The fourth edition of the forum "ESG & FRIENDS" 2025, organized by the first specialized media for promoting ESG in Bulgaria ESGnews.bg, prepares an exciting and practice-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, representatives of business and institutions will discuss the regulations for business that have entered into force, the new directives and requirements for tracking supply chains.
The topic of our next forum "Sustainable. Resilient. Competitive.” promises to reveal up-to-date 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 Wasilina, one of the world's leading experts on sustainable leadership. She is the founder and executive director of the Trocadero Forum Institute and during the forum she will share her years of 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 end of the conference, Ellen will also conduct an interactive workshop that will give participants 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 highlights of the conference will be the discussion around the requirements for non-financial reporting that came into force this year and how they affect the competitiveness of business 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, Christina Pendicheva from the Directorate "Regulation of Financial Markets" in 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" in the Faculty of Economics of SU "St. Kliment Ohridski". Moderator of the discussion will be Assoc. Dr. Milena Angelova, General Secretary of AIKB.
Supply Chains - Is the Business Ready for Due Diligence?
As regulations evolve and businesses are pressured for more transparent and sustainable practices, supply chain due diligence 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 the business ready for it? In the panel, which will be moderated by Olya Peneva, business and human rights expert, author in ESGnews.bg and founder of the Bulgarian Foundation for Business and Human Rights (BFBHR), for the first time in Bulgaria we will also hear a representative of Core - a consulting firm focused on business and human rights - Stephanie Borovets.
After the end of the conference Stephanie Borovets и Lisa Sheponik from Core will conduct a workshop showing participants how to conduct meaningful due diligence processes that lead to real impact and discuss key points from the implementation of The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Why is DEI important to companies?
Discussion on the importance of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) will lead Gergana Manolova, Director of international cooperation and business relations at M-Gaz EOOD and author in ESGnews.bg. The panelists including Petya Gulamali и Assoc. Ivan Angelov from the Faculty of Economics of the University of St. Kliment Ohridski" will discuss how the implementation of these values in practice not only improves the working environment, but also strengthens innovation, productivity and business competitiveness.
Energy transition to sustainable and clean technologies
The energy transition is among the main priorities on the agenda of green policies. The panel, with the participation of Sofia Beck by Boston Consulting Group and moderated by Nikola Gazdov, chairman 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 the era of diminishing resources and the need for sustainable solutions, the circular economy is asserting itself as a major factor for the long-term success of businesses. This panel moderated by Denimir Dimitrov, founder of Zero Wave and author at ESGnews.bg, will look at innovations that can help companies shift to more sustainable production and consumption models. We will hear about real examples and successful practices of circular models from leading businesses in Bulgaria.
More information about the forum, you can see at event site!
http://www.turbulence.tech