Irina is an experienced program and project manager, with a diverse international professional and educational background, Irina has rich experience in coordinating diverse teams in multicultural environment.

Irina has experience in the public, private and NGO sector in Germany, Austria, Belgium, China, and Bulgaria her prior roles related to technology, economic development, education and youth entrepreneurship. She is an education and tech enthusiast and a community builder by calling, who describes herself as a tech-savvy language learner and a globe-trotter.

In 2018, Irina was awarded in the “30 under 30” Selection of Forbes magazine for her professional and volunteer engagement in the field of education and innovation.
Irina worked on communications, awareness campaigns and youth programs at the OPEC Fund for International Development in Vienna, where despite her young age, she was elected as Vice-Chair of the organization’s Staff Committee.

Irina is deeply involved in developing innovative approaches to education and economic development in Bulgaria. She served as a Program Officer at the biggest funding institution in her country – America for Bulgaria Foundation, where she worked on a portfolio of programs and projects in the field of education and innovation. She also spearheaded a cross-sector initiative for diaspora engagement of Bulgarians abroad, working side-by-side with investors, public figures, business representatives, NGOs, and global platforms.
Currently, Irina serves as Chief Operations Development Officer at Junior Achievement Bulgaria – an organization with 25 years of experience in the country, member of the oldest network on entrepreneurial education. In Bulgaria, JA is the pioneer organization in the field of entrepreneurship and has developed innovative models in the field of entrepreneurship education through its student company program and educational materials in the fields of financial literacy, digital and employability skills and green entrepreneurship curriculum and its pre-accelerator for start-ups.