Skip to content

Velislava Petrova

Chief Program Officer & Biotechnology Director

Velislava has a dual role at CFG: she oversees our programs to ensure they contribute towards common impact goals. She also leads the work on biosecurity and the implementation of biotechnology solutions in healthcare.

u003cspan data-sheets-root=u00221u0022u003eAfter realising that science can only bring impact to society when combined with supportive policies and strong financial ecosystem, Velislava navigated a diverse career path spanning academia, multiple international organisations and government.rnrnShe worked at UNAIDS on healthcare innovations for the Global South, and helped build a nexus between inventors, funders and policy makers.rnrnAt the peak of COVID-19 pandemic, she moved to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance where she worked on vaccine investments for emerging pathogens. She’s also been a consultant for WHO and the World Bank in the areas of vaccine policy and dsaster risk management.rnrnIn additon to her broad international experience, Velislava served as a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in her home country Bulgaria where she was responsible for European affairs, multilateral organisations and economic diplomacy.u003c/spanu003e