Secretary General, Gas Infrastructure Europe
Boyana Achovski is the Secretary-General of GIE, a role she has held since September 2016. Before that, Boyana led the Analysis and International Operations Division in Bulgartransgaz until 2012. She then joined GIE as the first secondment of the Bulgarian gas infrastructure operator to the European association. She chaired the Steering Committee of GasNaturally (coalition of the whole gas value chain of Europe) twice in 2017 and 2019.
Boyana started her career in European affairs at the European Parliament, in Brussels. She has graduated in International Economic Affairs, with a specialization in International Finance. She holds a Master’s degree in Finance and in Management of International Associations from the Solvay Brussels School. Boyana has also obtained a certificate in Women’s Leadership from the University of Oxford and is involved in initiatives related to career development, women empowerment, and gender equality in the energy sector.
Roxana Caliminte
Deputy Secretary General
Roxana has been the Deputy Secretary General of Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) since 2017. GIE is the voice of the European gas infrastructure operators, including gas pipelines, storage and LNG terminals. It has 70 members across 26 countries. Before joining GIE, she worked for the Romanian gas transmission operator Transgaz, where she was responsible for the company’s relations with the EU and national governments. She’s also worked in the Romanian Parliament as an advisor on international relations and economic affairs. Roxana holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and German. She has studied in Germany, Belgium and Russia. She was the coordinator of the now defunct EU-Russia Gas Advisory Council. She is a visiting lecturer at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Affairs.
Gabrielle Lelievre
Communication Advisor
Gabrielle has been the Communication Advisor of the gas infrastructure operators of Europe since 2020. She spread the word about transmission, storage and LNG terminal operators’ solutions to strengthen Europe’s supply security and enhance the decarbonisation of the European Union.
Before that, she worked at the core of the EU institutions under the governance of MEP Mr Buzek as she was part of the secretariat of the European Energy Forum. The forum involves MEPs from all political horizons, representatives from the European Commission and leaders from the whole European energy ecosystem of Europe.
In the earlier years of her career, Gabrielle grew her strategic, communication and event organisation by managing the communication strategy and press relations of in the car racing sector. During 4 years, she worked in close collaboration with prestigious brands such as Chopard and Laurent Perrier in the context of international races including 24Hours Le Mans. She completed a diploma in strategy and communications by studying with comms experts from Europe (Belgium, Ireland and France).
Bogdan Simion
Data Analytics Advisor
Bogdan has more than 15 years of experience in the gas, oil and power industry.
He has been working for GIE since 2018 as Data Analytics Advisor, responsible for Data Analytics, Gas Transmission Europe and System Operation and Development Area, covering subjects like Security of Supply, Methane Emissions Management, Transparency and Digitalisation.
Backed by a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Physics from Iasi University and an Energy MBA from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bogdan has previously worked for OMV Petrom as Business Developer and Project Manager in the Gas and Power Division, Gas Logistics, as well as Project Manager in M&A department.
Scarlett Mertin
Policy Advisor
Biography expected
Tobias Bühnen
Policy Advisor
Since February 2021, Tobias Bühnen has been working as a Policy Advisor in the Hydrogen Area within GIE, focusing on the current and future role of gas infrastructure operators in contributing to the REPower EU and EU Green Deal targets.
Before joining GIE, he worked on European affairs within the Regulatory & Public Affairs Department of the German Gas Transmission System Operator ONTRAS.
Tobias holds a Master’s degree in European Studies from Maastricht University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Cologne.
Drahomira Glacova
Policy Advisor
Malika Khalidi
Office Manager
David Defour
Chief Technology Officer
As CTO, David is in charge of GIE’s REMIT reporting by gas infrastructure operators towards ACER, the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. He also manages GIE’s Transparency Platforms and Inside Information Platform for Urgent Market Messaging (UMM). Covering both regulatory and technical aspects, this is further expanded with several data usage publications such as gas infrastructure maps and data reporting tools which are well recognised within the industry.
David has been with GIE since its inception in 2001. Prior to his activities within the gas infrastructure industry, he has worked for Unilever (1996-2000) as well as the maritime sector (Cast Terminal Europe, Zeebrugge and Ghent Port Authority) and several other dedicated IT projects.
David holds a Master in applied economics with international business specialization (University of Leuven, VLEKHO Business School, Campus Brussels) since 1994 and a PostGraduate in Maritime Sciences since 1995 (University of Ghent, Law department), focussed on port operations.