Dr. Damyana Bakardzhieva is the Senior Research Fellow in charge of the ‘Economic Diplomacy’ research programme at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy. With a dual PhD in Economics from the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis (France) and Sofia University (Bulgaria), Dr. Bakardzhieva has taught Economics and Sustainable Development in Bulgaria, France, Monaco, the United States, and Egypt. Prior to joining AGDA, she was Chief Sustainability Consultant for Global Economics and Finance Consulting (Monaco) and Associate Department Chair and Director of Graduate Programmes at the Department of Economics of the American University in Cairo. She is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Diplomacy and Economy. Her research focuses on international macroeconomics, comparative economic studies, and sustainability.