Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation

Bogdan Cozma is a Bucharest-based program officer. He manages civil society and democracy programs in the Eastern Partnership region and organizes high-level policy convenings on regional security and defense industry cooperation. His research and writing focuses on Black Sea security, the European defense industry, and the Three Seas Initiative. His recent work has examined the implications of Russian aggression for Romania and the wider region.

Cozma holds a master's degree in philosophy, politics, and economics, and a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Bucharest. He is a PhD candidate at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies’ Doctoral School of International Affairs.

Dinu Toderașcu is a Bucharest-based senior program officer responsible for managing ProElect and INCRES, both EU-funded projects. Prior to joining GMF, he worked for the National Democratic Institute in Moldova as a program officer, assisting the country director with program design and implementation. In 2019, he was appointed chief of staff to Moldova’s minister of foreign affairs and European integration. He was appointed three months later state secretary at the ministry and was responsible for bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Toderașcu holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Bucharest and a master’s degree in European public affairs from Maastricht University. He is a fluent in English, Russian, and Romanian. 

Sergiu Panainte is the acting regional director of the Bucharest office, overseeing the strategic and operational implementation of grantmaking and capacity building activities in the wider Black Sea area. He is responsible for conceptualizing and leading programs, engaging with major donors and stakeholders, and managing a diverse team to foster regional cooperation and development. 

Panainte’s professional background spans international relations, grant management, and democracy, with a focus on the Black Sea basin and the administration of programs that support civil society, media, human rights, and democratic development. His expertise also extends to monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

Fluent in Romanian and Russian, Panainte holds master’s degrees in international relations and European studies from Central European University in Budapest and in international relations from Moldova State University. His scholarly work includes several publications focused on Central and Eastern European politics.