Members
Boris Kolev
Boris Kolev in an social entrepreneur with extensive experience and expertise in the fields of CSR and Sustainable Development. He is the founder and CEO of CSR Bulgaria – The Bulgarian Business network for CSR. His work is related in working mainly with businesses, corporations, non-profits and medias assisting in their process of defining and executing sustainability strategies and collaboration.
He is a lecturer on Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship topics in various universities and is a head of the discipline “Sustainable Business Practices” for the CSR Master Degree in VUZF University in Sofia. In 2018 Boris has been featured in the European “FERD’s List” for young people with greatest social impact in the continent.
Aleksandra Andonova
Aleksandra Andonova is a Sustainability Specialist at Aurubis Bulgaria AD.
She has a bachelor’s degree in “Social Pedagogy” from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and master’s degree “Responsible and Sustainable Governance” from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
Her career development started in the financial sector, going through various positions from where she developed an interest in topics related to sustainable finance, decarbonization and а healthy lifestyle.
As а Sustainability Specialist at Aurubis Bulgaria, she is part of the group’s “Corporate Sustainability and External Affairs” and “Responsible Sourcing” Team and is involved in implementing responsible supply chain policies by collecting, processing and analyzing information related to the sustainability practices of trading partners, as well as working with the company’s suppliers and customers along the supply chain, consulting companies and organizations in the areas of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) and sustainability.
Her sustainability-related interests include topics related to supply chain responsibility with respect to factors such as human rights, business ethics, diversity and inclusion, and related environmental and social impacts and decarbonization topics.
Vessela Petrova
Vessela Petrova has a PhD on Economics and Management (Mining), with dissertation “Research and Assessment of Corporate Social Responsibility of Mining Enterprises”. Since 2010, she works as a lecturer at the University of Mining and Geology “St. Ivan Rilski”.
Her work is deeply related to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility, focusing on the mining industry. She is author of many publications and participates in related international conferences. Vessela specialized at the University of Virginia (USA) and the Canadian Center for Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility in Alberta University.
Evgeni Stanimirov
Prof. Dr. Evgeni Stanimirov is a Rector of the University of Economics – Varna. He has more than 60 successfully accomplished projects (consulting services to different businesses in the field of FMCG, cement industry, construction, consumer electronics, etc.) in the field of marketing (marketing and brand strategies; market segmentation; positioning strategies, communication activities etc.). Projects: Marketing expert in more than 35 research projects (financed by EU and World Bank).
Publication activity: More than 130 publications in the field of marketing.
Research interests: Brand Management; CRM; CSR; Customer satisfaction and Loyalty; Digital Marketing, etc. He has 15 academic books published in the above mentioned fields.
Darina Georgieva
Darina Georgieva is еxecutive director of UNGC Network Bulgaria, Overgas Society Manager at Overgas and a member of the Advisory Council on CSR at the MLSP. She works to promote corporate social responsibility, the implementation of the UN Global Compact Ten principles and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by bringing together companies into collective actions of public importance on the sustainable development of business and society. She is responsible for relations with the UN Global Compact in New York and CSR Europe.
Ms. Georgieva is a Master in Law with qualifications in project management, and applied trainings in CSR performance and measurement. She has 10 years’ experience in the United Nations Development Program.
Gita Kolkas
Gita Kolkas has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Technology of Technical University – Sofia. She spent 13 years working in the IT industry working with databases. In the last 5 years she managed a team, striving to detect talents, foster career development, coach and support team members, handling feedback, client consultations, as well as process optimization.
Noticing the need for larger actions towards environment improvement she is currently finishing a Master’s Degree in Responsible and Sustainable Government in Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
Main interests regarding CSR currently reside in discovering, application and development of good practises in the IT industry in all 3 ESG directions – economic, social and government. In future she intends to wotk on developing methods for providing opportunities for people and facilitate processes in all 3 ESG components i.e. equity and inclusion, easy access, knowledge sharing, innovation, added value.
Elka Vasileva
Elka Vasileva is Professor in the Department of Economy of Natural Resources, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, where she lectures on standardization, quality and environmental management. Her research is focused on sustainable consumption and production, and consumers policy.
Prof. Elka Vasileva co-edited the Special issue of the Economic Alternatives Journal, 2019, wich contains research papers, presented at the Conference on “CSR – Convergence of Discourse, Diversity of Practices” which took place at the University of National and World economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, October 2018.
Iva Petrova
Iva Petrova is Donor Programs and Fundraising Expert at BCause Foundation Bulgaria since 2009. BCause is a part of the global network of CAF – Charities Aid Foundation UK – an organization with immense contribution to the development of a sustainable and effective non-governmental sector in the UK, and with outstanding expertise in providing donor and NGO services.
Iva participates in the development and implementation of sustainable partnership programs that unite the efforts of companies and non-governmental organizations to support significant social causes; as well as in the development of policies and programs for employee engagement in the workplace.
Katerina Kirova-Milanova
Katerina Kirova-Milanova has rich international experience in communications in various fields – telecommunications and IT, cultural management, retail and FMCG goods gathered over the last 20 years. Four years in the team of Zagorka AD, part of the HEINEKEN corporation, in the role of Corporate Communications and Sustainability Manager.
Katerina is responsible for the corporate communications and CSR and successfully implements the green and social agenda of the company’s sustainable development strategy “Brewing a better world”. Katerina coordinates the communication of positioning of the brands from the rich portfolio of ZAGORKA AD.
Mariya Georgieva
Mariya Georgieva has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Accounting and Control at the University of Economics – Varna. She has professional experience in the field of education, banking and healthcare. Since 2016 she has been working as an assistant professor at the Marketing department of University of Economics – Varna.
Her professional and scientific interests are in the field of branding, customer relationship management and Corporate Social Responsibility. In this sphere, Georgieva is about to complete her PhD which is focused on the role of socially responsible branding in customer relationship management. She is an author of scientific publications on the subject, published in various Bulgarian and international specialized economic journals.
Marina Stefanova
Marina Stefanova, PhD, is a 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 and Executive Director of the “FEB” Foundation, whose main goals are related to supporting the development of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and confirmation and dissemination of the idea of “sustainable development” and its enrichment.
Milka Semova
Dr. Semova is an analyst and adviser in performance management. She combines strategic and operational thinking with a multi-faceted stakeholder approach. She builds bridges across different organizational cultures and sectors: Industry-Academy-Nonprofit-Institutional. She takes a keen interest in big data, machine learning, and AI ethics.
Olya Peneva
Olya Peneva is a business and human rights specialist who believes in the application of a human rights-based approach to resolving global problems. Her academic interest is in the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Bulgaria through the gender equality framework.
She is the founder of the Bulgarian Foundation for Business and Human Rights and is currently working as a manager of the ESG Help Desk at ESG LAB, Sofia University. Member of the CEE & CA Association, a regional network of business and human rights experts in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Antonia Zhelyazkova
Antonia is an experienced lawyer in the field of international business law and an expert in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.
Complementing her legal experience, she completed specialized ESG training at the University of Cambridge, deepening her knowledge of sustainability principles and their integration into corporate practices.
Currently, Antonia is the main ESG consultant for a large chemical plant in Bulgaria. Her multi-faceted role includes conducting comprehensive ESG assessments, formulating sustainability plans and providing strategic guidance in line with rapidly evolving regulatory requirements. Previously, Antonia has worked for well-known law firms in Madrid and London.
Petar Georgiev
Petar Georgiev is the Head of Strategic Alliances and Sustainability at AMPECO, a charging management platform for electric vehicles.
Petar is a seasoned and internationally-recognised expert in the ecosystem of electric mobility, with 7+ years of experience in the sector. At AMPECO he leads projects, strategic engagement and regulatory affairs in the context of more than a dozen industry bodies in Europe, in North America and globally.
Additionally, Petar is leading AMPECO’s Sustainability Strategy and concluded the company’s successful B Corp certification in 2023.
Previous to his role at AMPECO, Petar has actively shaped Europe’s clean transportation policy during a four-year stint in Brussels. Through his understanding of macro-trends in the EV ecosystem, he has contributed to the finalisation of the EU Mobility Package and the ideation of EU’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and European Climate Pact.
Petar has spoken at 100+ industry events in Europe, Asia and North America throughout his career – covering everything from roundtable discussions to major industry forums.
Petar Georgiev is the 2021 winner of the “EV Under 30 Star” award, which he received during the EV World Congress in Bristol (UK), and is also among the 2022 class of the Forbes Bulgaria “30 Under 30” ranking in the Science, Tech and Healthcare category. Between 2022 and 2023 Petar served as a European Climate Pact Ambassador. Petar has a MA in International Relations and Diplomacy from the College of Europe in Bruges with a focus on energy and environmental policy.
Radosveta Krasteva-Hristova
Radosveta Krasteva-Hristova, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting at the D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics – Svishtov, with publication and project activity in the field of CSR. Her interests revolve around contemporary issues in teaching and training specialists with higher education in the context of sustainable development, integrated reporting, and digitalization in business.
As a director and career consultant at the university career center, she has worked to support vulnerable groups of students. She is motivated to work for the right to education, labor, and equal socialization of neurodivergent people.
Stilyana Palankalieva
Stilyana Palankalieva is an ecologist for more than decade. Her interest in sustainable development and social responsibility was born even before completing her environmental education.
As a vital member of a team working in the mining industry, Stilyana gained practical experience in implementing environmental legislation and meticulously monitoring environmental components and factors.
For Her, Sustainable development, environmental and social responsibility, became a mission.
She firmly believes that individuals must cultivate the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to actively participate in decision-making processes. By doing so, we can collectively enhance our quality of life without compromising the well-being of our planet.
Stilyana’s primary focus centers on promoting responsible consumption habits. She recognizes that small, intentional steps can lead to significant positive changes on a global scale.
Stilyana’s commitment to sustainability serves as a reminder that each of us can contribute to a better future.
Mileslava Bogdanova
Mileslava Bogdanova is a managing associate at Komarevski, Dimitrov & Partners Law Firm and a member of the Sofia Bar Association.
She holds an LLM from the Faculty of Law at Sofia University and is currently a PhD student in the field of “Labor Law and Social Security” at her Alma mater.
Mileslava specializes in employment law and personal data protection. She advises Bulgarian and international companies on sustainability matters with a particular focus on corporate social responsibility. A major focus of her practice is providing legal advice and working for the improvement of the diversity, equality and inclusion legal framework.
Victor Djerassi
Victor Djerassi is the Marketing Manager and part of the management team
of Pluxee Bulgaria (formerly Sodexo Bulgaria). He is responsible for
overseeing the company’s annual strategy and leads the processes related
to product development, overseeing ESG and DEI activities and Net 0
strategy. As part of the company’s Sustainability Strategy, he develops
activities related to the fight against food waste and women empowerment
in partnership with Stop Hunger.
Victor started his career in informal education, continuing with HR
consulting and team building. He developed his expertise in marketing
and advertising, holding senior positions in companies in the financial
and fintech sectors and managing the full spectrum of creative and
operational processes in a multinational and multicultural environment.
He is certified in the ESG Academy, a program for sustainability
professionals at the Faculty of Economics of Sofia University. Victor
studied Advertising and Art Photography at NBU. Loves photography and
improvisational theatre.
Yuliana Grigorova
eng. Yuliana Grigorova is responsible for the coordination of strategic projects and programs for sustainable development at „Asarel-Medet“ AD.
From her many years of work as an engineer „Production planning and development“ in the large mining enterprise, she has excellent theoretical training and has accumulated solid practical experience in the entire scheme of the investment process in the company. She has actively participated in the implementation of dozens of investment and innovation projects related to the sustainable development of the company, works on European projects and programs, conducts international studies in mining, attracts foreign partners to find innovative solutions and apply the best global practices. Also, its work is directly related to planning, budgeting and reporting of investments, implementation and compliance with environmental legislation, social and governance aspects, as well as the derivation of long-term sustainable development goals of „Asarel-Medet“. She was recently recruited as a specialist in a joint supply chain decarbonisation project between „Asarel-Medet“ AD, „Aurubis Bulgaria“ AD and Aurubis AG Hamburg.
Eng. Grigorova graduated from the Technical University, Sofia with a diploma as a mechanical engineer. She obtained a certificate in project management from Projecta BG at the American TenStep Academy. She underwent all company trainings for the development of the management team, attended seminars and trainings in the field of corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, incl. module „Responsible and sustainable investments and innovations. Circular economy“ at ESG Academy at Moscow State University „St. Ivan Rilski“, participated in a 3-month training „Accelerator of Sustainable Development Goals at the UN Global Compact (SDG Accelerator 2024)“, with passed exams and received certificates.
eng. Grigorova proactively seeks opportunities for improvement, and as a person she is strongly committed to the care of nature and early ecological education.
