ESG Basics Programme

Erato is a Manager in ESG Advisory Consulting at PwC South Eastern Europe. She is a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv SocEnv) and Chartered Resource and Waste Manager (CRWM MCIWM). She holds a BSc (Hons) in Ecological and Environmental Sciences from The University of Edinburgh and an MSc in Environmental Engineering from Imperial College London. Prior to joining PwC, she worked as a Senior Environmental Consultant for the multinational engineering consultancy, Arup, based in London.

Erato has in-depth expertise in the applications of circular economy and urban systems resilience principles against climate-related and environmental risks. She has in-depth expertise in climate vulnerability and risks of infrastructure, water and energy resources and ecosystems. Erato worked as a circular economy expert on several resilience strategies in South America, southern Europe, and West Africa. She developed a framework for addressing resilience risks through the application of circular economy principles, that can support climate adaptation and mitigation. Erato has a strong understanding of addressing whole life carbon in infrastructure and ensuring futureproofing across all lifecycle stages. She also has experience with greenhouse gas removal technology, such as carbon capture, use and storage, and carbon sequestration in soils through regenerative agricultural practices. She has carried out capacity building within local authorities across the globe, while she also has strong analytical skills, having undertaken resource flow modelling and forecasting of future infrastructure needs, in locations such as Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, the UK and UAE.

Georgi has over 11 years of experience in the field of environmental protection, with a focus on climate strategic assessments, Net Zero strategies, greenhouse gas accounting, review, and data analysis. Georgi specializes in identifying and assessing potential negative environmental impacts and implementing mitigation measures into existing environmental management systems. Solid experience in Environmental Impact Assessment, providing practical and achievable environmental and sustainable management solutions and mitigation measures, including environmental reports prepared according to internationally recognized standards.

 He worked for the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment as a chief Environmental impact assessment expert. Georgi has worked as an environmental adviser in SGS with a focus on Air emission measurements and emission verification from scope 1, scope 2, and scope 3 according to GHG protocol requirements. As an advisor, Georgi has worked with numerous types of businesses locally and internationally including eastern and western Europe providing technical and project management advisory on Carbon Footprint calculations and target verifications according to SBTi requirements. He has solid Environmental management experience within the automotive sector including implementation of Reach and Rohs requirements. He has worked as a project manager in an energy development project funded by the International Financial Institutions - EIB, accountable for the creation and implementation of the Environmental and Social management system according to EIB standards.

Julian is a Director, Forensic Services Leader at PwC Bulgaria. She is a GRI Certified Sustainability Candidate and a FSA Level II Candidate. He holds a masters’ degree in law from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. Prior to joining PwC, he worked for more than 20 years as a Tax & Legal services advisor in other Big 4 companies in Bulgaria, the Netherlands and the UK.

Julian has experience in Corporate governance projects for a number of Bulgarian and international companies, related to both developing and review of internal compliance procedures, as well as developing non – financial (sustainability) reports for leading retail companies in SEE. Additionally, he has experience in leading projects related to financial fair play of sport clubs and federations, as well as developing code of ethics and internal whistleblowing channels.

Maria-Elena is an Associate in the ESG TLS Department at PwC Bulgaria. She is a GRI Certified Sustainability Candidate and a FSA Level II Candidate. She holds a LLB (Hons) in English and European Law from Queen Mary, University of London and an MSc International Relations & Diplomacy from Leiden University, The Netherlands. Prior to joining PwC, she worked as a Gender Equality Policy Analyst for the Council of Europe in France and interned at the United Nations in Geneva.

Maria-Elena has experience with Taxonomy reporting, human rights assessments and sustainability reporting. She has worked on gender equality assessments for a range of countries in central and eastern Europe and southeast Asia. Additionally, she has participated in the monitoring procedures of international human rights bodies and created various stakeholder engagement procedures for consultation with NGOs and members of civil society. She has co-led an expert study of the impact of COVID-19 on social movements, with implications for security in North America and Europe.

Slaven Kartelo is a director in the audit department and accounting consulting department with 19 years of work experience in the field of auditing large and small companies from various industries in Croatia and the region. As a team leader, he participated in audits of companies from various industries such as pharmaceuticals, distribution, retail, trade and production of FMCG in Croatia and the region. He has extensive experience in the application of IFRS and HSFI and advises clients on various complex accounting issues and the implementation of controls in business processes. Slaven particular interest is in regulatory compliance and specifically sustainability reporting (ie. non-financial reporting), as he considers this reporting to be equally important as financial reporting. This trend of sustainability reporting importance will continue to rise among the stakeholders in the next ten years.

Slaven holds a degree in economics, an ACCA designation, and he is a certified  external auditor in Croatia as well as certified internal auditor.. Since 2020, he has also become a member of the Management Board of the Croatian Chamber of Auditors, where he actively supports the development of the auditing profession.