ABOUT US

Core team:

Vladimir Shopov is founder and managing partner of Sophia Analytica Ltd. His previous full-time positions include Manager and Senior Analyst (social and political research) at Alpha Research Ltd. (2006-2008), Lecturer and Tutor in European Politics, Sofia University (2004-2005), Senior Fellow at the Institute for Regional and International Studies, Sofia (2004-2006), EU Policy Adviser at the British Embassy, Sofia (2002-2003), EU Counselor, Bulgarian Mission to the EU (1999-2001) and EU Policy and Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Sofia (1997-1999). He has worked with various committees of the European Parliament, with the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry and has been occasional speech-writer and adviser at the Ministry. Mr. Shopov has worked with a number of Bulgarian and European policy institutes and lectures at Sofia University and the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is occasional lecturer at various European universities. He has published on a range of issues: Bulgarian and European affairs, EU issues, security policy, history of ideas, etc. and is regular contributor to the electronic and printed media.

Mr. Shopov has an MA in Political Science from Sofia University "St. Kliment of Ohrid" and an MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has also studied at Oxford University; Queen Mary College, London University; the New School for Social Research, New York and California University, Sonoma. Mr. Shopov has completed executive education courses at Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and the Centre for Financial and Management Studies, London University.

Dimiter Vitchev is founder of Sophia Analytica Ltd. He has been co-owner and managing partner at Linex Ltd. since 1999. Prior to that Mr. Vitchev was political advisor to the Minister of Transport (1997 - 1999). He has also occupied various executive positions at two smaller companies. He has successfully managed a number of investment projects with numerous European companies (France, Denmark, United Kingdom, Poland).

Mr. Vitchev holds an MA in Political Science from Sofia University "St. Kliment of Ohrid" and an MA in Finance from the University of National and World Economy, Sofia.

Bozhana Stoeva is lead associated consultant in the EU and Advocacy fields. Her previous positions include Project Manager, Focus Consultancy Ltd, Brussels; Project Manager at the Centre for Economic Development, Sofia; Associate Researcher at the Institute for Austrian, European and Comparative Public Law, Political Science and Administrative Law, University of Graz, Austria and Expert in EU Affairs at the Open Society Institute, Sofia. She has also worked at the Centre for the Study of Democracy, Sofia and Solac Ltd., Sofia. Mrs. Stoeva has consulted projects funded by the Manfred Woerner Foundation, FAO, Centre for International Enterprise, Washington DC and Freedom House, USA. She has publications in the fields of EU accession negotiations, EU local governance, economic development.

Mrs. Stoeva has an MA in International Economic Relations, University of National and World Economy, Sofia and an MA in Political Science and Public Administration, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain. She has a PhD in Political Science from the same university.

Mr. Stefanov has a BA in Political Science from Sofia University and MA in Political Science from the Central European University, Budapest. He has several other qualifications on campaigning and political parties from Germany and the Netherlands. Currently he is in the PhD program (Political Science) at Sofia University.

Luboslava Ruseva is lead associated consultant in the fields of public outreach and advocacy. She is a leading commentator at 'Dnevnik Daily' and has occupied various positions: deputy editor at 'THEME Weekly' (public affairs magazine), head of 'Comment and Analysis' section at 'Dnevnik Daily' and head of 'Comment and Analysis' at 'Glasove Weekly' (public affairs weekly). Mrs. Ruseva has also worked for electronic and printed media ('Standart Daily') and has taught at Sofia University 'St. Kliment of Ohrid'.

Mrs. Ruseva has an MA in Slavonic Studies from Sofia University 'St. Kliment of Ohrid'. She has also studied journalism in Seattle, USA.

Stoyan Faldziyski is lead associated consultant in the area of policy. He is involved with the TIME Foundation, Sofia mainly on climate change projects and sustainable (rural) development and has worked at Povvik-OOS Ltd., Sofia in the areas of sustainable development, regional development and environmental impact assessment. Mr. Faldziyski has also worked at the British Embassy in Sofia on various projects as well as with a number of Bulgarian and European NGOs. He has provided free-lance consultancy to a number of companies.

Mr. Faldziyski has a BA in Industrial Management from the Technical University, Sofia and an MSc in Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, joint degree by Queen's University, Belfast; Open University, Brussels; University of Chemistry and Metallurgy, Sofia and the Academy of Economics, Svishtov, Bulgaria.

Valentin Danchev is lead associated consultant in the fields of institutional and policy issues. He is also a lecturer in sociology at Sofia University "St. Kliment of Ohrid" and an analyst in the Association for Social Investigation. Mr. Danchev has also been senior analyst at Alpha Research Ltd, Sofia (public policy research, migration, corporate social responsibility and marketing). He has participated in various research projects and has published extensively in the fields of education policy, anti-corruption, public policy and social policy reform.

Mr. Danchev has a BA in Sociology and a BA in Library and Information Sciences from Sofia University. He has also attained an MA in Sociology from the same university.

The company also relies on a network of affiliated consultants in the listed areas of expertise.