Two of the new deputy mayors of Sofia Municipality - Desislava Zhelyazkova and Lyubo Georgiev took office today, February 2. They begin work within the framework of the new management structure of the municipality, approved by the Sofia Municipal Council and effective today.
Desislava Zhelyazkova takes over the portfolio of “Education, Sports and Youth Activities“, with a focus on better coordination of policies in these key areas for the development of the city and more effective work with schools, kindergartens and youth organizations.
Lyubo Georgiev takes over the portfolio of “Urban Planning and Development“, where he will be responsible for the strategic coordination of spatial and infrastructure planning, control over construction, development of the urban environment and preservation of cultural heritage.
The appointments are part of the reform of Sofia's governance, which introduces a clear division of responsibilities, better coordination between areas and a focus on long-term results for the city. The new model aims to end the work “in a piecemeal manner” and more predictable, transparent and effective governance in the interest of citizens.
The new deputy mayors are expected to present their priorities and the first concrete steps in the relevant areas in the coming weeks.
Business cards:
Desislava Zhelyazkova - Deputy Mayor for “Education, Sports and Youth Activities“, Desislava Zhelyazkova is a lawyer with many years of experience in public administration, administrative law and the development of effective state policies. Her professional path passes through various levels of administration – from expert to senior management positions, which gives her a deep understanding of the functioning of institutions and decision-making processes.
She has held key positions in the state administration, including:
• Chief Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Education and Science;
• Director of the Directorate “Administrative and Legal Services“ at the Bulgarian Investment Agency;
• Director of the Directorate “Legal Activities and Public Procurement“ at the Ministry of e-Government;
• Advisor to the Council of Ministers.
Her professional profile combines strategic thinking, expertise in the regulatory framework and experience in managing large administrative structures.
Lyubo Georgiev – Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning and Development
Lyubo Georgiev is an architect and expert in sustainable urban development with over 20 years of professional experience in Bulgaria and abroad. He has worked in international architectural and urban design offices in Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Italy, China, as well as on large-scale urban projects in Europe and Asia.
In recent years, his professional focus has been on strategic urban planning, integrated territorial investments, urban data management and citizen involvement in decision-making processes. He was the director of the Municipal Enterprise “Sofiaplan“ and the head of the team that developed the long-term strategy “Vision for Sofia“, which laid the foundation for a more systematic approach to the development of the capital.
He is currently an urban development expert at the World Bank and a leading expert in the European URBACT program, where he advises cities in the field of sustainable development, climate policies and good urban governance. He is the head of the initiative “Team Sofia“, which brings together experts from various fields in search of working solutions for the city.
He graduated in architecture in Venice and holds a master's degree in architecture, urbanism and building sciences from TU Delft. He is fluent in English, Dutch and Italian.
As Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning and Development, Lyubo Georgiev assumes the strategic coordination of processes related to spatial and infrastructure planning, the urban environment and cultural heritage, with the aim of Sofia developing more predictably, balancedly and in the public interest.