Natalia Ilieva, Expert in Media Development and Disaster Preparedness to Address at the AUB – UNDRR - RTS Climate Change Summit, Dakar

Natalia Ilieva is an experienced media strategist and project manager with over two decades of experience in journalism and international media development. Since 2021 she is the Global Project Manager and Asia-Pacific Coordinator of the long – running WBU/UNDRR Media Saving Lives Initiative, a unique collaboration between World Broadcasting Union’s members in the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Arab, and Caribbean regions and the United Nation Office for DRR.

Until 2023 Natalia was for more than 10 years the Head of the Secretary-General's Office at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

As Global Project Manager, Natalia oversees the implementation of the Media Saving Lives initiative in the Global South, working closely with the regional broadcasting unions’ members to enhance their capacity and mainstream disaster prevention, and build resilient communities through knowledge-sharing and media literacy. Her work includes leading cross-regional campaigns and supporting media organizations in developing content and strategies for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Natalia ensures that these initiatives are effectively integrated into local media landscapes, tailoring approaches to each region’s unique needs and challenges.

At the ABU, she spearheaded key outreach campaigns such as Broadcasting for All: Diversity and Inclusion in the Media and Saving Lives: Building Resilient Communities. These initiatives focus on using media as a tool for social change, promoting diversity, and strengthening communities' resilience to climate-related disasters.

Her career also includes significant work at BBC World Service and the Thomson Foundation, where she supported media transition efforts across Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. With a background in both public service and commercial media, Natalia brings a wealth of experience in media relations, project management, and international collaboration.

She holds a BSc in Economics from Sofia University, Bulgaria, and a joint MBA from the University of Ottawa, Canada, and the University of Kent, UK.

Natalia Ilieva is confirmed as a panelist for the AUB – UNDRR – RTS Summit on Climate Change, taking place in Dakar, Senegal, to coincide with World Radio Day 2025.