Stela Grigoras has been with the UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office since March 2018, supporting UNICEF country offices and governments in implementing child protection reforms. Between 2020-2023, Stela coordinated the implementation of the European Commission’s Child Guarantee Pilot and technical support projects in a number of EU Member States. In the period of 2015-2017, Stela Grigoras worked as the Minister of Health, Labour and Social Protection in Moldova, leading and implementing important reforms in child and social protection, social services, employment and health care.

Between 1998 and 2015, she worked for the UK NGO EveryChild, providing technical support to national and local authorities to reform alternative care, child protection, social protection in Moldova, Europe and Central Asia and beyond. In this period, she also served as board member, deputy-chair and chair of the International Foster Care Association.

Stela Grigoras is a medical doctor by profession, holds a PhD degree in sociology, and has undergone a number of international qualifications, including in social work.