Dr Lilyana Pavlova is a Bulgarian economist and senior European public-policy leader with more than 25 years of experience in EU governance, sustainable finance, strategic investment, regional development and innovation-driven growth. From 2019 to 2023, she served as Vice-President and Member of the Management Committee of the European Investment Bank, where she was responsible for cohesion financing, transport and infrastructure investment, road safety, advisory services, digital transformation, and the Bank’s operations across Central and South-eastern Europe, the Western Balkans and Türkiye. Previously, she served as Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2018 and twice as Minister of Regional Development and Public Works. She was also a Member of the Bulgarian Parliament. Earlier in her career, she served as Head of Department at the Bulgarian Ministry of Finance, with responsibilities for the financial management, control and certification of EU Structural and Cohesion Funds and pre-accession programmes. Today, Dr Pavlova undertakes a portfolio of senior strategic advisory, expert and governance roles, working with European and international institutions, public authorities, policy organisations and private-sector partners. Her work focuses on strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and resilience, mobilising sustainable investment, advancing regional cooperation, and accelerating the green, digital and inclusive transformation. She holds a PhD in Economics, a Master’s degree in Public Administration and European Integration, a Bachelor’s degree in International Economic Relations, and a postgraduate qualification in Law.