Our team

Kristina Atanasova is an Interim Executive Director of the The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Bulgaria. She became part of the team in 2021 in the role of Corporate Partnerships Manager. Her focus are sponsorships and developing the Award’s relationship with businesses. Since 2023 she is responsible for the administrative management of the Award.

After 10 years in corporate companies, Kristina decided to apply the experience she gained to shorten the distance between business and education.
Her interest in the British Royal Family and the charities under its patronage met her with the Award. To contribute to their development she describes as a real dream! She is passionate about etiquette and protocol, yoga and calligraphy. She loves to read and can always watch another episode of Friends TV show.

Kirila Atanasova is the Programme Manager at the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Bulgaria, where she commenced her role in September 2023. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Past and Present of Southeastern Europe and a Master’s in Balkan Studies from St. Kliment Ohridski University. During her academic journey, Kirila pursued specialised studies through the Erasmus+ traineeship program at Kadir Has and Koç Universities in Istanbul, Turkey.

Currently, she is in the final stages of her PhD thesis, focusing on the pious foundations of Ottoman dynastic women in the Balkans. Kirila brings a wealth of experience in international and national project management, event organisation, public speaking, and collaboration with educational institutions in Bulgaria and abroad. In her current role, she applies her expertise to engage with schools and organisations dedicated to empowering young people. Beyond her professional pursuits, Kirila is an enthusiastic language learner, an avid traveller who relishes exploring diverse cultures, and a devoted admirer of British cinema, music, and literature.

Alexander Krastanov has been coordinating the Adventurous Journey section in the Award since March 2016. He is an enthusiast at heart and an education consultant. Alexander has over 15 years of experience in the NGO sector in various roles from volunteer to project manager. He has been a youth mediator for two terms and develops best practices in cooperation between young people and the municipal administration in Pernik Municipality. He has developed his organizational skills in dozens of events – he was responsible for the logistics of national and local youth academies, dozens of trainings, summer institutes for training young teachers under the “Teach for Bulgaria” program. He has experience as an administrative director in a school. Loves non-commercial tourism, enthusiastic hiker and mountain guide for over 5 years – the driving force of the creation of the Happy Escape project. Alexander is a certified facilitator and trainer, with many courses and trainings completed.

Hristina Aleksieva joins the foundation during the exciting period of the 10th anniversary of the Award. As a bachelor’s degree student in “Leisure and Events Management,” she supports the team in the organisation and execution of the Award’s events.

Hristina began her professional path through a personal development programme and strongly believes in the added value that non-formal education brings to young people. This passion brings her to the Award, where she aims to contribute to the participants’ positive experiences and development. During her internship, Hristina has a unique opportunity to experience both the work processes behind the Award and the journey of a participant as she aims to complete the Bronze level. The choice of Physical Recreation is easy for her – she has been dancing since early age. A passion she is excited to develop.

Liliya Harizanova is the Executive Director of the Award in Bulgaria from January 2021, currently on maternity leave.

She joined the Foundation team in 2016 and held the position of Regional Coordinator of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award for the city of Varna and the region. Over the last 10 years she has gained wide-ranging experience in the NGO sector. In 2014, she became one of the main drivers of the Social Teahouse in Varna, and later manager of the social enterprise. She has worked on numerous local and international projects with a social focus, inclusion of children and youth from vulnerable groups, prevention of risky behavior among young girls in institutions. Liliya has been a freelance illustrator and graphic designer for 7 years. She is passionate about social entrepreneurship, non-formal education, architecture, foreign cultures, etc. She loves to improvise, draw and travel.

Iva Krastanova has been the Programme Manager at the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Bulgaria since 2015, and the role includes communication with and support of the Award’s Licensed Operators, developing the programme and assisting licensed organisations in delivering it, project management and training of the Award leaders.
Iva has a bachelor degree in English and American studies from Sofia University and her professional experience includes working with young people, training teachers and coordinating projects in the field of non-formal education. She is interested in non-formal education for young people and interactive methods of education, and her personal interests are in cinema, yoga and photography.