Moldova

Consul
Consulate General of Romania in Shanghai

Austrian Development Agency Representative in the Practitioners Network of European Development Cooperation

Cristina Bejenaru is an international consultant and the visionary behind Authentic European Consulting, recognised for her expertise in policy development, capacity building, and monitoring and evaluation within EU funding frameworks. With over a decade of experience in European structural funds, humanitarian aid, development policy, and project and program management, Cristina is a reliable advisor for organisations pursuing EU funding and strategic growth in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Her geographic areas of expertise include Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Albania, Montenegro, Greece, Bulgaria, and Kosovo, where she has effectively driven policy initiatives and programs aligned with EU standards. Cristina’s exceptional track record includes a 95.3% approval rate on funding proposals across CERV, Erasmus+, EuropeAid, Horizon Europe, and the Single Market Programme, helping organisations obtain over €90.5 million in the past 7 years. Her commitment to capacity development is demonstrated through her coaching program for organisations, enhancing their ability to discover EU funding opportunities and build complex project management and reporting frameworks. Cristina also brings a deep understanding of monitoring and evaluation practices, ensuring that funded projects deliver measurable and sustainable impacts.

Known for her strategic insights into EU regulatory standards and leadership in fostering cross-border partnerships with over 30 organizations in 15+ countries, Cristina plays a pivotal role in advancing Moldova's EU integration through policy alignment and capacity-building initiatives. Her approach is highly personalized and culturally responsive, tailored to the unique needs of each client and enriched by her multilingual proficiency. Cristina holds two Bachelor's degrees in International Relations and Law, along with two Master's degrees in Public Administration and Security and Defence. Her extensive professional development includes over 35 certifications in human rights, gender, strategic planning, public service development, policy formulation, business administration, and justice and home affairs, making her a highly versatile asset to any organisation.

I am a senior executive with 20+ years of experience in programme management, trade and investments, with a strong track record in EU- and donor-financed projects. I have worked extensively in Ukraine, the EU and partner countries, implementing programmes that supported democratic transition, institutional strengthening, private sector development and European integration.

As founder and director of EuroExpert, I have led advisory projects under EU4Business, GIZ and other donor initiatives, supporting SMEs, business associations and civil society to access EU markets, improve competitiveness and build cross-border partnerships. I also co-founded the European-Ukrainian Bridge e.V., an NGO with 11 offices across Europe, mobilising civil society and fostering EU-Ukraine integration.

My career includes senior management roles in international companies such as KAEFER and Hilti, where I directed multimillion-euro operations, negotiated investment projects across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and built international teams. I also managed operations of an IT company in the US, leading digital transformation and organisational development.

I am fluent in English, German, Ukrainian and Russian, with working knowledge of Polish and Czech. I am an active member of the Professional Government Association of Ukraine (PGA Ukraine), engaging in governance and policy dialogue. My expertise lies in designing and implementing EU programmes, managing multi-stakeholder processes, and building sustainable partnerships between the EU, Ukraine and neighbouring regions.

I am particularly interested in contributing to projects under DG NEAR and DG INTPA, focusing on trade, investment, digitalisation, civil society support and resilience building in Eastern Partnership and Central Asia countries. My motivation is to bridge business, government and civil society for long-term impact.

Head of Operations at the Vienna-based Innovation in Politics Institute and CEO of the European Capital of Democracy NPO. Work experience in the non-profit, start-up, business and political field. Leadership skills in managing mixed and networked teams with a focus on developing disruptive products and growing innovative organisations.

With over 30 years of experience in agricultural education, research, and extension, I bring a proven track record of driving innovation and delivering impactful results in sustainable agriculture.
• Education Leadership: Served as Dean of the Agronomy Faculty, spearheading curriculum enhancements, including the introduction of a Conservation Agriculture Program for Masters students.
• Research Expertise: Conducted a PhD thesis in soil tillage and contributed to advancements in weed management practices
• Extension Training: Trained agricultural extensionists for over seven years, equipping them with practical, science-based knowledge to support farmers in adopting sustainable practices.
• Collaboration and Outreach: Partnered with agribusiness companies and NGOs to promote conservation agriculture, delivering impactful educational programs to farmers on sustainable soil management techniques.
Now efforts are being made to establish experimental plots with integrating cutting-edge practices such as no-tillage, cover crops, livestock grazing, and biofertilizers to improve agricultural sustainability.