Chair, Department of Innovation Management and Strategy

Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Groningen, Netherlands

Prof. de Faria is an expert in open innovation, sustainable business practices, and corporate governance. His keynote will explore the future of open innovation and its implications for business strategy in a rapidly changing global environment.

CEO, Gracher Kredit- und Kautionsmarkler GmbH & Co., Germany

Mr. Gracher will deliver an address on the future of the assurance business, focusing on innovations in risk management and sustainability in the financial sector.

Sustainability Catalyst and Former Innovation Consultant

Alice Richard will facilitate the 2030 SDG Game, a unique experiential workshop designed to promote awareness and engagement with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

Principal Consultant, Ecorys, Belgium

Elodie Salle will be part of the Energy Foresight Panel, sharing insights on the long-term planning of sustainable energy transitions.

Vice Dean of Sustainability, Empowerment, and Engagement, FEBA, Sofia University

Prof. Stefanova is the organizer of the pre-conference Diversity Debate on Gender Quotas in Corporate Governance.

Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University

Prof. Vutsova will moderate key discussions and panels, including the Open Innovation and Energy Foresight sessions.

Dean, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA), Sofia University

As the Dean of FEBA, Assoc. Prof. Georgiev is a leading figure in the organization of this conference, overseeing all academic and operational aspects of the event.

Coordinator of Field Visits, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University

Prof. Georgieva is responsible for organizing field visits to local agricultural companies that align with the conference’s focus on sustainability and green economy practices.

Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University

Prof. Vutsova will moderate key discussions and panels, including the Open Innovation and Energy Foresight sessions.

Dean, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA), Sofia University

As the Dean of FEBA, Assoc. Prof. Georgiev is a leading figure in the organization of this conference, overseeing all academic and operational aspects of the event.

Vice Dean, FEBA, Sofia University

As the Vice Dean for Research and Partnerships, Assoc. Prof. Yalamov plays a pivotal role in bringing together experts from academia and industry to ensure the highest level of knowledge exchange and collaboration during the conference.

Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University

Prof. Vutsova will moderate key discussions and panels, including the Open Innovation and Energy Foresight sessions.

Assoc. Prof. Savina Mihailova-Goleminova, PhD, is a lecturer in financial and tax law at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and head of the Master’s Program "Economics and Management of Public Resources." She specialized at IBFD (Amsterdam) and Oxford University and is a member of the Sofia Bar Association, EATLP, and IFA. With extensive experience in public administration, she has served as an advisor to the President of the National Assembly and the Vice Prime Minister. She also works as an independent expert for the European Commission and consults on EU-funded public sector reforms. 

President, National Association of Municipal Clerks in Bulgaria

Dr. Olga Ignatova holds a position as a researcher (R2) at Sofia University's Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA). She is actively involved in academic research and projects within the university 

Deyan Radev, PhD, is a Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University. He earned his PhD in 2013 from Goethe University Frankfurt, where his dissertation on systemic risk and contagion in the EU received two prestigious national awards. He previously held academic positions at Goethe University and the University of Bonn, teaching empirical finance and banking. Dr. Radev’s research interests include financial economics, banking regulation, financial stability, and FinTech, and his work has been presented at leading institutions such as the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve Board.

Expert on Green Monetary Policy

Prof. Dr. Ralph Anderegg was born on November 18, 1943, near Lake Constance, Switzerland. He earned his lic.oec.HSG (diploma in business administration) from the University of St. Gallen in 1967 and completed his Dr.oec.HSG (doctorate in business administration/economics) in 1971 with a thesis focused on agricultural economics. In 1979, he became a Privatdozent (venia legendi in economics) at the University of St. Gallen, specializing in agricultural economics. By 1980, he was appointed Professor of Economics at Cologne University’s Faculty for Economic and Social Sciences (Cologne Business School). In 1990, he became the managing director of the Wirtschaftspolitisches Seminar at the University of Cologne. His research primarily focuses on monetary theory, policy, and applied economics.

Expert on Student Entrepreneurship

Florian Noseleit is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Groningen. His research focuses on strategic entrepreneurship, cooperation for innovation, sustainability transition, and climate change adaptation. He serves as the research director of the Innovation Management & Strategy department at the university. Noseleit's academic work emphasizes entrepreneurship's role in fostering innovation, particularly in the context of sustainability challenges and climate adaptation.

Dr. Jitse Duijsters is an Assistant Professor of Innovation Management & Strategy at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen. His academic focus includes entrepreneurship, small business management, strategic management, and corporate venturing. Dr. Duijsters is known for his expertise in inter-organizational relationships and networks. His research explores the dynamics of corporate venturing, changes in social networks, and the complexities within inter-organizational collaborations.

Tea Paulović is a Senior Consultant at Ecorys, specializing in EU policy and research, with expertise in managing large-scale research projects for international organizations, including the European Commission (DG ECFIN and DG TAXUD). She has a strong background in quantitative and qualitative research, policy formulation using foresight methods, and stakeholder engagement. Notable projects include the mid-term evaluations of the Pericles IV and Recovery and Resilience Facility programs, and studies on taxation in support of the green transition. Tea holds a degree from Maastricht University School of Business and Economics and has previous experience at the European Commission and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, focusing on economic analysis and financial crime, respectively.

Chief Economist and Program Director, Center for the Study of Democracy, Bulgaria, with over 20 years of experience in managing projects focused on anti-corruption, the informal economy, energy governance, and innovation in Europe. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of National and World Economy, Sofia.

Ruslan co-directs the Kremlin Playbook, a joint project investigating Russia’s economic influence in Europe, and serves as the knowledge coordinator for SELDI.net, a regional anti-corruption network. He is also an advisor to the European Platform Tackling Undeclared Work and the editor of Innovation.bg, Bulgaria’s leading research and innovation policy assessment tool.

His research focuses on corruption, state capture, energy policy, and foreign influence, with a particular emphasis on Russia and China. Ruslan is a member of several international organizations, including the Free Enterprise and Democracy Network and the International Association for Energy Economics.

Dr. Dimitris Karampatzakis is an Assistant Professor at the Dept. of Informatics in the Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. He is also the Director of the Industrial and Educational Embedded Systems Lab. Dr. Karampatzakis holds an Engineering Diploma in Electronics and Computer Engineering from the Technical University of Crete (2003) and earned his PhD in VLSI Systems from the University of Thessaly (2009).

Since 2010, he has been actively involved in educational robotics and has played a key role in advancing STE(A)M education in his region. Additionally, Dr. Karampatzakis has served as a deputy mayor and councilor in the municipality of Drama, Greece, since 2014, where he has overseen urban planning, ICT initiatives, and EU project management.

Dr. Bindu S. Ronald is a distinguished professor at Symbiosis Law School, Pune, with expertise in Corporate Law and International Trade Law. She has been associated with Symbiosis Law School since June 2007, holding the position of Deputy Director. Her academic contributions focus on legal research, particularly in areas such as empowerment through legislation like the Right to Education Act.

Deputy Chairman of the  Bulgaria's Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC), has been a key figure in analyzing and critiquing major market transactions in the telecommunications sector.  

Jacques Malherbe is a prominent Tax and Corporate Lawyer based in Brussels, Belgium. He specializes in litigation and arbitration, with a focus on Tax and Corporate law. Malherbe has extensive experience in advising and litigating within these fields, contributing significantly to legal practice in Belgium. He is also recognized as a Senior Statesman in Tax law by Chambers & Partners, highlighting his esteemed reputation in the Belgian legal community. Additionally, Malherbe is an accomplished author and lecturer, having contributed to the academic discourse on International and European Tax law.

His educational background includes studies at Louvain University and an LL.M. from Harvard University, further underpinning his expertise.

Prof. Nadya Velinova – Sokolova, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the Finance and Accounting Department at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of National and World Economy and defended her PhD in 2004 on derivative financial instruments. Prof. Sokolova teaches various courses in both English and Bulgarian, including capital markets, risk management, and financial accounting. Since 2023, she has served as Chairman of the General Assembly of the Faculty. Her research focuses on financial instruments, risk analysis, and portfolio theory.

Assoc. Prof. Daniela Georgieva, PhD, is an esteemed academic affiliated with several prominent institutions in Bulgaria. She serves as an associate professor at the Economic Research Institute of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Dr. Georgieva is recognized for her expertise in applied research and business support activities. Her contributions span various fields, focusing notably on enhancing business practices through research and academic leadership.

Chief Assist. Prof. Desislava Kalcheva, PhD, joined Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" in 2019 as a part-time lecturer and became a full-time assistant professor in 2023 in the Department of Industrial Economics and Management. With over 15 years of experience in public finance, she has held roles such as a municipal finance expert at the Fund for Local Authorities and Governments (FLAG) and a chief expert at the Fiscal Council of Bulgaria. Her research focuses on public finance, regional development, investments, and fiscal decentralization. Dr. Kalcheva has contributed to several European Commission and University of Warsaw projects related to local autonomy and territorial reforms. She is an individual member of NISPAcee and the European Urban Research Association.

Stoycho Dulevski is an Assistant Professor specializing in tax law at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) in Sofia, Bulgaria. He holds a doctoral degree in law and a master's degree in economics, with specialization in Austrian and international tax law. Additionally, Dulevski serves as a Senior Associate at Kolev, Angelov & Miteva Law Firm and is affiliated with LEFMI, UPJV as a research associate in tax law. His academic work includes research in public-law areas related to taxation.

Prof. Zhelyu Vladimirov is a Doctor of Economic Sciences and a professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University. He teaches courses on Human Resource Management, Organizational Change and Development, and Innovation Management. He has held leadership positions, serving two terms as Deputy Dean and one term as Vice-Rector of Sofia University.

Prof. Vladimirov has specialized in various institutions, including EHESS in Paris, IISL in Spain, Athens University of Economics and Business, George Washington University, and the University of Surrey. He was awarded Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Neuchâtel in 1999.

His research focuses on the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, with over 100 publications, 9 of which are in journals with impact factor or rank. He has led or participated in over 30 national and international projects, managing 15 of them.

Prof. Desislava Yordanova is a distinguished scholar in the Department of Business Administration at Sofia University, where she teaches entrepreneurship, innovation, SME management, and family business. An active contributor to academia, she has published extensively in prestigious journals such as the International Small Business Journal and Journal of Small Business Management, and presented at over 20 conferences worldwide. Prof. Yordanova is also a recognized leader in entrepreneurial research communities, serving on expert boards, including the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and mentoring students through initiatives like Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs and Stanford University's University Innovation Fellows.

Professor Olya Harizanova is a distinguished academic specializing in Information Retrieval Systems at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski." She holds a PhD in Philosophy and serves as a professor in the Faculty of Philosophy. Her expertise extends to library and information studies, evident from her leadership roles in academic courses and research endeavors. Professor Harizanova has contributed significantly to her field, with several publications and a prominent role within the academic community at Sofia University.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boryana Pelova is an internationally recognized expert with over 15 years of experience in data analysis and machine learning. She has contributed to numerous research projects addressing societal challenges such as air quality, mental health, and digitalization. Her current projects include the digitalization of SMEs, the SHARE-ERIC Bulgaria initiative, and a project funded by the National Science Fund.

As an academic leader, she has played a key role in developing the MSc Program "AI for Business and Finance" and an industry-funded PhD program. Prof. Pelova also served as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA) from 2019 to 2023, focusing on fostering business-academic relationships and high-tech education. She was also the Head of FEBA's Career Center, guiding students in their career paths.

In 2023, Prof. Pelova initiated a collaboration with the Vocational School of Computer Programming and Innovation in Burgas, promoting school-university-business synergy. Her dedication to academic and societal progress reflects her commitment to both education and innovation.

Chief Assist. Prof. Gloria Hristova, PhD, is a lecturer at the Department of Statistics and Econometrics at Sofia University, where she has been Chief Assistant Professor since October 2021. She previously served as a part-time assistant in the same department from 2019 to 2020 and is currently pursuing her PhD in Data Science, with a focus on natural language processing and machine learning.

Prof. Hristova teaches courses such as "Quantitative Methods in Management" (BSc), "Text Analytics and Natural Language Processing" (MSc), and "Machine Learning for Business and Finance" (MSc, in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Boryana Bogdanova). Her primary research interests include data science, the automation of analytical processes, and the development of analytical tools for business analysis.

She is an active member of the Data Science Society, contributing to the field of data science both academically and through practical applications.

Chief Assist. Prof. Irena Mladenova, PhD, is a distinguished faculty member at the Business Administration Department of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA), Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski." She holds a PhD focused on "Organizational Capacity for Change, Adaptability, and Organizational Performance," which she defended at FEBA. Irena also holds a Master’s in Business Administration from FEBA and a Master’s in Banking and Entrepreneurship from the University of Udine, Fondazione Cassamarca, and UniCredit Group, Italy.

With over 20 years of experience in both private and public sectors, Irena has spent six years in international management consulting roles at firms like Kearney and PwC, working with leading organizations across Eastern Europe. Her expertise spans areas such as process restructuring, product portfolio optimization, procurement cost strategies, market entry analysis, and business planning. Additionally, she has held senior roles in corporate development, serving on a regional energy services company's board.

In the public sector, she has advised the Bulgarian Ministry of Economy and the Administration of the President, and she has served as deputy minister of the economy in several caretaker governments. Her research interests include organizational change, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. She continues to be an active management consultant.

Prof., Dr.hab.oec. Baiba Rivža is a prominent Professor of Economics at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. She has held significant positions, including the ex-Minister of Education and Science of Latvia and President of the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences of Latvia. Prof. Rivža is a member of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of Latvia and holds foreign memberships in prestigious institutions such as the Swedish Royal Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Science, Academia dei Georgofili, and the Lithuania Academy of Sciences.

In her distinguished career, she has also served as Vice Chair of the Latvia Council of Higher Education and President of the Latvia Universities Professors Association. Prof. Rivža is an expert for the European Academy of Sciences Academic Advisory Board (EASAC) in the field of economics. She co-authored the research "Circular economy: a commentary from the perspectives of the natural and social sciences" and has contributed to various European Council assignments. Her expertise spans project identification, formulation, monitoring, evaluation, troubleshooting, training, and related services.

Vlad Vita is a Policy Advisor at Ecommerce Europe, managing the e-Regulations Working Committee's activities on Platform Economy, Competition, and Consumer Policies. He coordinates with association members, EU stakeholders, and drafts briefings and position papers on e-commerce legislation. Vlad also contributes to Public Affairs strategies and represents Ecommerce Europe at meetings and events.

He holds a Master of Public Administration from Leiden University College The Hague, specializing in Public Management, and a Bachelor of Arts in European Studies from Essex University. Previously, he worked as a Junior EU Policy Officer at ACT, focusing on DSA & DMA regulations, and as a Policy Analyst at FiscalNote, monitoring EU regulations on the Digital Single Market. With international experience in Belgium and the Czech Republic, Vlad is fluent in English and Romanian, and has strong skills in hospitality, organization, and event planning. He is certified in ECDL and has completed a course on DSA and DMA.

Vlad is passionate about tackling new challenges and expanding his skills while contributing to the digital commerce sector.

Janet Naidenova is the Chairperson of the Board of the Bulgarian E-commerce Association. She has held this position since January 2017, actively supporting the growth of the Bulgarian e-commerce sector by facilitating its integration into the European e-commerce landscape. As a key figure, she emphasizes the importance of Bulgaria's membership in Ecommerce Europe, which she believes provides valuable access to the European digital market and promotes the growth of Bulgarian online merchants.

Additionally, Janet is the owner of JNN Consult Ltd., where she has been responsible for market research, customer experience, and digital marketing consulting since 1999. She is an experienced speaker, author of industry reports, and writer of white papers. Janet has also served as the Chairperson of IAB Bulgaria from 2009 to 2014, representing the association in the international digital advertising sphere.

Her earlier career includes leadership roles in channel marketing at CHS Electronics EMEA and East Europe, where she oversaw market research across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

She holds a Master's degree in research from the Central Institute for Computer Techniques and Technologies, with a career spanning over 25 years in marketing and digital commerce.

PhD Candidate, FEBA, Sofia University

Prof. Kamen Spasov is an expert in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and management, combining extensive business and technical knowledge with strong analytical and strategic thinking skills. He is known for his creativity and leadership, focused on achieving results.

Prof. Spasov is a professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University, where he also directs the Master's program in "Management Information Systems." Additionally, he leads the e-Governance Laboratory at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. His research interests include management information systems, open data, e-governance, information and network security, customer relationship management (CRM), and digital transformation.

With significant managerial experience, Prof. Spasov has held leadership positions in international companies in Bulgaria and the USA and has consulted on numerous ICT and web projects at both local and global levels. He also has practical experience in implementing e-governance and CRM systems, along with entrepreneurial expertise.

He is Vice President of the Union of Automation and Informatics and serves on several prestigious academic and professional councils. Prof. Spasov holds a PhD from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy in Sofia and master's degrees in international business and production automation. He has supervised over 130 graduates and authored more than 70 scientific publications, delivering lectures and presentations globally.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolay Chudomirov Netov is the Head of the Department of Statistics and Econometrics at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski." Over the last 15 years, he has been actively involved in numerous international scientific, applied, and educational projects, collaborating with colleagues globally.

He serves on the Board of Directors of the Faculty's Alumni Association, the oldest and largest in Bulgaria, with over 7,000 active members. In 2014, Assoc. Prof. Netov's project, "Career in IT," was recognized as the best project promoting collaboration between businesses and NGOs. The following year, this project won an award in the "Investor in Knowledge" category at the 13th annual Responsible Business Awards hosted by the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum.

Dr. Vita Juknevičienė is an associate professor and researcher at Šiauliai Academy of Vilnius University, specializing in public administration. Her research interests include the modernization of the public sector and e-government initiatives

Manager in the Tax department for EY Bulgaria, with a focus on international tax issues, transfer pricing and acquisition transactions

Dr. Albena Pergelova is a prominent academic specializing in marketing and entrepreneurship. Currently, she is a Full Professor at MacEwan University, Edmonton, where she has been teaching since 2009. Her research interests are interdisciplinary, focusing on areas such as interactive marketing, consumer empowerment, and social entrepreneurship

Dr. Inese Āboliņa is an academic and professional with expertise in leadership and political science. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Latvia and is affiliated with the Faculty of Economics and Management. Her research interests include leadership, political science, democracy, and network governance

Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Latvia

Independent expert at Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Council of Europe (Strasbourg)

Member of Board, European Confederation of Internal Audit Institutes (Brussels)

Dr. Rita Toleikienė is an Associate Professor and researcher specializing in Public Administration and Business at Vilnius University's Šiauliai Academy. She serves on the Public Administration Study Programs Committee and has been actively involved in research since 2018

Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. His main areas of research are enterprise modeling, system analysis and design of information systems, knowledge, learning and innovation.

Head of the Team for Strategic Development and Green Policies, Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB). With a background in banking and expertise in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks, Sophia Kassidova plays a pivotal role in shaping strategic development initiatives that align with EU Taxonomy standards.

Prof. (FH) Dr. Armin J. Kammel, LL.M. (London), MBA (CLU), is a recognized interdisciplinary legal scholar and executive specializing in banking law, securities regulation, business law, and financial markets. He holds degrees in law and business administration from esteemed Austrian and international universities. Dr. Kammel has over 15 years of leadership experience in financial services, including serving as Head of Legal & International Affairs at the Austrian Association of Investment Fund Management Companies (VÖIG) and holding board positions with the International Investment Funds Association (IIFA) and the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA).

Dr. Kammel is a Professor (FH) of Banking Law and Securities Regulation at Lauder Business School in Vienna and has held roles at Danube University Krems, including Program Coordinator for LL.M./MLS in International Banking Law and Capital Markets. Additionally, he serves as an adjunct professor at California Lutheran University and has lectured globally. He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of BRILL Publishing's "International Banking and Securities Law" series, among other editorial roles, and has authored over 100 publications. His research focuses on banking, financial, and business law, emphasizing economic legal analysis.

Desislava Miteva has been the executive director of the British Bulgarian Business Association for the

past 9 years. Since she joined, the organisation has doubled its membership and has initiated and

implemented a rich portfolio of initiatives, including a number of trade missions to the UK.

Prior to that, she was the country manager in Bulgaria for Regus, the global provider of serviced offices,

virtual offices, business lounges and meeting rooms, which recently re-branded to IWG. The company

was one of the pioneers of shared workspace on the local market, and Desislava helped educate the

local employers about the benefits of flexible working.

Desislava was the executive director of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum, part of the International

Business Leaders Forum of the Prince of Wales for two years. The organisation focused on promoting

corporate social responsibility practices among local businesses. She also lived and worked in Prague for

three years as a conference director at Marcus Evans, an international strategic conferences, summits

and corporate events company headquartered in London.

Mila Nenova is the Executive Director of the Bulgarian Investment Agency (BIA). She holds a Master’s degree in Law from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.” Since 2016, she has also served as the director of Confindustria Bulgaria, an association representing Italian businesses in Bulgaria. Ms. Nenova is recognized for her extensive expertise in developing and managing bilateral economic relations and for promoting Bulgaria as a favorable destination for investment. Additionally, she has significant experience in human resource management, industrial relations, and leading European projects.

Dr. Mariana Todorova is an accomplished futurist and expert in the field of future studies and strategic planning. A visionary thinker, strategist, and consultant, she is recognized for her work as an author and a leader in numerous influential roles. Dr. Todorova has served as a Member of the Bulgarian Parliament, an advisor to the President of Bulgaria, and as a professor at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. She has contributed to global initiatives as a member of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Special Committee focused on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and as part of the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Foresight for Emerging and Future Cybersecurity Challenges with the European Cyber Security Agency (ENISA).

Dr. Todorova’s scholarly work includes coauthoring the book “Future Studies and Counterfactual Analysis. Seeds of the Future” with Theodore Gordon, a key contributor to NASA's Apollo Moon missions. In 2020, she authored “Artificial Intelligence. A Brief History of Development and Ethical Aspects,” exploring the evolution and ethical dimensions of AI.

An advocate for democratic innovation, Dr. Todorova has also developed a blockchain-based platform to promote liquid democracy. Her educational background includes completing an Executive Program in Political Leadership at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, participation in the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) through the U.S. State Department, and studies in political leadership at the Chinese Academy of Governance.

prof. Evgeni Peev, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria

Chairperson of Human Resource Management and Development 

Committee at Mombasa County Public Service Board, Kenya
PhD Candidate, FEBA, Sofia University

James Osondu is an Assistant Professor at Sofia University, specializing in the Department of Statistics and Econometrics. He teaches courses in these fields and is actively involved in academic research at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".

PhD Candidate, FEBA, Sofia University

PhD Candidate, FEBA, Sofia University

PhD Candidate, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

Zornitsa Rusinova is the Chairperson of the Economic and Social Council of the Republic of Bulgaria. Between 2012 and 2020, she served as Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy across three governments and held the position of Minister of Labor and Social Policy from 2016 to 2017. Her responsibilities included labor market policies, social inclusion, labor law, European affairs, international cooperation, and the management of EU funds.

She has held senior positions in the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and the Ministry of State Administration and Administrative Reform. Additionally, she has successfully led international projects for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Bulgarian-Swiss Cooperation Program.

Zornitsa Rusinova holds a Master’s degree in International Economic Relations from the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) and dual Master’s degrees in Bulgarian Philology and English Philology from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski."

Dr. Martina Arabadzhieva is a chief assistant professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University "Kliment Ohridski". In the period between 2019 and 2021 she was taking the role of a researcher (R2). She defended her dissertation on "Financial management implements of higher education institutions in the framework of European quality assurances policies" at the faculty. The model for distribution of financial resources is accepted as a good model by the specialized directorates of the Ministry of Education and Science. Her research interests are also related to the study of research evaluation, social entrepreneurship, youth unemployment.

Professionally, Martina Arabadzhieva has experience as a consultant in scientific journals, working with global research databases, tax consultant at KPMG Bulgaria, as well as with problems related to the assessment and selection of HR in the field of secondary education. Actively participates in the implementation of various national and international projects dedicated to education and science. Her project activities include work on the European programs Erasmus +, Horizon 2020 - activities Marie Skłodowska Curie and the European Scientific Council; COST program, as well as a number of national programs. Her experience covers various activities from preparation of project proposals, administration and organization of activities, reporting, liaison between stakeholders from the public sphere, business, academia, civil society organizations.

Martina Arabadzheva is part of the AESIS Network for Advancing & Evaluating the Societal Impact of Science and has published in indexed national and international journals.

Ambassador Dr. Elena Kirtcheva, Secretary General of the Vienna Economic Forum, is a prominent diplomat, academic, and legal expert. She holds a PhD in Law and has served as a university lecturer and researcher at leading institutions in Sofia, Vienna, and Germany.

Her diplomatic career includes ambassadorships to Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Finland, and Austria, alongside notable roles in Bulgaria's first democratic Grand National Assembly. Dr. Kirtcheva has been honored with the Grand Decoration in Gold with Sash for Services to Austria and holds honorary citizenship for her contributions to Austrian economic development.

Fluent in multiple languages, she is a prolific author and actively supports economic initiatives through her leadership roles in the Vienna Economic Forum and Industrial Holding Bulgaria.

Ritsumeikan Univeristy, Japan 

Faculty of Economics, Sofia University

Peter Tsvetkov is the Operations Manager of eMAG Bulgaria. eMAG is a leading online retailer, founded in 2001 in Romania, with subsidiaries in Bulgaria and Hungary. For over 20 years, the company has been constantly investing in services based on technologies that help customers save time and money.

Peter joined eMAG bringing his broad business expertise with core focus on Logistics and Operations, gained in multinational and local companies in diverse industries. Highly qualified and results-oriented, he believes that ability to drive company objectives is build and developed on strategic partnerships within the logistic industry ecosystem at local and international level. His experience in setting commercial strategies and leading vast organizational structures also helps him in resolving complex issues and fostering team’s talents.

Peter Tsvetkov has a Professional Diploma in Marketing from Chartered Institute of Marketing, London, as well as Bachelor degree in Statistics and econometrics and Master degree in Finance from University of National and World Economy, Sofia.

Assoc. prof. Dr Petya Ivanova Slavova, Faculty of Philosophy, Sofia University 

PhD Candidate, FEBA, Sofia University

PhD student, Faculty of Economics, Sofia University

Nikolay Stoykov is a GIS Administrator at the Municipality of Gabrovo, Bulgaria, with a background in managing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the research industry. He is skilled in database management and has a demonstrated history in this field. Gabrovo is known for its active involvement in GIS applications, contributing to regional development and urban planning initiatives 

Dimitar Koritarov is associated with GIS Bulgaria through various business involvements. 

PhD Candidate, FEBA, Sofia University

PhD Candidate, FEBA, Sofia University

PhD Candidate, FEBA, Sofia University

PhD Candidate, FEBA, Sofia University

PhD Candidate, FEBA, Sofia University

PhD Candidate, FEBA, Sofia University

MBA, FEBA, Sofia University

PhD, FEBA, Sofia University

Assoc. Prof. Kaloyan Ganev has a PhD degree in Statistics and Demography.

He teaches courses such as Macroeconomic Modelling, Applied Econometrics, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Public Finance, etc.

His research interests are in the areas of macroeconomic modelling and forecasting and applied econometrics.

Besides in academia, he has extensive (over 20 years) practical experience in the public and the private sectors where he has taken expert, middle- and senior-management positions at the Agency for Economic Analysis and Forecasting (a body of the Minister of Finance), Raiffeisenbank EAD, and the Sigma Hat consultancy company.

Internationally he has worked as a consultant for the governments of Montenegro and Belarus.

Education:

Dr. Georgi Ganev earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis in 1997, where he also completed a Master of Arts in Economics (1993). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business Administration from Graceland College, Iowa (1992). Dr. Ganev also studied law at Sofia University and graduated from the 114 English Language High School in Sofia.

Professional Experience:

Dr. Ganev is a founding member of the Bulgarian Macroeconomic Association, where he serves on the Governing Council. He has been a Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University, since 1998, and has held roles including Program Director for Economic Research at the Center for Liberal Strategies in Sofia. His academic engagements include serving as an Academic Director for the International Seminar on Institutional Analysis, held at Sofia University, and lecturing at international institutions such as St. Petersburg State University and Washington University.

Dr. Ganev has provided expertise to the Economic Policy Committee of the Bulgarian National Assembly and interned with the Bulgarian National Bank. Notably, he collaborated with Nobel laureate Prof. Douglas North as a research assistant and lecturer in courses on Economic History and Economics of Property Rights.

Since 2019 is a lecturer in the Department of Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski”. Daniel Kasabov has been working as an economist at the Economic Research and Forecasting Directorate of the Bulgarian National Bank since 2013. In that capacity he has been conducting research and analytical activities related to the Bulgarian economy. He is a member of temporary and permanent working groups within the Monetary Policy Committee of the European System of Central Banks.

Specialized macroeconomic analysis and forecasting in international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank, Bank of England and Banque de France.

Participated in international and national research and educational projects. Participated in a number of international conferences and workshops. He is the author of publications related to the study of inflation in Bulgaria, the price- and wage-setting mechanism of Bulgarian companies, the cyclical position of the economy, the factors for the dynamics of investment activity and the transmission mechanism of ECB’s monetary policy to the Bulgarian economy.

Dr. Ilia Atanasov is the Associate Dean for Accreditation and Ratings and the Scientific Secretary of the Department of Economics at Sofia University. His research focuses on economic modeling, growth, and the impact of information on economic behavior.

He teaches courses in Microeconomics, Behavioral Economics, and Money and Banking and has published in journals such as Economic Studies and IFAC-PapersOnLine.

Dr. Atanasov is active on Scopus and ResearchGate