The fourth edition of the ESG&FRIENDS 2025 forum, organized by the first specialized media for promoting ESG in Bulgaria ESGnews.bg, is preparing an exciting and practically oriented framework for discussing the most current topics in the field of sustainability and corporate responsibility.
On February 18, at the Hilton Sofia Hotel, leading experts, business representatives and institutions will discuss the business regulations that have come into force, the new directives and requirements for tracking supply chains.
The theme of our next forum “Sustainable. Resilient. Competitive.” promises to reveal current solutions and strategies for successful ESG practices and their impact on the competitiveness and future of businesses.
Sustainable Leadership
Our special guest speaker in the fourth edition of the forum is Ellen Wasylina, one of the leading experts in the world of sustainable leadership. She is the founder and CEO of the Trocadero Forum Institute and during the conference she will share her long-standing experience and passion for transforming businesses into more sustainable and socially responsible organizations, as well as her experience in building leaders who move the world in this direction.
After the forum, Ellen will also conduct an interactive workshop that will provide participants with practical knowledge and skills that can be immediately applied in their companies and organizations.
Non-financial reporting and the competitiveness of European companies
One of the main focuses of the conference will be the discussion about the non-financial reporting requirements that came into force this year and how they affect the competitiveness of businesses in the European Union. Among the guests on the panel will be the Head of the Corporate Reporting Unit at the European Commission Sven Gentner, Hristina Pendicheva from the Directorate “Financial Markets Regulation” at the Ministry of Finance and a member of the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, Marina Stefanova, Deputy Dean “Sustainable Development, Support and Engagement” at the Faculty of Economics of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. The discussion will be moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milena Angelova, Secretary General of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Supply Chains – Is Business Ready for Due Diligence?
With the development of regulations and pressure on business for more transparent and sustainable practices, due diligence of supply chains is becoming a key element of corporate responsibility. Companies have to deal with a number of challenges – from identifying risks such as violation of labor rights and environmental standards to tracking raw materials and suppliers. But is business ready for this? The panel, which will be moderated by Olya Peneva, a business and human rights expert, author at ESGnews.bg and founder of the Bulgarian Foundation for Business and Human Rights (BFBHR). For the first time in Bulgaria we will hear from a representative of Core – a consulting firm focused on business and human rights – Stefani Borovetz.
After the conference, Stefani Borovetz and Lisa Sheponik from Core will hold a workshop in which they will show participants how to conduct meaningful due diligence processes that lead to real impact and discuss key points in the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Why is DEI important for companies?
The discussion on the importance of DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) will be led by Gergana Manolova, Director of International Cooperation and Business Relations at M-Gaz EOOD and author at ESGnews.bg. The panel participants, including Petya Gulamali and Assoc. Prof. Ivan Angelov from the Faculty of Economics of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” will discuss how implementing these values in practice not only improves the work environment, but also strengthens innovation, productivity and competitiveness of business.
Energy transition to sustainable and clean technologies
The energy transition is among the main priorities on the green policy agenda. The panel, featuring Zsofia Beck from Boston Consulting Group and moderated by Nikola Gazdov, President of the Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity, will present an in-depth analysis of the challenges and opportunities that the energy transition brings for business. The goal of a climate-neutral economy cannot be achieved without innovation, sustainable and clean technologies that support this transition.
Circular business models
In an era of dwindling resources and the need for sustainable solutions, the circular economy is establishing itself as a key factor for the long-term success of business. This panel, moderated by Denimir Dimitrov, founder of Zero Wave and author at ESGnews.bg, will explore innovations that can help companies transition to more sustainable production and consumption models. We will hear about real-world examples and successful practices of circular models from leading businesses in Bulgaria.
More information about the forum can be found on the event website!
