Katya Ivkova is a renowned expert with over 20 years of experience in international relations, global health policy and strategic health management. Until now she was Director of the Directorate of European Coordination and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Health and coordinated Bulgaria’s commitments to the European Union and key international organizations such as the UN, WHO, UNICEF, NATO and OECD. In 2024 she became the Deputy Representative of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the term 2024-2027.
In 2023 Katya Ivkova was appointed Deputy Minister of Health in charge of key areas such as international cooperation, European projects, eHealth and patients’ rights.
Katya Ivkova headed the Bulgarian delegation at the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly in Geneva and represented Bulgaria at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Katya Ivkova’s career is closely linked to the Ministry of Health where she moved up from a manager of donor programs and operational projects to a head of a department and director. She has extensive experience in the management of European projects under the OP Human Resources Development and is a recognized leader in negotiations on global health issues.
Master’s Degrees in: Public Health and Health Management from the Medical University, Sofia, awarded to a summa cum laude; International Relations from the University of National and World Economy (UNWE). Specializations in health diplomacy, strategic planning and e-government in prestigious international forums in Austria, Greece and Bulgaria.
Languages: fluent in English and Russian.
Married.
