Green Transition Forum 5.0: Powering Up Competitiveness and Innovation in the CEE Region

Iliya Lingorski

Assistant Professor at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and member of the Governing Council of the Bulgarian National Bank.

Ana Doneva

Angela Ivanova

Co-founder of LAM’ON – an innovative Bulgarian company developing biodegradable laminating films for print and packaging

Vasil Terziev

Mayor of Sofia

Silvia Georgieva

Executive Director of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB)

Ivan Ivanov

Minister of Regional Development and Public Works of the Republic of Bulgaria

Georgi Tachov

Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Bulgaria

Tsvetelina Kuzmanova

Senior Project Manager, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

Ellen Wasylina

Founder and CEO of Trocadéro Forum

Joachinm D’Eugenio

Policy Adviser for Zero Pollution , Water Resilience & Green Urban Transition, DG ENV, European Commission

Eng. Ivan Ivanov

Chairman of the Bulgarian Water Association (BWA)

Wendy Francken

President of the European Water Association (EWA)

Boyko Vassilev

Leading TV Presenter, Host and Producer, BNT

Rosen Zhelyazkov

Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria

Tonya Dimitrova

Editor of “World News,” Bulgarian National Television (BNT)

Teodor Radonov

Head of the European Investment Bank Group Office in Bulgaria, tbc

Sophia Kassidova

Head of Strategy & Green Policies, BDB

Prof. Daron Acemoglu

Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

António Costa

President of the European Council

Iva Petrova

Deputy Minister of Energy (September 2021-present)

Martin Vladimirov

Director Energy and Climate Program Сеnter For The Study Of Democracy

Dietmar Preinstorfer

Vice President, Council of European Energy Regulators

Kaloyan Staykov

Chairman of the Board, Energy Management Institute (EMI)

Tsvetelina Penkova

Member of the European Parliament, Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)

Claudia Patricolo

Journalist

Vladimir Malinov

Executive Director, Bulgartransgaz

Monika Stanisheva

Chair of the Board, Dir.bg

Prof. Daron Acemoglu

Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Lilyana Pavlova

Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (2019-2023)

Delyan Dobrev

Chairman of the Committee on Energy in the 49th National Assembly

Tilda Benezra

Head of Projects, Carbonaires Ltd

Manol Genov

Minister of Environment and Water of the Republic of Bulgaria

Svetlana Boyanova

Chairman of the Institute for Agrostrategies and Innovation and Head of the European Digital Innovation Hub AgroHub.BG

Svetlana Zhekova

International Climate and Environment Policy Expert | Independent consultant for the EC, World Bank, UNDP, OECD | Vice-President of the UNFCCC Bureau and co-chair of the Eastern European Group in 2024

Deniz Tourgout

Founder and Managing Director of PriorityZero

Neli Koleva

Policy and Communications Executive

Miglena Temelkova

Ph.D., Chairwoman, Council of Rectors, Bulgaria

Teresa Ribera

Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, EC

Julian Popov

Minister of Environment and Water (2023 - 2024), tbc

Julian Popov

Minister of Environment and Water (2023 - 2024), tbc

Peter Dilov

Minister of Economy, Bulgaria

Enrico Letta

Former Prime Minister of Italy, President of the Jacques Delors Institute, Author of the report “Much More Than a Market”

Sergei Stanishev

Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria (2005-2009), President of PES (2011-2022), Member of the European Parliament (2014-2024)

Slavtcho Neykov

Member of the Strategic Foresight Committee, GTF

Robin Teurlings

Managing Partner, Zero Emissions Fund

Sergei Stanishev

Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria (2005-2009), President of PES (2011-2022), Member of the European Parliament (2014-2024)

Panagiotis Theodorikakos

Minister of Development of the Hellenic Republic, tbc

Apostol Dyankov

Senior expert at WWF Bulgaria

Dr. Mariagrazia Squicciarini

Chief of Executive Office, Social and Human Sciences Sector at UNESCO, tbc

Monika Manolova

Innovation expert at Digital National Alliance

Dr Philippe Tulkens

Head of Unit at DG Research&Inovation, EU Focal Point for IPCC, Deputy Manager of the EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change

Svetlana Boyanova

Chairman of the Institute for Agrostrategies and Innovation and Head of the European Digital Innovation Hub AgroHub.BG

Georgi Tachov

Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Bulgaria

Eolina Milova

Senior Environment Specialist, World Bank

Prof. Hristo Pimpirev

Geologist, Polar Explorer, Director of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute

Mariya Hristova

EIT country representative and founder of AgriVentures, an entrepreneurial community for innovation in agriculture

Giannis Balakakis

Chair Organizing Committee AgriBusiness Forum

Anton Puliyski

Founder of CyberCLUB

Maria Marinova

CEO and Board member, Bulgarian Venture Capital Association (BVCA)

Ekaterina Zaharieva

Commissioner (2024-2029) | Startups, Research and Innovation

Irina Obushtarova

Co-founder & Strategic Advisor, The Recursive

Ekaterina Zaharieva

Commissioner (2024-2029) | Startups, Research and Innovation

Natalia Miteva

Advisor to the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria

Valentin Mundrov

Minister of e-Government, Bulgaria

Petya Manastirska

Sustainability and Quality Manager, DEVIN AD

Rosen Plevneliev

President of the Republic of Bulgaria (2012-2017)

Angelin Tsachev

Director and member of the Management Board of the Electricity System Operator

Sergei Stanishev

Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria (2005-2009), President of PES (2011-2022), Member of the European Parliament (2014-2024)

Roxana Minzatu

Executive vice-president (2024-2029) - Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness

Victor Gugushev

Chairman of the Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce

Roxana Minzatu

Executive vice-president (2024-2029) - Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness

Slavtcho Neykov

Member of the Strategic Foresight Committee, GTF

Zhecho Stankov

Minister of Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria

Aziz Aidaros

Vice President and Associate General Counsel for Europe at Philip Morris International (PMI)

Genady Kondarev

Senior Associate, Central and Eastern Europe, E3G

Jan Dusík

Deputy Director-General, DG for Climate Action, European Commission

Boyko Vassilev

Leading TV Presenter, Host and Producer, BNT

Emmanouil Fountoukis

Chairman and Member of the board of directors Etem Gestamp Automotive

Monika Stanisheva

Chair of the Board, Dir.bg

Lyubomir Stanislavov

CEO, Automotive Cluster, Bulgaria

Kostadin Sirleshtov

Managing Partner, Head of Energy, Projects and Construction for CEE, CMS Sofia

Kostadin Sirleshtov

Managing Partner, Head of Energy, Projects and Construction for CEE, CMS Sofia

Pencho Milkov

Mayor of Ruse

Nataliya Kiselova

President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria (12.2024 - 10.2025)

Manyu Moravenov Ph.D.

Member of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE)

Hristo Radichev

Country Manager, Mediapost Hit Mail Bulgaria

Zornitsa Rusinova

Chair of the Economic and Social Council

Vincent van Steensel

Mandate Management Director at EIF

Vladimir Gechev

Co-founder of Viverde Straw Modules – a Bulgarian company offering sustainable building solutions using prefabricated straw panels

Tomislav Donchev

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth, Republic of Bulgaria

Tsanko Arabadzhiev

Member of the Managing Board and Executive Director of Bulgarian Development Bank

Alexander Peev

General Manager “Corporate and social responsibility”, KBC Group in Bulgaria

Stavros Papastavrou

Minister of Environment and Energy, Hellenic Republic, tbc

Atanas Kostadinov

Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment and Water

Cristian Beșeni

Secretary of State, Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, Romania

Prof. Dr. Tanya Marinova

Director General, National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH), Bulgaria

Mario De Martino

Managing Director, Porsche BG EOOD & Porsche Inter Auto BG EOOD

Florin-Ionuț Barbu

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Romania, tbc

Borislav Kostadinov

Fund Director at Finance in Motion GmbH

Joanna Masic

Lead Urban Specialist for Cities and Climate Change at the World Bank

Florin-Ionuț Barbu

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Romania, tbc

Tonino Picula

Member of the European Parliament, AFET

Teresa Ribera

Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, EC

Kata Tutto

President of the European Committee of the Regions

Boyko Takov

Executive Director, Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency

Petyo Ivanov

Executive Director of Kozloduy NPP - New Capacities PLC

Krasimir Traykov

Cybersecurity Expert and Security Awareness Trainer

Borislav Kostadinov

Fund Director at Finance in Motion GmbH

Eleonora Ivanova

Vice-Chair of the Board, Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce (BRCC) Founder and Managing Partner, Fininfo.bg

Corr. Memb. Prof. Evelina Slavcheva

President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS)

H.E. Brânduşa Ioana Predescu

Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Bulgaria

Kumi Kitamori

Deputy Director, Environment Directorate, OECD

Plamen Mladenovski

Chairman of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), tbc

Enrico Letta

Former Prime Minister of Italy, President of the Jacques Delors Institute, Author of the report “Much More Than a Market”

Borislav Gutsanov

Minister of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria

 Denys Strobykin

General Manager of Philip Morris Bulgaria

Giorgos Kremlis

Ambassador of the European Public Law Organisation to Bulgaria. Honorary Director of the European Commission

Iliyana Tsanova

Deputy Director General of DG "Budget" at the EC

Prof. Melodena Stephens

Professor of Innovation & Technology Governance at MBRSG in Dubai, UAE

Teodora Georgieva

Executive Officer of ICGB

Eddie Milev

Policy and Insights Analyst, The Economist Group

Georgi Peshev

Manager of Energeo EOOD

Rumyana Ivanova

Ecologist and social entrepreneurship expert at the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation

Georgios Karakatsanis

Founder and Director, EVOTROPIA Ecological Finance Architectures

Savvas Karafyllidis

Chairman and Founder of the Bulgarian-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BHCCI)

Vladimir Malinov

Executive Director, Bulgartransgaz

Sergiu Lazarencu

Minister of Environment, Moldova

Manol Genov

Minister of Environment and Water of the Republic of Bulgaria

Konstantinos Tsiaras

Minister of Rural Development and Food, Hellenic Republic, tbc

Mathias Cormann

Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Richard Smithers

Director of the Mission Implementation Platform for Adaptation to Climate Change (MIP4Adapt)

Svetoslava Georgieva

Chair of the EIC Fund

Evgeny Angelov

Chairman of the Bulgarian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association

Prof. Dr. Svetoslav Tsenov

CEO, Astellas, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Greece

Eleonora Markova

Regional Manager Central & Eastern Europe, UPL Corp

Joel Myers

CEO, DOMILA Limited, Dublin, Republic of Ireland Chair of Smart Cities for the IEEE IoT Initiative Chair of the IEEE IoT Global Cities Alliance Chair of IEEE SA Smart Cities Standards and Best Practices

Yanko Spasov

Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity Consultant, tbc

Yavor Dimitrov

Director, Black Sea Basin Directorate - Varna

Milena Stoycheva

Minister of Innovation (2023 - 2024)

Krasimir Valchev

Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria

Radan Kanev

Stefan Krastev

Deputy Mayor of Pernik Municipality

Konstantinos Tsiaras

Minister of Rural Development and Food, Hellenic Republic, tbc

H.E. Mr Nathaniel Copsey

Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Bulgaria

Elitsa Petrova-Pavlova

Director of the Institute of Fish Resources

Elvire Fabry

Senior Research Fellow in Trade Geopolitics, Jacques Delors Institute, tbc

Martin Danovski

Deputy Minister, Ministry of Innovation and Growth of the Republic of Bulgaria

Andreas Chollet

Head of Development and Country Manager Bulgaria, wpd Europe GmbH

Dr. Bogomil Manchev

Chairman of the Bulgarian Atomic Forum

Konstantinos Gioulekas

Deputy Minister of the Interior, Sector of Macedonia and Thrace, tbc

Claudia Marcusson

Adjunct, National University of Singapore and C-Level Advisor

Murad Heydarov

Executive Director of SOCAR for the Balkans

Maria Alexandrova

Head of Innovation and Sustainability, Nasekomo

Kumi Kitamori

Deputy Director, Environment Directorate, OECD

Krasimir Yakimov

Deputy Minister, Ministry of Innovation and Growth, Bulgaria

Valentin Nikolov

Chief Executive Officer of Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD

Veselin Todorov, PhD, Eng

Founder of VVT Engineering Ltd

Tatyana Sultanova

Environmental Expert and Former Member of Parliament

Svetla Nestorova

Chairperson of the Management Board of Pension Assurance Company Doverie

Sylvie Matelly

Director of the Jacques Delors Institute

Assoc. Prof. Caroline Gans Combe

Associate Professor of AI, Data, Econometrics & Ethics, Director of Structured Research, OMNES Education-INSEEC

Eric Sargiacomo

Vice-Chair, Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, European Parliament

Predrag Grujičić

Head of Gas Unit at the Energy Community Secretariat

Martin Gikov

Chairman of the Board of JEREMIE Bulgaria (part of the European Investment Fund)

Maria Fátima Lucas

Co-founder and CEO of ZYMVOL

Andriana Sukova

Deputy Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Ioanna Konstantopoulou

Vice President, Hellenic Investors Association

Sonsoles Jiménez

Director, Alberizas My Greens

Marinela Petrova

Advisor, Bulgarian National Bank

Dr. Lene Buhl-Mortensen

Senior Researcher, Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway

Dimitar Filipov

Co-founder of Aqualid Ltd.

Kyriacos Kakouris

Vice-President of EIB

Petar Yonchev

General Manager, ITR Services EOOD

Daniela Ruseva

Deputy Mayor of Shumen Municipality

Svitlana Hrynchuk

Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine

Vladimir Dichev

Chief Commercial Officer of Electrohold Bulgaria

Phuc-Vinh Nguyen

Head of the Jacques Delors Energy Centre

Petar Vitanov

Head of the Delegation of Bulgarian Socialists to the European Parliament (2019-2024)

Denimir Dimitrov

Founder & CEO, Zero Wave

Eric Sargiacomo

Vice-Chair, Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, European Parliament

Bozidar Dedus

Co-Founder @ H2 Croatian Association for development and application of hydrogen fuel cells

Victor Negrescu

VP, European Parliament

Dan Nica

Member of the European Parliament, ITRE, tbc

Mag. Svetoslav Mladenov

CEO & Member of the Board of Directors, Smart Solar Technologies

Nadezhda Bobcheva

Deputy Mayor of Sofia

Prof. Elena Radeva

Professor of Business Administration at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG)

Mila Nenova

Executive Director, InvestBulgaria Agency

David Reeser

Founder and CEO at OpiAID

Kalina Trifonova

Deputy Chairperson of the Management Board at EVN Bulgaria

Adam Harmat

Climate and Energy Programme Lead at WWF Central and Eastern Europe

Georgi Georgiev

Program Director, Elevate Accelerator

Dmytro Lyppa

Advisor to CEO of Energy Company of Ukraine

David Kvaternik

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tvornica.Tech (T.T) – a creative digital reality studio specializing in XR technologies

Kristian Krastev

Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of the Kosovo-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce

Lukas Mandl

Member of the EU Parliament, DEVE, LIBE and JURI

Ilia Krastev

CEO of A Data Pro, Member of the Board of AIBEST and BRAIT

Borislav Bangeev

Director Corporates and Member of the Management Board of UniCredit Bulbank

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Georgiev

Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University

Lukasz Kolinski

Director for Green Transition and Energy System Integration, DG Energy, EC

David Reeser

Founder and CEO at OpiAID

Tsvetelina Kuzmanova

Senior Project Manager, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership

Dominik Jarmer

Chairman of the Board of Directors of district heating company EVN Toplofikatsia Plovdiv

Petar Cholakov

Co-Chair, Association "Bulgarian Defence Industry" Member of the Board of Directors, OPTIX AD

Gijs Schilthuis

Director Sustainability at the EC Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI)

Gijs Schilthuis

Director Sustainability at the EC Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI)

Witold Strzelecki

Managing Director

Prof. Dr. Valentina Todorova

Director, Institute of Oceanology “Prof. Fridtjof Nansen” – BAS, Varna, tbc

Stelian Dimitrov

Director, National University Center for Geospatial Research and Technology, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"

Charlina Vitcheva

Director General, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission

Eng. Irena Tsakova

General Manager, Dundee Precious Metals Krumovgrad EAD

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hyusein Yemendzhiev

Researcher at the Competence Center “Clean Technologies for Sustainable Environment – Water, Waste, Energy for Circular Economy” (Clean&Circle)

Jivko Djamiarov

Co-Founder, Ancestral Superfoods

Prof. Dr. Eng. Gancho Dimitrov

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Bulgarian Water and Sewerage Holding EAD

Magdalena Maleeva

Former professional tennis player and the founder of Gorichka.bg, tbc

Dr. Momtchil Karpouzanov

Ph.D., Academic Director of Graduate Programs, AUBG

Dimitar Tsotsorkov

Chairman of The Supervisory Board of Asarel-Medet Jsc.

Linda Kalcher

Executive Director, Strategic Perspectives

Svilen Rangelov

Co-Founder and CEO, Dronamics

Dirk Buschle

Deputy Director, Energy Community Secretariat

Stephan Schraff

Head of Public Affairs European Union, Bayer

Daniela Boycheva

Managing Director, CTP Bulgaria

Vedrana Lemor

Head of Corporate Sustainability, Aurubis AG

Anelia Stefanova

Energy Transformation Strategic Area Leader, CEE Bankwatch Network

Sofian Jaupaj

Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment of the Republic of Albania

Konstantinos Chatzifotis

European Affairs Manager, Motor Oil Group

Szabolcs I. Ferencz

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of FGSZ Ltd.

Anna Pietikäinen

OECD Head of Regulatory Policy Division

Sasha Bezuhanova

Founder of MOVE.BG

Angel Hristov

Co-Founder, Enthela

Eng. Georgi Mikov

Chief Executive Officer of Electrohold Bulgaria

Manuela Naessl

Head of Bulgaria, EBRD

Prof. Dr. Kalin Kalinov

Rector of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Varna

Nesin Veli

CEO of Identrics

Hans Rhein

Head of the LIFE Energy and Climate Unit at the European Commission's Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)

Dr. Andreas Windisch

Kostadin Sirleshtov

Managing Partner, Head of Energy, Projects and Construction for CEE, CMS Sofia

Nicholas Snowdon

Head of Metals and Mining Research Mercuria Energy Trading SA

Prof. Lyubomir Vladimirov

Director of the Department of Ecology and Green Urban Environment, Municipality of Ruse

Christof De Mil

CEO, UBB

Konstantin Bojinov

ANRAV Project Manager, Heidelberg Materials Devnya

Peter Fildishev

Head of Gas Trading and Operations at MET Energy Trading Bulgaria

Momchil Boyadzhiev

Chief Executive Officer, Bulmarket Group and Astra Finance

Ivan Stanev

Co-Founder, Bulgarian Food Exchange

Pawel Nierada

Senior Advisor Three Seas Business Council, former Member of Supervisory Board of the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund

Alexander Rangelov

CEO, IPS

Fatma Varank

Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye

Elitsa Petrova-Pavlova

Director of the Institute of Fish Resources

Ivo Tsachev

Head of eMobility Solutions, TotalEnergies

Dragomir Tzanev

Executive Director, Center for Energy Efficiency EnEffect

Prof. Dr. Georgi Toskov

Associate Professor, University of Food Technologies – Plovdiv

Kamen Kostov

Deputy Mayor for Municipal Property and Spatial Planning, Мunicipality of Sliven

Rob Dobbins

Head of Partnerships and International Assets, OMV Petrom, Romania

Petar Georgiev

Strategic Alliances, Regulatory & Sustainability at AMPECO

Svetoslav Benchev

Chairman of the Board, BPGA

Maria Krasteva

Director, Bulgarian Natural Gas Association

Nikolay Lavrov

Systems leader