A young leader with a vision for social and environmental change, Marija Burgieva is a dedicated advocate for sustainability, youth empowerment, and innovation. As the founder of O-Krug, she transforms orange peels into eco-friendly products, promoting circular economy practices while engaging marginalized youth.

She leads educational workshops for elementary and high school students, inspiring the next generation to think sustainably, and has been a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, where she emphasized social entrepreneurship as the future of European economic integration. Marija is a member of the National Development Committee of North Macedonia and an active participant in legislative development. She works with the Ministry for Social, Demography, and Youth on drafting social entrepreneurship laws and contributes to the Ministry of Economy’s circular economy development group.

Through her leadership in her organization and various national and regional initiatives, Marija is shaping policies and projects that foster environmental responsibility, economic innovation, and social equity.