Tim Kurth, Chairman
CEO of Aurubis Bulgaria AD.
Еducation
Logistics specialist at the University of Applied Sciences in Freidberg, Germany
Professional Experience
He began his career at “Unilever” (1990-2001), where as Head of Exports he gained experience in the areas of planning, purchasing, accounting and customer service. He continued his professional development at “Numico” where until 2004 he was the Head of Logistics for the “Milupa” and “Pulmoll” brands and was mainly involved in planning and providing raw materials for the company’s activities. He lived and worked in Opole, Poland between 2004 and 2006 as a Supply Chain Director.
In 2006 Tim Kurth started work in the Norddeutsche Affinerie (the former name of Aurubis) and until July 2014 he was Vice President Corporate Logistics. In the period 2009-2013, he took the role of Corporate Innovation Manager of the Group. He has participated in the realization of numerous projects of the Group, some of which in Bulgaria. Since August 1, 2014, he has held the position of CEO of Aurubis Bulgaria.
Upon his many responsibilities, he is also the President of the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Chairman of the Managing Board of the Association Industrial Cluster Srednogorie.
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M.Eng. Dragomir Draganov, Member
Executive Director of Ellatzite-Med AD.
Education
Dragomir Draganov has a master’s degree in Geology and Prospecting of Mineral Resources from St. Ivan Rilski University of Mining and Geology, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Professional experience
M.Eng. Dragomir Draganov has been the Executive Director of Ellatzite-Med AD since 2015. Before that he was a General Director of Production and Environment in Ellatzite-Med AD (2009-2015). Throughout his professional career in Ellatzite-Med AD, he has also held several other positions: Geologist, Head of Production and Technical Department, Deputy Director on Production, and Director of Ellatzite Mine Complex (1982-2008). In 2009, he was the Director of Natural Resources and Concessions Directorate at Geotechmin OOD.
Draganov has more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry, of which 5 years were gained in exploration of various types of commodities: gold, copper, base metals, iron. His expertise covers all aspects of resource evaluation, feasibility studies and economic risk assessment. He has extensive managerial skills in open-pit mining operations and ore processing from porphyry copper-gold deposits, as well as governing the overall production process.
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Eng. Delcho Nikolov, PhD, Member
Executive Director of Assarel-Medet JSC
Education
He graduated in Mining Engineering from St. Ivan Rilski University of Mining and Geology.
Professional experience
Mr. Nikolov was born on September 7, 1958 in the town of Panagyurishte. He started working at Assarel-Medet JSC in 1980.
He consecutively took the positions of a Mining Section Supervisor, Mine Manager at the Assarel Mine, Head of the Technological Development Unit and Operations and Technical Activities Director.
In 2011, he became General Director and in 2014 – a member of the Management Board and Executive Director of the company. He is a member of the Scientific and Technical Union of Mining, Geology and Metallurgy.
Eng. Delcho Nikolov has been Executive Director of Assarel-Medet JSC since 2014. He has also been a member of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology as a representative of Ore Mining sub-industry since 2017.
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Konstantina Gradeva-Vasileva, Member
Director Health, Safety, Environment and Community Relations on Dundee Precious Metals Chelopech, owned by the Canadian mining company Dundee Precious Metals Inc.(DPM).
Еducation
Konstantina graduated from St. Ivan Rilski University of Mining and Geology in Sofia and holds a master’s degree in Geoecology. She specialized in International Economic Relations at the same university and Mining Administration at the Paris Mining Academy.
Professional Experience
Her professional development began at the Technical University of Sofia as an expert in the Environmental Technology and Management Research Laboratory. Later Konstantina worked for the Agriculture State Fund and the Ministry of Economy. Konstantina joined Dundee Precious Metals Chelopech in March 2004 as an environmental engineer. In 2009 she became Head of the Environmental Department and since September 2012 she has been the Director of the Health, Safety, Environment and Community Relations division in the company.
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Nikola Belishki, Member
Mayor of the Municipality of Panagyuirishte
Education
Nikola Belishki graduated in Mining Electromechanics from the Technical School of Mining Industry in Panagyurishte. He was accepted in the Institute of Teachers Practice in Sliven, where he graduated in Power Electrical Engineering. Nikola Belishki acquired a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Work Safety at the Technical University of Gabrovo.
Professional Experience
Nikola Belishki started work in 1987 at the Technical School of Mining Industry in Panagyurishte, teaching students for ten years. In the period 1997 – 2002 he worked in the Electrical Distribution Company of Plovdiv, Branch – Pazardzhik, District – Panagyurishte, occupying various positions such as Electrical Mechanic, Chief Clerk of Panagyurishte District and Person in Charge of the Sales Unit.
In 2002 Nikola Belishki joined Asarel-Medet JSC in the town of Panagyurishte. Until 2009 he worked at the following positions: Electrician, Dispatcher and Electric Power Engineer at the Energy Supply, Energy Efficiency and Engineering Department. From January 2009 to July 2009 Nikola Belishki was the Head of the Energy Efficiency Unit.
In 2009 was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) in the 41-th National Assembly, representing the 13-th Multi-Seat Constituency. As an MP he took part in the lawmaking process with over 15 initiatives of his own.
Nikola Belishki was a councilor in the Municipal Council of Panagyurishte from 2007 to 2009. He was elected Chairman of the Local Government Standing Committee at first and soon after that he headed the Standing Committee on Territorial and Urban Planning. He is also a member of the Standing Committee on Education, Culture and Sports Activities.
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Angel Gerov, Member
Mayor of the Municipality of Pirdop
Education
Angel Gerov graduated in Marketing and Management from the University of National and World Economy, Sofia.
Professional Experience
Angel Gerov has had significant experience in running small and medium enterprises in the region of Srednogorie.
He started his career in the private sector in 1997, as co-owner of two companies in the sphere of petroleum products trading and construction. Both companies operate on the territory of municipality of Pirdop.
Angel Gerov became Mayor of the Municipality of Pirdop in 2015.
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Nikolay Minkov, Member
Executive Director of Industrial Cluster Srednogorie
Education
Mr. Minkov has a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Moscow Power Engineering Institute, Moscow, Russia. He took several post-graduate studies in utilities automation and process control, project and management consulting in universities and companies in Bulgaria and Russia, Greece and Cyprus, UK, Ireland and Japan.
Professional Experience
Mr. Minkov has worked for ten years as a project engineer, scientific researcher and assistant professor at the Process Industries Automation Department, Faculty of Automatics, Technical University of Sofia. He has participated in several R&D and engineering projects for companies like Systematics (Honeywell Bulgaria), Sofia District Heating Company, Chimko Fertilizing Co., MetalChem, BalkanCar, etc.
Later Mr. Minkov was appointed as a head of Concession Department at the Bulgarian Council of Ministers. He moved to the private sector, where he continued his professional career with project and management consulting services, working with companies like Amylum (now ADM) Bulgaria, Heidelberg (today Titan Zlatna Panega) Cement, Union Miniere (now Aurubis Bulgaria), BoozAllen, EON Bulgaria, etc.
In 2002 Mr.Minkov joined the management of Ellatzite-Med AD. He is a member, BoM of the copper ore processing operator. Since its establishment in 2004, Mr. Minkov manages and represents Energeo EOOD – a licensed power trader, member of Geotechmin Group (www.geotechmin.com).
Mr. Nikolay Minkov is one of the promoters for creation and development of Industrial Cluster Srednogorie. After its establishment in 2005-6 and once again from 2011 to the present day, he is an executive director of the cluster.