With over 30 years of international mining experience in Bulgaria, Australia and Armenia and several leadership roles within Dundee Precious Metals, Iliya Garkov continues to drive innovation. Rising through the ranks Iliya continues to consistently make significant contributions that bring the operations he manages world-class recognition. As Vice President and Managing Director for Bulgaria, accountable for both Chelopech and Krumovgrad, Iliya’s focus has been to maximize operational efficiency by providing the required management support and developing high performance teams. While inspiring the implementation of human capital best practices Iliya also brings safety culture to the forefront.

Succeeding to make prominent changes to the mining methods and the organisation culture, he brought the Chelopech mine to the forefront of the global mining industry. By continuously encouraging transformation and raising operational efficiency and safety awareness levels, Iliya ensures Chelopech stays ahead of the tech curve. The mine became the first to collaborate and apply in-practice a fully-autonomous aerial robot underground.

Iliya Garkov’s role as Vice President and General Manager of Dundee Precious Metals Krumovgrad was instrumental in 2013 when Dundee Precious Metals’ second project in Bulgaria was struggling to progress. His understanding of the social and cultural environment in Krumovgrad solidified important stakeholder relationships and helped accelerate the approval process for multiple project permits. This made it possible for the Ada Tepe mine in Krumovgrad to become the first successful green mine developed over the last 40 years in Bulgaria and begin commercial production in 2019.

Dundee Precious Metals Chelopech EAD and Dundee Precious Metals Krumovgrad EAD

Irena has Master Degrees in Chemical Engineering and in Environmental Monitoring, Control and Health. She has risen through the ranks of Canada-based Dundee Precious Metals’ operations in Bulgaria, from environmental supervision and management, to directing the EHSS team in Chelopech. As Operations Director she has lead the way for Dundee’s green gold mine project in Krumovgrad through a challenging permitting process, comprehensive and demanding ESIA development, and foremost the complex stakeholder relations in the area. She has done this with great aplomb and energy to now be able to be part of Bulgaria’s new gold mine over the last 40 years.

Open and warm in her manners she deals extraordinarily well with conflict, all the while being very responsive to lenders and other institutional stakeholders. She has put together an able team of local staff to help her in her current role as Director Permitting and Legal, encompassing Community Relations, Communications and stakeholder engagement.

Irena is a focused and experienced professional with excellent communication and negotiation skills, coupled with good project management skills, outstanding people management, conflict resolution competences, who has proven to be able to build and maintain strategic alliances. She has been recognised as one of the inspirational women in mining and a great role model for women in the industry and in Bulgaria.

Dundee Precious Metals Chelopech EAD and Dundee Precious Metals Krumovgrad EAD

Gergana Yanakieva joined Dundee Precious Metals as HR Manager for Krumovgrad in 2012. Her joining the team coincided with a period of significant business transformations and changes that directly impacted a number of people. Oriented to results, she successfully expanded her scope of duties within the company and consistently brought about novelties in the field of human capital management.

Gergana had a leading role in integrating the shared services approach in the company to make sure both DPM operations in Chelopech and Krumovgrad run smoothly. Responsive to the business needs she handled the processes of preliminary assessment and ensured all functions’ requirements across the organisation are met to allow structural cohesion. Following a comprehensive approach to introducing System Leadership and Working Together Dundee Precious Metals in Bulgaria developed as a place where people are motivated to do their best.

A major cornerstone in Gergana’s career was the mobilization of the operations team for Dundee greenfield mine Ada tepe in Krumovgrad. In a structured way and aligned with all the departments she managed to successfully plan the needs, assess, hire and train the staff 90% of which was never involved in the heavy industry.

Gergana has a degree in Business Administration and Organizational Development from the University of Sofia. She has vast HR management experience from consultancy and industrial companies.