephanie Borowiec

Stephanie is a Co-Founder of CORE – The Human Side of Business, an expert advisory firm focussing on business and human rights. She brings over a decade of experience in human rights and sustainability strategy, specializing in guiding companies to prioritize people across their value chains. With a background in business administration, she has served as a senior strategic advisor for the past eight years, leading large-scale human rights and sustainability due diligence projects for international brands. Stephanie collaborates with diverse stakeholders to build resilient business models that place human rights at the center. She enjoys working with organizations that seek to embed respect for people into their core strategies, fostering sustainable and impactful business practices.

Marina Stefanova

Associate professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration in Sofia university

Marina Stefanova

Marina Stefanova is an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration in Sofia university ”St. Kliment Ohridski”. She is director of the Master's programme "Responsible and Sustainable Governance" and manager of ESG Lab and ESG Academy. Chairman of the Sustainability Specialists Association (former BAKSOS). Member of the Steering Committee of the Association of the Investor Relations Directors in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Food Bank. Founder and director of the multimedia information-educational programme "CSR AdviceBox" of "Kauzi" Foundation. Member of the Advisory Council on Corporate Social Responsibility at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.

Hristina Pendicheva

Expert in the Financial Markets Regulation Directorate at the Ministry of Finance

Hristina Pendicheva

Hristina Pendicheva is a state expert in the Financial Markets Regulation Directorate at the Ministry of Finance since 2011. In this capacity, Ms Pendicheva participates in the negotiations on the adoption of EU legislation in the field of capital markets. In recent years, she has been actively involved in the process of drafting EU legislation in the field of sustainable finance. She is a member of the Expert Group on Sustainable Finance at the European Commission. Ms Pendicheva participates as a lecturer, panelist and moderator in a number of financial and investment forums at national and European level. Hristina Pendicheva holds Master's degree from the Francophone Institute of Management and Administration in Sofia, diploma from the Université de Nantes. She is Bachelor in Business Management from the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".

Margita Kolcheva

ESG Manager at Yettel Bulgaria

Margita Kolcheva

Margita Kolcheva is the ESG Manager at Yettel Bulgaria. She has played a pivotal role in shaping the company's Sustainability Strategy and, since its launch, has been actively involved in researching and applying Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles within the company's operations. At e&PPF Telecom Group, Margita is responsible for the Circular Economy Stream, working to implement the Group's activities in the area. Additionally, she has worked extensively on the first wave of supplier engagement on ESG at both local and group levels within e&PPF. At the same time, Margita contributes to the development of an open, accessible, and inclusive work environment through various programs and initiatives.

Valentina Bozheva

Vice-President of FANTASTICO GROUP

Valentina Bozheva

Valentina Bozheva is Vice-President of FANTASTICO GROUP. She is a law expert with 21 years of experience 16 years of which are within the company. Valentina heads two departments - the Legal and Sustainable Development and Team, Training, and Development team. Her priorities are the corporate strategy for talent career growth and promoting approaches to ensure a work environment that enables all team members to develop and reach their full potential. Her professional focus is on defining the procedures for compliance with company policies and ensuring conformity of the company's internal acts with the Bulgarian and European legislation.

Petia Goolamallee

Program Officer Employment and Entrepreneurship, Trust for Social Achievement

Petia Goolamallee

Petia Goolamallee is currently serving as Program Officer Employment and Entrepreneurship at the Trust for Social Achievement (TSA) in Sofia, where she leads strategic initiatives aimed at improving employment prospects and fostering entrepreneurship within Bulgaria’s most marginalized communities. Prior to her work at TSA, Petia was focused on brand management initiatives where she launched a number of successful projects. As Senior Brand Manager at Henkel Bulgaria, she was responsible for the performance of leading home care brands such as Somat, Bref, and Pur. Earlier in her career, Petia managed product portfolios for Imperial Tobacco Bulgaria and Ficosota Syntez, where she led market strategies and promotional campaigns across Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine. Petia holds a Master’s degree in General Psychology and a Master’s degree in Public Relations from Sofia University, alongside a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the American University in Bulgaria. She is passionate about creating inclusive environments where individuals from diverse backgrounds can thrive, ensuring equal opportunities for all. A major professional and personal motivation for her is a desire to address systemic inequalities and promote a culture of respect, belonging, and fairness in both workplace and societal contexts.

Assoc. Prof. Ivan Angelov

PhD, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration in Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski

Assoc. Prof. Ivan Angelov

Assoc. Prof. Ivan Angelov, PhD, is a Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration in Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. He is a lecturer in Fundamentals of Management, Strategic Management, International Management, International Business Strategies. His scientific and research interests are in the field of innovation, innovation culture of organizations, innovation capability of organizations, innovation potential of organizations, as well as the development of industrial clustering.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milena Angelova

Secretary-General of the BICA

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milena Angelova

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milena Angelova has been serving as Secretary-General of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association since 2002 and as SGI Europe Vice-President since 2011. She’s been a Member of the European Economic and Social Committee since 2007. Member of the Bulgarian Economic and Social Committee since 2006 and is well known as an active participant in the policy–making processes in Bulgaria. In June 2022, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Angelova was appointed Bulgarian SME Envoy. She has twenty-five years of successful track record in representing the interests of the business community at EU and national level regarding important topics such as CSR, sustainable development, SME promotion, innovation and knowledge transfer, skills, future of work, etc. Associate Profesor on Marketing and Sustainable Development at the Economic Research Institute at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Gergana Manolova

Moderator

Author in ESGnews.bg

Gergana Manolova

Moderator

Gergana Manolova is Director International Cooperation and Business Relations at M-Gas Ltd and author in ESGnews.bg.‎ Founder of Bulgaria’s first Academy for “Diversity, Equality and Inclusion and lecturer in the topic “Overcoming unconscious biases”. She completed her business master’s degree at Imperial College in London and currently is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".

Olya Peneva

Moderator

Author in ESGnews.bg

Olya Peneva

Moderator

Olya Peneva is a business and human rights specialist and the founder of the Bulgarian Foundation for Business and Human Rights—the first organisation in Bulgaria dedicated to the intersection of business and human rights. She believes that placing people at the center is essential to addressing global challenges and ensuring sustainable solutions. Olya's work applies an interdisciplinary approach to examining the social and environmental impacts of business practices, striving to foster accountability and sustainable development. She holds a law degree from Monash University, Australia, and specialised in business and human rights during her master’s studies at the EMA Global Campus in Venice, Italy.

Denimir Dimitrov

Moderator

Author in ESGnews.bg

Denimir Dimitrov

Moderator

Denimir Dimitrov is the founder of Zero Wave – an innovative company whose goal is to turn waste into resources through a circular economy. He has 10 years of experience in the field of sustainable development and the circular economy. Lecturer and mentor at a number of international events in the field of sustainable development.

Ivana Tsvetkova

SDG Programs Manager at the Bulgarian Network of the United Nations Global Compact

Ivana Tsvetkova

Ivana Tsvetkova is the SDG Programs Manager at the Bulgarian Network of the United Nations Global Compact. She is a professional with expertise in international law, social accountability and ethical business conduct. Ivana gained LLM International Law & International Relations at the University of Kent, Brussels, Belgium. She has international work experience, having worked in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, as well as on projects in South America. For nearly 10 years, she has been engaged in human rights impact assessments, audits, compliance, project development and implementation, sustainable supply chains and others. At the Bulgarian network of UNGC, she is primarily involved in the development and/or delivery of both local and regional training programs on ESG, sustainability integration, human rights and SME programs.

Nikola Gazdov

Director at Enery Element GmbH, a development platform for solar and BESS, and CEO of Renergy

Nikola Gazdov

Nikola Gazdov is an entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in renewable energy. He is Director at Enery Element GmbH, a development platform for solar and BESS, and CEO of Renergy - a technical advisory with more than 30 GW of RES projects globally. Nikola is Chairman of APSTE - the Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity in Bulgaria, and a Board Member of RPIA - the Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association. Nikola is a Board member of SolarPower Europe and deputy chair of the National Associations Committee at the Brussels based industry organisation. In 2020 Nikola co-founded RE-Source Southeast, a regional hub of the RE-Source Platform focused on promoting renewable corporate sourcing in Southeast Europe.

Plamen Valnev

Audit at KPMG in Bulgaria.

Plamen Valnev

Plamen Valnev is Associate Partner, Audit at KPMG in Bulgaria. Plamen has more than 22 years of experience in financial audit of industrial clients. He holds a Master Degree in Accounting and Audit from the University of Economics Varna and is CPA, registered auditor in Bulgaria, as well as FCCA, UK. Plamen is currently specializing in sustainability reporting and assurance and participates in the focus groups of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Bulgaria (IDES) dealing with trainings and certification of local auditors for sustainability assurance engagements.

Bozhidara Zhivkova

Moderator

Editor-in-Chief of ESGnews.bg

Bozhidara Zhivkova

Moderator

Bozhidara Zhivkova is the Editor-in-Chief of ESGnews.bg, the first media platform for promoting ESG in Bulgaria. In this role, she focuses on raising awareness of ESG regulations, good examples in the field of sustainability, innovation and sustainable leadership, which contribute to shaping a more sustainable and responsible business environment. She graduated from the ESG Academy at the Faculty of Economics of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. She participates as a lecturer, mentor and jury in various forums and competitions in the field of sustainable development. In 2024, she actively participated in covering the COP 29 climate meeting in Baku. Before focusing on green topics, she was the editor-in-chief of Economic.bg and an author in the magazine. Economy, as well as the editor-in-chief of the website Oshte.bg.

Svetoslav Tsenov

Director of the Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas

Svetoslav Tsenov

Svetoslav Tsenov is the executive director of the Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas for Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Greece. He has degrees in medicine and in finance, and in 2019 he defended a PhD thesis in the field of social medicine and health management, becoming, in the same year, an associate professor of clinical pharmacology. He is a business manager with over 17 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He has held various senior positions in multinational companies at global and regional levels in the fields of business management, corporate strategy, market access, institutional relations, marketing and medicine. Over the years, Prof. Tsenov has been a member of the EFPIA working group for Central and Eastern Europe, chairman of the Board of ARPHARM, as well as co-chairman of the Health Care Commission of AmCham.

Lisa Szeponik

Director and Co-Founder of CORE

Lisa Szeponik

Lisa is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of CORE – The Human Side of Business, specializing in human rights due diligence, collective leadership, and stakeholder engagement. With over a decade of experience working alongside corporate clients and NGOs, Lisa has successfully led and implemented due diligence projects across diverse organizational levels. A seasoned facilitator, Lisa supports meaningful dialogue with internal and external stakeholders, applying a systemic approach to navigate and connect the dots in complex scenarios. As a creative catalyst, she transforms innovative ideas into actionable solutions, empowering her clients to drive meaningful and sustainable change.

Sebastian Vetter

Responsible Sourcing Team of Aurubis

Sebastian Vetter

Sebastian Vetter is heading the Responsible Sourcing Team of Aurubis as part of the Corporate Sustainability Department and is based in Hamburg. His main responsibilities are the operational control of the Aurubis business partner screening process from a sustainability point of view. This includes evaluating business partners against Aurubis’ ESG requirement and due diligence obligations. Furthermore, Sebastian and his team are responsible for the oversight of Aurubis' continuous improvement via the voluntary sustainability standard The Copper Mark, which is successively being rolled out at Aurubis’ sites. Before starting at Aurubis in August 2023, Sebastian worked at the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As a project manager in the field of technical cooperation, he has more than seven years of experience in the implementation of international development projects in the region. His work focused on the establishment of responsible mineral supply chains, sustainable mining practice, as well as knowledge transfer in the context of multi-stakeholder capacity development. As a geoscientist, he has experience in the development of research-based pilot projects and training measures scoping health and safety as well as environmental management in the mining sector. Sebastian has experience in the development of sustainability-related sustainability standards in the mining sector.

Kalina Milenkova

Head of Finance of Smart Infrastructure at Siemens Bulgaria

Kalina Milenkova

Kalina Milenkova is Head of Finance of Smart Infrastructure at Siemens Bulgaria. Her focus area is Electrification & Automation with a major emphasis on commercial and sales management of sustainable energy solutions for distribution utilities, infrastructure, production facilities and buildings. Kalina has 17- years’ experience in the field of power generation, renewable energy, energy transmission and distribution, whereby her latest efforts are in the sphere of sustainable electrification. She holds a rich expertise in Project Management, as she has managed, coordinated and participated in a wide variety of energy projects. Kalina currently attends Master's program “Responsible and Sustainable Governance” at Sofia University "Kliment Ochridski".

Miroslav Dzhunev

Senior Manager at EY Bulgaria

Miroslav Dzhunev

Miroslav Dzhunev is a Senior Manager at EY Bulgaria within the Global Incentives, Innovation and Location Services practice. He is a seasoned expert in transformation projects, with extensive experience across both public institutions and private businesses. He has successfully led numerous initiatives aimed at modernizing and improving organizational efficiency, leveraging his deep understanding of change management and strategic planning. Miroslav has vast experience in conducting impact assessments and promoting sustainability. His efforts in these areas have ensured that projects not only meet their economic objectives but also adhere to environmental and social standards.

Nikola Delev

Director "Strategic Planning and Development" at Bulgartransgaz EAD

Nikola Delev

Nikola Delev holds a MSc degree in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy in Sofia. He started working in the natural gas sector in 2006. Mr. Delev joined Bulgartransgaz EAD in 2019 and is currently Acting Director 'Strategic Planning and Development’ in the company.

Delian Asparouhov

Co-Founder of Varda Space Industries

Delian Asparouhov

Delian Asparouhov, a Bulgarian-born, self-made software engineer, dives into the rollercoaster of a journey from being an MIT dropout to earning the Thiel Fellowship. Todaym he is a Principal at Founders Fund. The fund’s portfolio includes notable positions in SpaceX, Palantir, Stripe, Facebook, Airbnb, Affirm, Spotify, Figma, Postmates, Oscar, The Athletic, and Eight Sleep. In August 2020, Asparouhov co-founded Varda Space Industries, where he currently serves as president and chairman. Along with his partner Will Bruey had an audacious goal to commercialize what until very recently was promising but ultimately small-scale research into the effects of microgravity on pharmaceutical crystals. Their first space factory landed in Utah in February 2024, ending an eight-month mission by Varda Space Industries and the Long Beach-based Rocket Lab. Before joining Founders Fund, he was a principal at Khosla Ventures, head of growth at Teespring, and founder of a healthcare company called Nightingale.

Atanas Raykov

Vice President Global Marketing & Growth of Rakuten Viber

Atanas Raykov

Atanas Raykov is part of the global management of one of the most popular communication applications in the world - Viber. At the beginning of 2024, he took over as Vice President of Global Marketing and Business Growth at Rakuten Viber. He defines himself as a technology enthusiast. His mission is to build on Viber's already immense popularity worldwide for all of the app's over one billion users, with a focus on Europe, the US, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Previously, Atanas worked for 10 years for Bulgaria's largest telecom VIVACOM, where he was responsible for the commercial strategy of the mobile and VAS business. Thanks to his contribution, the company became the number one mobile data provider, a leading innovator and a key player in shaping the mobile app ecosystem in Bulgaria. Atanas is also an LP and mentor of Launchub Ventures portfolio companies, and Eleven Ventures, part of Endeavor Bulgaria's mentoring network and a member of CEO Angels Club. Led by Indira, SLK focuses on unlocking the potential of individuals, businesses, and organizations, ensuring leadership capacity for future fitness. It aims to identify and cultivate communities of change leaders, co-creators of innovative solutions to sustainability challenges we all face.

Konstantin Rangelov

Co-Founder and CTO of Dronamics

Konstantin Rangelov

Konstantin Rangelov, together with his brother Svilen, is the co-founder of the Bulgarian autonomous cargo drone company Dronamics. Konstantin leads the R&D team of over 100 engineers and is the inspiration behind the Black Swan project. He also leads sustainability technologies at Dronamics with a special focus on alternative fuels and hydrogen technology development. Konstantin has a degree in aerospace engineering from Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, and worked for a technology leader in advanced composites before founding Dronamics with his older brother Svilen. Constantine is passionate about the power of innovation to improve the lives of communities around the world. Constantine is an Endeavor entrepreneur alongside his brother Svilen.

Dr. Eng. Boriana Manolova

CEO of Siemens for Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Ukraine

Dr. Eng. Boriana Manolova

Dr. Eng. Boriana Manolova is CEO of Siemens for Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Ukraine, world leader in the electrification, automation and digitalization. Her professional career path begins in the Employment Agency under the Ministry of Labor. Soon after she is appointed Regional director of the Foreign Investment Agency seated in Ruse. Between 1998 and 2007 she manages successfully the Bulgarian business of Atlas Copco Lifton, part of the Swedish group Atlas Copco – leader in solution for mining, energy and construction industries. Boriana Manolova has a Master degree in Corporate Finance from the Business Academy in Svishtov, a Master degree in Micro-electronics and Doctor degree in Energy management in the industry from the Ruse University. She is a member of the Board of the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria, vice-chairman of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (KRIB), member of the Board of the Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Higher School of Telecommunications and Posts (VUTP) and of Ruse University "Angel Kanchev".

Elvin Guri

Invenio Partners

Elvin Guri

Mr. Elvin Guri is a well-known entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. Currently CEO of Invenio Partners, manager of Invenio Capital funds, investing growth and buyout capital in lower and mid-market industrial companies in SouthEast Europe. Previously with PwC and EBRD, in 2001-2002 he co-founded JetFinance International, which became the largest consumer finance lender in South East Europe. Among his other recent exits is ONE Telecommunications (Albania), the second largest mobile operator in the country. Mr. Guri has an Executive MBA from the University of Oxford Said Business School. He and his family support a number of educational institutions and initiatives in Albania, Bulgaria, and Kosova.

Nikolay Andreev

CEO and member of the Board of Vivacom

Nikolay Andreev

Nikolay Andreev is CEO and member of the Board of Vivacom since December 2021. Prior to joining Vivacom, he was CEO of Nova Broadcasting Group, the leading multi-platform media company in Bulgaria. He has managed the company since 2019, having previously held the positions of CFO and Administrative Director for 10 years. Prior to joining Nova Broadcasting Group, he was CFO and Investor Relations Director at Devin AD. He has held various finance positions for Bulgaria and Central and Southern European countries in the international corporation Unilever. He was CEO and member of the Board of Directors of Ecopack Bulgaria AD and member of the Board of Directors of Ecorom Ambalazh AD - Romania. He was awarded "CFO of the Year" 2014 by EY/Forbes for his professional achievements and contribution to the development of the profession. In 2023, he also won the prestigious Forbes " CEO of the Year" award. He has a Master's degree in Finance from the University of National and World Economy.

Nikolay Vasev, PhD

COO of EPIX.AI

Nikolay Vasev, PhD

Nikolay Vasev is the Chief Operating Officer of Epix AI, a health-tech startup from Bulgaria that harnesses the power of epigenetics to provide individuals with personalized, dynamic health scores. Vasev holds a PhD from the University of Copenhagen and previously worked in the pharmaceutical industry. Nikolay Vasev has long experience with European healthcare. His PhD from the University of Copenhagen focused on Court of Justice of the European Union adjudication in patients' rights cases and on the application of the Cross-border Patients' Rights Directive in Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, the Netherlands and Denmark. He also worked at DG SANTE at the European Commission on several health-related dossiers and published a report on Antimicrobial Resistance in Europe. As a policy officer at the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Nikolay was in charge of enhancing the measures for stable iodine distribution in case of nuclear emergency. Since returning to Bulgaria in 2018, Nikolay has worked at Sopharma Trading, the largest pharmaceutical distributor in Bulgaria as a Project Manager for the strategic projects in both Bulgaria and Serbia. Since February 2023, Nikolay has been Chief Operating Officer at Epix AI getting the company ready for its market launch.

Krasimir Kotsev

Founder and CEO of SoCyber and Kikimora.io

Krasimir Kotsev

Krasimir Kotsev, CEO and Founder of the cybersecurity company SoCyber, has many years of experience as a Cybersecurity Expert. He began as a cyber enthusiast at the age of 14, spending his days learning how to penetrate networks and systems. Over the years, he has worked as a network and system security analyst. In 2018, he launched the cybersecurity company SoCyber, specializing in Vulnerability Assessment, Penetration Testing, Red Teaming & Social Engineering, and other security testing disciplines. Two years ago, he created the vulnerability management platform Kikimora.io, a standalone software product of SoCyber. Kikimora's target audience includes companies in the financial, critical infrastructure and healthcare sectors.

Jesus Caballero

CEO of SOF Connect – the operator of Sofia Airport

Jesus Caballero

Jesus Caballero is the CEO and the Chairman of the Management Board of SOF Connect - the operator of Sofia Airport. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan. Mr. Caballero is a top professional with vast experience in all areas of aviation from aircraft maintenance to coordination of airport operations, terminal and transportation management and many other aspects in the field. Before taking over the management of SOF Connect, Jesus Caballero was the CEO of Seville and Melilla airports, and was also involved in the management of Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga airports. He holds the record for the youngest CEO of an airport in Spain. He transformed the management of the airport as SOF Connect to start implementing its strategy for transformation into a five-star, modern regional airport, with a balance between decarbonization goals and business growth.

Galya Dimitrova

Managing partner of IRIS Solutions

Galya Dimitrova

Galya Dimitrova is Managing Partner at IRIS Solutions, a leading provider of open banking in Southeast Europe. Prior to IRIS Solution, she had a successful career as a banker - she was CEO and member of the Management Board successively at Allianz Bank, Kredi Agricole and TB Bank Victoria. As a banking leader she was responsible for retail banking, operations, branch network and digital channels (cards, internet and mobile banking). Five years ago she founded the fintech company IRIS Solutions with a team of like-minded ex-bankers. The company became the first startup licensed by the Bulgarian National Bank as a third-party service provider under PSD 2. IRIS Solutions' mission is to become the trusted and preferred provider of open banking solutions and services for the Southeast. Galya Dimitrova is a proud board member of the Bulgarian Fintech Association.

Moritz Seiler

Head of the Economic Department at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany

Moritz Seiler

Moritz Seiler is Head of the Economic Section as well as focal point for Germany's Feminist Foreign Policy at the German Embassy in Bulgaria since 2022. Before moving to Bulgaria, Mr. Seiler worked in the humanitarian assistance division, the division for strategic communication and underwent diplomatic training at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. Prior to joining public service, Mr. Seiler worked for almost ten years in the private sector as Manager for Asia and International Affairs at German wholesale company METRO AG and as Public Policy Manager for German testing and inspection company DEKRA e.V. Mr. Seiler has studied at Potsdam University in Germany and at the University of California at Berkeley in the United States and holds a degree in public policy. He is married and has two children.

Lilia Mustakova

Journalist, Nova TV

Lilia Mustakova

Lilia Mustakova graduated with a BA in Journalism and MA in Media Management from the University of Westminster in London. She began her career in journalism in the Bulgarian National Television and Bulgaria ON AIR as an international editor. In 2020 she started working for NOVA TV as a news anchor and reporter, focusing on a plethora of topics, including economics, world news and issues in the medical and pharmaceutical fields in Bulgaria.

Dobroslav Dimitrov

Chairman of the Management Board of BRAIT

Dobroslav Dimitrov

Dobroslav Dimitrov is an experienced entrepreneur, investor, mentor in numerous startup projects, speaker at many conferences and seminars and an adjunct university lecturer. In recent years, he has delivered over 600 lectures and publications in the fields of economic processes, technology and AI. He holds a degree in Finance from the University of Central Oklahoma in the USA. Co-founder of Imperia Online, IT Talents, Upnetix, Endurosat's very first investor.

Konstantin Dzhengozov

CFO of Payhawk

Konstantin Dzhengozov

Konstantin Dzhengozov’s career started with management consulting. He later joined the software company Telerik, which was acquired by Progress Software. There he held various positions, including head of finance and administrative expenses, strategic planning and corporate development.. He is a co-founder and CFO of Payhawk – the first Bulgarian unicorn and one of the fastest growing fintech companies with notable investors like Greenoaks, QED, Earlybird and Lightspeed. Founded in 2018, Payhawk is a global company spend management solution offering integrated company cards, bill payments, reimbursement of employees and customizable spending rules and governance. As a seasoned finance and investment professional, Konstantin has been recognized as CFO of the Year in EY’s annual business awards. In the summer of 2023, Konstantin completed an executive course at Harvard Business School.

Stefka Mavrodieva

Chief Director of Digitalization of the biotech company Nasekomo

Stefka Mavrodieva

Stefka Mavrodieva has been the Chief Director of Digitalization at the biotech company Nasekomo since early 2024. With over 20 years of experience in IT, she specializes in managing strategic programs related to digitalization, cloud solutions, and overall business development. For seven years she was part of the at Experian team, where she served as Director of Software Engineering and led the Experian Development Center in Sofia. At Nasekomo, Stefka Mavrodieva oversees the company's digital strategy, which plays a key role in the development and implementation of an innovative franchise model for the insect industry.

Teodor Radonov

Head of the EIB Group office in Bulgaria

Teodor Radonov

Teodor Radonov is Head of the EIB Group office in Bulgaria since March 2021. Structured finance specialist with over 8 years of previous experience working for the European Investment Fund (EIF), dealing with securitization and guarantee products, covering a wide range of jurisdictions inside and outside the EU. He has been involved in the structuring and implementation of a number of the EIF financial instruments in Bulgaria. He also worked in a variety of analytical roles in the financial field. Through his more than 10-year career at Philip Morris International, Demian Pintos held various leadership positions in marketing and sales departments, most recently as global head of the company's largest brand. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from IE Business School in Madrid.

Konstantin Djelebov

Co-founder and CEO of phyre, CPO @ Paynetics

Konstantin Djelebov

Konstantin has over 13 years of fintech experience. He has and continues to disrupt the industry with innovative projects such as leading the technological development at Getti, Reward Labs and launching Phyre, a pioneering bank-in-a-box solution for brands. Konstantin has received recognition for his innovation with Phyre, including App of the Year 2020 and CESA’s Best Bulgarian Fintech Startup for 2019 and 2020.

Denys Strobykin

General manager of Philip Morris Bulgaria

Denys Strobykin

Denys Strobykin has been the general manager of Philip Morris Bulgaria since August 2024. He has nearly 20 years of experience at Philip Morris International. His career started in the financial department of the company in Ukraine. He continued his path in the company with various positions in Moldova, Poland and Romania related to sales and marketing.

Kaloyan Georgiev

Member of the Board of PARAi

Kaloyan Georgiev

Kaloyan Georgiev is a Manager at Kalatech and a member of the Board of PARAi - Professional Association for Robotics, Automation and Innovation. He is an expert in digitalization, IoT, automation and energy management. For more than 15 years, he has been working in the field of big technology. He spent 12 of them at the French power engineering corporation Schneider Electric. He also runs his own business where he continues to develop expertise in industrial automation and energy management. In recent years, Kaloyan has also been actively involved in the activities of PARAi, an association that brings together over 80 technology companies working in areas such as robotics, software development, artificial intelligence solutions, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, industrial and consumer electronics, drones and aviation solutions, as well as training organizations. PARAi's work to promote Bulgarian industry and the high-tech sector has succeeded in attracting and retaining the interest of many young people at home and abroad.

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