Ivelina Dundakova

Senior expert with over 20 years of experience in counterterrorism, prevention of radicalization, PVE/CVE, and public safety. Until May 2024, served as Deputy Minister of Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria, with responsibilities including coordination of international cooperation, efforts to counter violent extremism, and border security. Led Bulgaria’s successful accession to the Schengen area. Previous roles include senior-level position at the Ministry of Interior of Bulgaria and policy position at the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) under the Ministry of Justice and Security in the Netherlands, with a focus on strategic policy development in the field of counterterrorism.

• 2-23 December 2024, Program on Terrorism and Security Studies (PTSS), The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
• February -March 2023, International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), U.S. Department of State's premier professional exchange program, Countering Violent Extremism and Racially and Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism — Community Strategies, Washington, Alabama, Minnesota and Seattle (USA)
• May 2023, Trainer - "Community policing/engaging with communities/threat assessments in PVE/CVE/CT", EMISA Network (CEPOL initiative) within Counter-terrorism Information Exchange and Criminal Justice Responses (CT INFLOW), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• November 2021 (6 days), Trainer - "Terrorism recruitment in the Middle East", Counter-Terrorism Information Exchange and Criminal Justice Responses project (CT INFLOW), Amman, Jordan
• June 2019 (4 days), "Foreign Terrorist Fighters — Returnees", EU-Turkey Counter-Terrorism Training Partnership Project, Izmir, Turkey
• 05/01/19 (4 days) , TRAin Training - Radicalization Approaches in Training, Ministries of Justice — Bulgaria, Italy, Belgium, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
• 2018, "Public Diplomacy and Communication Policy in the EU Context", Diplomatic Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sofia, Bulgaria
• 2017, Certificate "B4 - Working in European and International Groups, Networks and Organizations", The Institute of Public Administration (IPA), Sofia, Bulgaria
• 2017, Certificate "Legislative Process in the EU and Trialogue Practice after the Lisbon Treaty", The Institute of Public Administration (IPA), Sofia, Bulgaria
• 2008, Cambridge Certificate (C1) in Advanced English, CEFR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
• May-December 2001, "Extraordinarily Fraud Officer/Special Investigator", 8-month intensive training program, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• January - May 2001, Risk Analyst in Customs Administration (E level), 4-month specialized training program, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

• Analysis on security challenges and counter-terrorism approaches, Dnevnik, 2014, http://www.dnevnik.bg/analizi/2014/12/03/2430255_1001_vuprosa_kum_dans/
• Critical assessment of Bulgaria's cybersecurity framework and capabilities, Dnevnik, 2014, http://www.dnevnik.bg/analizi/2014/06/18/2325455_bulgariia_izgubena_v_kibersigurnostta/

• Bulgarian representative in the Terrorism Working Party (TWP), Council of the European Union
• Member of the Steering Board on Radicalization to the EU Commission (Brussels)
• National representative to the National Coordinators for Prevent Policy Makers (NPPM) working group (EC)
• Expert in the thematic panel "Geopolitical threats" within the EU Knowledge Hub on prevention of radicalization 2.0
• (previously) National focal point for Radicalization Awareness Network (RAN) to the European Commission
• (previously) High Level Representative to the High Level Commission Expert Group on Radicalization (HLCEG)