Elena Panova

Ms. Panova brings nearly three decades of development and management experience, including extensive leadership experience across the United Nations development system. Prior to this position, she served as UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, following her service as Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan.

She has held several senior leadership and programme positions with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), including as Senior Programme Coordinator at the UNDP Regional Hub in Istanbul and Deputy Country Director in Ukraine. She has also worked on private sector engagement, partnerships, employment creation and microfinance with UNDP in Bulgaria and at UNDP Headquarters in New York. Prior to joining the United Nations, Ms. Panova served as Executive Director of a non-governmental organization supporting micro, small and women entrepreneurs in Bulgaria.

Ms. Panova holds a master’s degree in international law and foreign trade from the University for National and World Economy and a master’s degree in microelectronics from the Technical Chemical University, both in Bulgaria.