Team

Valentina Stoeva graduated from the National High School for Ancient Languages and Cultures “St. Constantine-Cyril the Philosopher.” She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and a master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Relations from the New Bulgarian University.

Since 2008, she has been engaged in promoting reading among children. She is the founder of the Reading Foundation “Children’s Books” and of the website detskiknigi.com.

She has been awarded the titles “Library Ambassador” (by the Bulgarian Library and Information Association) and “Knight of the Book” (by the Bulgarian Book Association). She is currently a PhD student in “Theory of Reading” at the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.”

Since July 2025, she has been the Chair of EURead.

Alexander Shpatov is a writer and the author of five short story collections.

He graduated from the American College of Sofia and holds a degree in Law from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.”

He is the founder and chair of the Association for Urban Reading Rooms, which initiated the creation of the Reading Room in Sofia’s City Garden. He is also a member of the Sofia Library Council.

He is currently a PhD student in “Theory of Reading” at the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.

Iliyana Shukerova received her primary and secondary education at prestigious British and American colleges abroad.

She studied Political Science at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and Diplomacy and International Relations at the New Bulgarian University. By chance, she began her professional career in the energy sector, where she has been actively developing ever since.

She recognises education and literacy as key factors for the development of all areas of public life.

Daan Beeke studied Dutch Literature at Utrecht University and started his career as high school teacher of Dutch Literature and Language.

Since 2008 he works for the Dutch Reading Foundation (Stichting Lezen) as a domain specialist, working on high school projects and programs.

He is also involved in the EURead network and in the Global Network for Early Years Bookgifting, as a ‘network manager’.

Emmi Jäkkö has extensive experience in the field of communications. She worked as a project assistant at the National Art Gallery and was the chief editor at Otavamedia and Bonnier Books Finland. Emmy is a writer, copywriter, and worked as a specialist in Communications at Diaconia University of Applied Sciences.

In 2015, she was appointed as the Development Manager at the Finnish Reading Centre (Lukukeskus) and was responsible for implementing the “Book in a Bag for Every Baby Born in Finland” program. Since 2022, she has been serving as the Executive Director of the organization.

Emmy is a member of the working group of the Global Bookgifting Network (EURead), and she is also a member of the jury for Finland in the European Union Literature Prize.

Elaina Ryan is the CEO of Children’s Books Ireland. She holds a BA in Languages and Cultural Studies from University of Limerick and an MLitt in Publishing from University of Stirling.

She has a background in children’s book publishing and spent 11 years as co-Artistic Director, with Niamh Sharkey, of Towers and Tales Children’s Book Festival in Waterford. Elaina has led the team in Children’s Books Ireland since 2013.

She lives in Dublin with her family.

Andrey graduated from the American University in Bulgaria in Journalism and European Studies and has an MA degree in Political Science from the Central European University.

He works in the private, NGO sectors and media in the areas of human capital and business development. He has hosted a business and a career talk show on Darik radio and is now building the platform Lideri.BG, with which he presents and connects Bulgarian leaders of the tech transformation abroad.