KEYNOTE-SPEAKERS

IRINA NOVAKOVA	Irina Novakova leads NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), which coordinates NATO’s civilian and military response to a wide range of emergencies, from natural disasters through terrorist attacks to complex civilian crises. She has previously served as Head of Media Operations at the NATO press office, where she supported the Secretary General in his public engagements and played a leading role in the organization of high level events, including eight NATO Summits and more than 30 top leadership meetings. In this role, she managed NATO’s relationship with the global media and contributed to policy and political strategy. Prior to joining NATO in 2014, Ms. Novakova worked at the European Commission as communication advisor to two Commissioners for humanitarian aid and crisis response. Ms. Novakova started her career in journalism; she covered NATO and the European Union for several Bulgarian media as Brussels correspondent, and worked for a range of international publications, including The Economist.
ASSOC. PROF. PETYA TRIFONOVA	Assoc. Prof. Petya Trifonova graduated in geophysics at the University of Mining and Geology "St. Ivan Rilski” in 1998. She has a PhD in "Earth Magnetism and Gravimetry" accomplished in the Geophysical Institute of BAS and over 15 years of professional experience, including as a student lecturer and supervisor of doctoral students. Assoc. Prof. Petya Trifonova is an expert in geophysical data processing, analysis and interpretation of gravity and geomagnetic anomalies. In cooperation with other departments, she participates in many different projects, including seismic hazard assessment, natural disaster and risk analysis for the region of Bulgaria and the Balkans. Currently, Assoc. Prof. Petya Trifonova is Deputy Director of the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and is responsible for operational activities related to seismology, geophysics, geodesy and others.
STEVE RECCA	Steve Recca is the senior advisor for Global Operations with the Pacific Disaster Center. His primary role is to coordinate Center operations with the US Defense Department and partner nation civil-military security services as part of PDC’s portfolio with the geographic and functional combatant commands. Steve’s previous positions include security policy assignments with the US State Department and Department of Defense, as well as in academia. From 1995-98, he served as Special Assistant and Speechwriter for the Secretary of the Navy, and then in the same role for the Director of Central Intelligence. Following assignment to the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Steve held the Inman Chair at Naval Postgraduate School, and returned to Europe in 2003 to serve as the Defense Department’s Liaison to the German National Security Council. From 2006 until April 2009, Steve directed the Center for Homeland Security at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS), where he managed graduate and undergraduate education programs, applied research, and an international civil security seminar program in partnership with the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. He serves as a trustee for Marian University; Editorial Review Board member of several peer-reviewed journals, including Homeland Security Affairs, Pracademic Affairs, and the Journal of Security, Intelligence, and Resilience Education; and continues as a frequent guest lecturer on civil security topics across the Americas, Europe and Africa.
LINDON PRONTO	Lindon Pronto holds a M.Sc. in Environmental Governance from the University of Freiburg, Germany. Lindon offers over 20 years of experience and expertise in wildfire management with employment, research, capacity building, training, and remote support to/in over 30 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Lindon has years of operational experience as a federal wildland firefighter in California. In addition to working in many European projects, he has been commissioned by government agencies, NGOs, international organizations, and consulting firms, serves on national and international expert panels, and has provided thematic expertise to the European Commission, European Parliament, government agencies, and the private sector. As a subject matter expert with extensive communication experience, he has contributed to over 250 international print, radio and television publications and broadcasts and is an Associate Editor at Wildfire Magazine. Lindon has been a Senior Wildfire Management Expert at the European Forest Institute since 2020.
*BELLA NESTOROVA*	Bella Nestorova leads the ‘Disaster risk resilience’ team at the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) of the European Commission. She advances EU preparedness efforts, with a focus on integrated wildfire risk management, risk and threat assessment, and embedding preparedness across policies and funding instruments. During her more than 15-year career at the Commission, she has also led efforts to strengthen cooperation with countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood and Central Asia. Before joining the European Commission, Bella worked on sustainable development at the African Department of the International Monetary Fund and on food security at the International Food Policy Research Institute.
TORE STIRLING BADE	Tore Stirling Bade joined the Norwegian Army Cavalry Officers School in 1983. Following two years of service in a Recce Squadron, he completed the Norwegian Military Academy and later served in numerous units and headquarters within the Norwegian Armed Forces, including Brigade North, Telemark Battalion, Finnmark Ranger Regiment, and NOR JHQ. He completed the Army Staff College and Senior Staff College, earned a Master’s degree at the Norwegian Defence University, and undertook multiple studies at the University of Oslo and the Arctic University of Norway. He has also served as Senior Staff Officer for Arms Control in the Norwegian Defence Staff and as Assistant Chief Instructor at the Norwegian Senior Staff College. He has served for 17 years in NATO posts, including as ACOS G5 Plans, Branch Head Policy at NATO HQ LANDCOM in Madrid, Spain, and Branch Head Military Cooperation at NATO HQ LANDCOM in Izmir, Türkiye. Tore Stirling Bade has also worked with the Ukrainian Armed Forces for almost 13 years, including inspections, evaluations, land and staff talks, and six years of service alongside Ukrainian officers. He has also worked as a Defence Advisor for NATO in Ukraine for one year. He currently serves as NATO Interoperability Defence Planning Advisor at the NATO Representation to Ukraine (NRU).
DEMCHUK VOLODYMYR VIKTOROVYCH	Demchuk Volodymyr Viktorovych was born on 17 May 1979 in the city of Iziаslav, Khmelnytskyi Oblast. By Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 279/2018 of 12 September 2018, he was awarded the special rank of Major General of the Civil Protection Service. In 2001, he graduated from the Military Engineering Institute at the Podillia State Agrarian and Technical Academy. In 2007, he graduated from the Odesa State Environmental University. In 2025, he graduated from the Lviv State University of Life Safety. From July 1997, he began his service as a cadet at the Military Engineering Institute at the Podillia State Agrarian and Technical Academy. From July 2001, he served in units under the central authority of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine, holding positions ranging from platoon commander to head of department. From February 2013 — Head of the Emergency Management Organization Divison, Emergency Response Department, State Emergency Service of Ukraine. From February 2015 — Deputy Director of the Emergency Response Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. From May 2016 — Director of the Emergency Response Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. By Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 447-r of 23 May 2023, he was appointed Deputy Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.