Maria Marinova has graduated from the New Bulgarian University. She joined BILI in 2021 and her main role is organizing the smooth flow of administrative work at the office and the organization of BILIs’ various activities. She also manages BILIs’ social media presence. Before joining us, Maria worked at the Center for professional and continuing education at the New Bulgarian University. Her main interests are in the area of education and art.

Dr. Isidora Dimova holds a PhD in political science. She joined BILI as part of the implementation of the project “Civic monitoring of public appointments – a strategic tool for good governance”. She is responsible for the organization of the projects’ activities related to countering the capture of state institutions and developing of mechanisms for effective monitoring of appointments on high public positions. Her scientific interests are in the area of populism, representative democracy and civic participation. Isidora was a part-time assistant on “Public power and policies” and “Political science” at the UNWE. She has been also involved in the civic sector and has project work experience.

Dr. Teodor Slavev is occupied with the conduct of quantitative and qualitative studies and analyses in the field of political system and process, judiciary and judicial reform. He is responsible for the monitoring of parliamentary appointments. He has specialized in organizing of advocacy campaigns and building of civic coalitions on various topics. Prior to joining the team of BILI he was expert at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria (2011-2012) where he worked on the Coordination and Verification Mechanism.

Tsvetomir Todorov is a legal expert at the Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives. He works on BILI’s programs Enhancement of the Access to Justice and Justice Sector Resources Development and is a coordinator of the project Partnership for Roma Protection, Prevention and Promotion. Tsvetomir Todorov holds a MA in Law from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski and has attended specializations in international law, human rights, Balkan history and anthropology. Currently he is a PhD student at the Bulgarian Academy of Science’s Institute for Balkan Studies.

Bilyana Gyaurova-Wegertseder is one of the founders of the Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives foundation (BILI) and its Director. Bilyana holds a M.A. in Law from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridsky" and is a fellow of the European Foundation Centre, and alumni of the International Visitor Leadership Program of the US Department of State. She has also a Certificate in Political Management from the Bulgarian School of Politics.  Before founding BILI she worked as a Senior Staff Attorney at the American Bar Association Central and Eastern European Law Initiative (ABA CEELI currently ROLI). She has been a member of the Sofia Bar for 17 years. Bilyana is also a mediator and a trainer in mediation. Bilyana has a substantial experience in the field of Rule of Law, anti-corruption and policy reforms where she has designed, managed and implemented complex, long-term projects spanning from reform of the Bar and anti-corruption to ADR and civic education. She has advised on and participated in working groups drafting various pieces of laws and secondary legislation.