Louisa Slavkova is a political scientist and author with extensive experience in foreign policy, democracy development and civic education.

Louisa has held various positions throughout her career, including a visiting fellow at Columbia University, programs manager at the European Council on Foreign Relations and adviser to Bulgaria’s former foreign and climate ministers.

In 2013, she founded the Sofia Platform Foundation. She is the co-author of two textbooks on civic education in Bulgaria and has authored and edited several books and publications on foreign policy and democracy development.

In 2021, Louisa co-founded THE CIVICS Innovation Hub and now serves as one of its three managing partners, overseeing operations in Sofia.

Louisa is Member of the Council of ECFR.

Borislav has an extensive experience in human rights. Before joining Sofia Platform he worked as a legal consultant for the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and project coordinator in other non-governmental organization on a wide array of topics such as rights of ethnic, religious and sexual minorities, refugees and asylum-seekers, rights of the child, protection from torture and ill-treatment, freedom of expression and association, problems of the criminal justice system.

Leonie holds a MA in Peace and Conflict Research from the university in Frankfurt am Main and studied politics and sociology (BA) in Eichstätt and Brussels. Before joining Sofia Platform, she was working with the Berlin-based NGO Steps for Peace (2014-2016) focusing on social and political transformation processes in fragile contexts. Leonie is also program manager at THE CIVICS Innovation Hub.

Before joining THE CIVICS, Kameliya worked for various international CSOs specialising in transparency, accountability, anti-corruption, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion, where she supported the efficiency of management and governance systems, providing guidance on applying good governance through a focus on transparent and accountable organisational processes and practices. Kameliya has a master’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of Bristol, having studied Contemporary Identities and Multiculturalism.

Denitza has ten years of professional experience in the field of education, having worked for a number of Bulgarian and international organizations.  Prior to joining the Sofia Platform Foundation team, Denitza was a consultant in a boutique global education consultancy firm in the UK, where she worked on evaluation and research projects and also managed learning assessment, girls’ education and refugee education projects. She has also worked as a teacher. Denitza is interested in supporting the teaching and learning of civic education and developing initiatives that forge civic skills and competencies.

Prior to joining the "Sofia platform" team, Kristalina gained diverse experience as a journalist, article author and content writer for online media, press and television. She was also engaged in translation of fiction, marketing and event planning. Kristalina coordinated foreign PhD students' educational process in Bulgaria while being part of an international company. She has graduated in "Sociology" and has a Master degree in "Media, communication and culture", a shared program held in three universities in Bulgaria, Germany and France.

Vera Arzumanyan graduated from the American University in Bulgaria with a degree in Journalism. At the end of her studies, she explored the topic of memory in the context of concentration camps in Communist Bulgaria as a senior thesis project, which is why she took the opportunity to become part of the “Sofia Platform” team. She is also interested in photography and sound design in an emerging theater troupe.

As a student, Mirena started working as an intern in the marketing department of a large international company. New technologies have always excited her and marketing in a digital environment immediately grabs her. After graduating Business Management at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", she also gained experience in the Key Account Department. For several years she has been successfully partnering with Bulgarian and international companies, many of which have a strong online presence. Before going on maternity leave, she managed to combine her two passions and work as a digital and e-commerce manager.

Sevdalina holds a degree in PR & communications from Sofia University and is part of the Digital Marketing for Worthy Causes fellowship program of the America for Bulgaria Foundation. The program provides an opportunity for 12 young people to intern at NGOs and step into the world of marketing. Sevdalina chose to complete her internship at the Sofia Platform Foundation, after which she permanently joined the teams of the foundation and THE CIVICS Innovation Hub because of her interest in the history of the recent past.

Teodora has a bachelor's degree in French Philology from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". Before becoming part of the "Sofia Platform" team, she worked as a teacher-suggestopedagogue, as well as in managerial positions in companies in different areas.

Borislav has an extensive experience in human rights. Before joining Sofia Platform he worked as a legal consultant for the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and project coordinator in other non-governmental organization on a wide array of topics such as rights of ethnic, religious and sexual minorities, refugees and asylum-seekers, rights of the child, protection from torture and ill-treatment, freedom of expression and association, problems of the criminal justice system.

Genoveva Hristova holds a Master’s degree in International Economic Relations. She is an international expert in cluster development and co-owner and managing director of Ligna Group. Genoveva is also the Chairperson of the Bulgarian Furniture Cluster and co-founder of Missia23 – a shared space for people and companies from the creative sector. She is the founder of Ligna Studios, as well as a producer and manager of VICTORIA, and a producer of Bulgaria’s participation in Eurovision 2020 and 2021.

Daniela Koleva is a professor in the Department of History and Theory of Culture at Sofia University. Her research interests include traditions, oral histories, and the social history of socialism and post-socialism. Her book “Belene – A Place of Memory?” brings together the results of the most extensive fieldwork conducted in Belene in recent years. In it, she shares: “The past is too complex to be told simply. But too important to remain silent about.”

Ilia Krastev is a seasoned leader in the knowledge-intensive and technology sector, with over 20 years of experience in building, scaling, and managing innovative companies, products, and services with international reach. For over 17 years, he has been Managing Partner of A Data Pro – a leading international provider of data solutions. Ilia also holds the role of Chairman of the Borad of the Bulgarian Employers’ Association for Innovative Technologies (BRAIT) and is a Board Member of AIBEST, where he contributes to strategic dialogue.

Louisa Slavkova is a political scientist and author with extensive experience in foreign policy, democracy development and civic education.

Louisa has held various positions throughout her career, including a visiting fellow at Columbia University, programs manager at the European Council on Foreign Relations and adviser to Bulgaria’s former foreign and climate ministers.

In 2013, she founded the Sofia Platform Foundation. She is the co-author of two textbooks on civic education in Bulgaria and has authored and edited several books and publications on foreign policy and democracy development.

In 2021, Louisa co-founded THE CIVICS Innovation Hub and now serves as one of its three managing partners, overseeing operations in Sofia.

Louisa is Member of the Council of ECFR.

Momchil Metodiev is the head of the Department of History at New Bulgarian University. From 1997 to 2007, he worked as a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His research interests are related to church history and the history of communism in Bulgaria. Since 2007, he has been the editor-in-chief of “Christianity and Culture,” and since 2008, a researcher at the Institute for the Study of the Recent Past, later becoming its chairperson.
 

Shirin Hodzheva holds а degree in Engineering and has experience in the corporate sector, before consciously redirecting her career toward human rights and democratic participation. Since 2018, she has worked in the non-profit sector in various roles. As a freelance trainer and facilitator, she delivers trainings on human rights, community development, and volunteering. Shirin collaborates with organizations and collectives, connecting diverse communities and promoting policies and practices that reflect the lived experiences of women and marginalized groups.