Honorary Trust and Founders

Tony McMurray is the Managing Director of the Ingram Micro Bulgaria Global Business Services, one of the big technology distributors globally and a leading technology sales, marketing, and logistics company with more than +1300 employees in Bulgaria and 28 000 employees worldwide. In 2021 he was appointed as a board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria. During his 20 years of engagement with social causes he participates in self-organized, self-funded challenges for his chosen charities and regularly gives motivational and educational talks on helping others to get inspired and organize similar events. In 2015 Mr. Tony McMurray was in the news when he survived the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that impacted much of Nepal while climbing mount Everest.

Svetlozar Petrov is the CEO of JobTiger, a comprehensive HR services company, and one of the founders of www.jobtiger.bg – the first professional and fully integrated job search and placement website in Bulgaria. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. St. Cyril and Methodius “. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Business Foundation for Education, one of the founders of the Corporate Giving Club and a member of the Board of the BDF. Member of the Board of Trustees of the Education Bulgaria 2030 Association. He is Chairman of the Honorary Trust of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award for Bulgaria.

Elena Marinova is the President of Musala Soft, the largest Bulgarian software services company. She is an active figure in strategies and projects to position and develop the Bulgarian and European business climate, IT education, science, innovation and inspiration for young talents. Elena is a member of numerous industry, educational and NGO boards, including BAIT, American University in Bulgaria, Sofia University Faculty of Economics Alumni Association.

Elitsa Barakova is the Executive Director of the BCause Foundation, an organization that seeks to make a difference in the lives of people and communities through the development of philanthropy and social investment. She has been with the organization for 21 years, and under her leadership local philanthropy programs have grown from 50,000 to over 2 million leva. Elitsa is a member of the National Board of the UN Global Compact, co-chairs the HR and CSR Committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and participates in two standing working groups – CSR and Social Economy at the MLSP. She has studied at Sofia University and in courses of the School for International Training, Vermont, US, Advocacy Institute, etc.

Levon Hampartsumian is a Bulgarian banker. From 2001 to May 2019 he was CEO and Chairman of the Board of UniCredit Bulbank, Chairman of the Association of Banks in Bulgaria (ABB) and member of the Board of BORICA.
In the period April 2005 – April 2008 and April 2011 – April 2015 he was Chairman of the Board of the Association of Banks in Bulgaria. Mr. Levon Khampartsumian is a member of the Board of the Institute for Market Economics, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski ”. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Higher School of Insurance and Finance, a member of the Board of Trustees of the City University of Seattle in Bulgaria.
He is a recipient of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity (Ordine della Stalla della Solidarietà Italiana) and received the title of Commendatore from the President of the Republic of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, in 2008.
Levon is a graduate chemical engineer and his professional experience includes management positions at PriceWaterHouse Coopers and Ernst & Young. Between 1999 and 2001, he was successively Deputy Minister of Economy and Executive Director of the Privatization Agency.

Sasha Bezuhanova, initiator and founder of MoveBG – a civic platform for cooperation and constructive public debate, reaffirming democratic principles and defining long-term strategies and innovative policies for the development of modern Bulgaria.
Before dedicating herself to this cause in 2013, Sasha had a 20-year business career at HP where she held various management roles. Her most recent position was Director of Public Sector Global Growth Markets from Hewlett-Packard. She is credited with establishing the Global Remote Services Center, a significant investment by HP that today employs 5,000 highly skilled professionals and puts Bulgaria on the global IT investor map.
Sasha is Chair of the Boards of the Bulgarian School of Politics, the European Center for Women in Technology, the Bulgarian Center for Women in Technology and the Technical University of Sofia, co-founder and board member of the Social Empowerment Initiative. She was nominated for Digital Woman of Europe 2013 and one of the Top 100 Contenders in the New Europe 100 for 2015 and holds many other national and European awards for her contribution to social development. Sasha Bezuhanova holds a Master’s degree in International Negotiation and Policymaking from the Geneva Institute, a Master’s degree in Electronics Engineering from the Technical University of Sofia, and graduated from INSEAD’s Management Program.

Teodor Vassilev, Managing Partner at Origanic Land Ltd.
Entrepreneur, education expert and innovator with more than 10 years of experience in and outside the education system. In his spare time he develops alternative educational models, methodologies and programs, as well as with training teachers and educators. In 2014, together with like-minded people from politics, business and education, he launched the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Foundation-Bulgaria.
One of the inspirers and main actors in the project School in Nature of “Future Now 2006″, in the village of Gudevitsa. Certified Sugestopedagogue by Dr. Lozanov and Vanina Bodurova.
Graduated in ethnology and studied cultural tourism at Sofia University. Graduated in Gamification in the USA, certified teacher in accelerated learning and design of educational programs on the ICAL model. In his portfolio Teodor also has teaching practice in history, social work, community facilitation, coaching, etc. He co-founded the National Youth Forum, where he was involved in building a unit of trainers in 2013-2015. In 2015 he was part of the founders of the second European Convention on Youth Work in Brussels. In 2015 Teodor delivered a series of expert meetings culminating in a hearing to the European Parliament on “Transforming Education Systems in Europe”. He is actively working with schools in Bulgaria, Europe, North America and Asia. Teodore is an expert and freelance trainer for Erasmus+. In 2017-2018 he was part of the Innovative Schools Commission at the Ministry of Education.

Hristo Hristov is the CEO of Darik Radio – the biggest private radio station in Bulgaria. It has an extensive network of correspondents in nearly 20 countries in Europe and North America. In 2005, Hristo founded digital news site Dariknews, which later acquired Netinfo, creating the largest digital media company in Bulgaria. As CEO of Netinfo, the company grew threefold by entering new verticals and expanding its content offering. He is a board member of HR Capital, a private investment company focused on commercial digital businesses.  Hristo’s experience includes working as a journalist at BBC London and Darik Radio Sofia. Hristo actively supports the entrepreneurial system, he is an angel investor in a number of start-ups as well as in the Eleven and Endeavor Catalyst II funds.
He graduated in Law from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski ”.

Lyubomira Velcheva has been the Executive Director of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation – Bulgaria since its establishment until the end of 2020. With great drive, vision and experience in selection and process building, she has developed the organization as one of the largest and most sustainable youth programs for personal development in the country. As the Executive Director of the Award, Lubomira has been able to build the operations of the organization, recruit a team, coordinate the growth of the program and participate in securing the financial resources needed to do so.
She graduated in Public Administration, but professionally developed in Human Resources, where she has more than 4 years of experience in recruitment, training, development and administration of staff, in a large international company.
Co-founder of 9Academy, a business academy initiative that aims to build a community of professionals, entrepreneurs and like-minded individuals. Since 2017 she is also part of the TEDxSofia team. Her interests are related to the development and promotion of informal learning as a tool for the development of young, aware and active people.
She loves nature and even more the mountains. In her free time she likes to travel, read fiction and run in the park. She loves to knead bread and write.
Dreams of leaving more than she found!

Evgeni Angelov is Chairman of the Bulgarian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. In parallel, he is a Partner at PostScriptum Ventures.
In his previous experience, Evgeni served as Economic Advisor and as Deputy Minister of Economy. His public sector work focus includes policy development and implementation in the areas of economics, investment and innovation. He has been Chairman of the Boards of Bulgarian Energy Holding, National Electric Company and Sofia Tech Park, of which he is the initiator. At the same time, Evgeni heads the investment board of Jeremy, a €350 million fund of funds that provides equity and debt financing to startups and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Prior to his positions in the public sector, Evgeny was a Director at Trigranit Development Corporation, a leading real estate company in Central and Eastern Europe. Prior to that, he worked in various positions at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London. There, he was responsible for structuring, negotiating and executing loan financing and private equity projects in the financial services, pharmaceutical, cement, chemical and real estate industries in ten Central and Eastern European countries.
Evgeny Angelov is a graduate of Harvard Business School with a Master of Business Administration.

Teodor Vassilev, Managing Partner at Origanic Land Ltd.
Entrepreneur, education expert and innovator with more than 10 years of experience in and outside the education system. In his spare time he develops alternative educational models, methodologies and programs, as well as with training teachers and educators. In 2014, together with like-minded people from politics, business and education, he launched the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Foundation-Bulgaria.
One of the inspirers and main actors in the project School in Nature of “Future Now 2006″, in the village of Gudevitsa. Certified Sugestopedagogue by Dr. Lozanov and Vanina Bodurova.
Graduated in ethnology and studied cultural tourism at Sofia University. Graduated in Gamification in the USA, certified teacher in accelerated learning and design of educational programs on the ICAL model. In his portfolio Teodor also has teaching practice in history, social work, community facilitation, coaching, etc. He co-founded the National Youth Forum, where he was involved in building a unit of trainers in 2013-2015. In 2015 he was part of the founders of the second European Convention on Youth Work in Brussels. In 2015 Teodor delivered a series of expert meetings culminating in a hearing to the European Parliament on “Transforming Education Systems in Europe”. He is actively working with schools in Bulgaria, Europe, North America and Asia. Teodore is an expert and freelance trainer for Erasmus+. In 2017-2018 he was part of the Innovative Schools Commission at the Ministry of Education.

Ognyan Gudularov is a veterinarian by education. However, since 2007 he has been working as a youth worker and trainer of children, youth and adults. He specializes in communication and presentation skills, personal development, motivation, youth projects and volunteering. He is involved in interactive teaching and environmental education. Trains instructors to work with children and youth.
Expert in conducting adventure programs based on experiential learning methods and improving team effectiveness.
Since the beginning of 2011 Ognian has been part of the SALTO EuroMed team of trainers in the field of Euro-Mediterranean Youth Cooperation.

Milena Leneva is a graduate of physics and mathematics and holds a Master’s degree in cognitive science from NBU. She is a Certified Suggestopedagogue. She is one of the founders of the community center “Future Now 2006″, which has become known for its educational programs and pioneering work in the field of non-formal education. In 2014 she became a co-founder of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation – Bulgaria. For three years she was responsible for the training of teachers from Teach for all. Co-founder and executive director of the Tempo Foundation.
Milena believes in diversity and a holistic approach to education where everything is connected. She believes that the Award is an ideal provocation for young people to learn to set goals, try, make mistakes, succeed and make choices.