Christo VELKOV

Christo Velkov is an experienced civil society and philanthropy activist. Born in Bulgaria, he was involved in pro-democracy students’ movements, which led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Pursuing business education in Brussels, he started his professional carrier at the European Foundation Centre as the first Grantmakers East Secretary. Subsequently, he has held senior positions at EurActiv Foundation and the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Velkov has dedicated most of his professional carrier to Special Olympics, the largest global movement working towards full social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities through sports-related initiatives. He has led groundbreaking improvements in Former Yugoslavia, review of orphanage policies and practices across Eastern Europe, engagement of EU and UN institutions and sports governing bodies, promotion of higher standards for child and vulnerable adult protection and safeguarding.

Velkov has received his postgraduate education from INSEAD (Business Administration) and Universite Libre de Bruxelles (African Studies). A father of three, he resides with his family in Belgium. In his spare time he is a passionate, award-winning sailor.