Abit Hoxha

Mentor

Alba Jasini

Mentor

Albina Balidemaj

Mentor

Albina holds a PhD in International Community and Family Studies from Clemson University College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, a MSc in Clinical Psychology from University of Prishtina, and a BA in Psychology from University of Minnesota.

Arbër Selmani

Mentor

Ardit Memeti

Mentor

Ardit Memeti is an Associate Professor of International Law at the Kuwait International Law School and at the China-EU School of Law in Beijing, he teaches WTO Law. Previously, he worked as a Lecturer at Maastricht University and an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law of the South East European University in Tetovo, Macedonia. Ardit holds a PhD in Law from Maastricht University (2013), an LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from the University of Pittsburgh (2005), and an LL.B. from the University of St. Cyril & Methodius in Skopje, Macedonia (2003).

Annea Hapçiu

Mentor

Annea Hapciu is the Director of Development and Marketing at KosovaLive and the Country Director for Global Girl Media Kosova, an all girls educational and professional bureau, part of the international network of GlobalGirlMedia. Annea was also the founder of the first yoga brand in Kosovo, N’Yoga. She is also the creator of the award-winning artistic project, Yoga in Albanian Lands. Her project “Shedding Light to Kosovo through Yoga” was presented at TedxWomenPrishtina’2013.

Artan Mustafa

Mentor

Arton Baftiu

Mentor

Arton Baftiu is a pharmacist with a PhD degree in Pharmacoepidemiology. Currently he is working at the Norwegian Medicines Agency with medication safety, and also as medical advisor at the National Center for Epilepsy in Norway. His research interests include safe use of medications and variability among patients’ response to treatment. Arton is an author of more than 15 scientific articles.

Bardh Hoxha

Mentor

Berat Thaqi

Mentor

Drita Perezic

Mentor

As a highly accomplished Leadership and Executive Management Senior Advisor and former Political Advisor Drita Perezic has multifaceted experience providing strategic, political, operational, tactical and cultural insights to guide leadership, policy and operational decisions across organizations.

Driton Zeqiri

Mentor

Besnik Bislimi

Mentor

Dita Dobranja

Mentor

Donika Limani

Mentor

Drilon Gashi

Mentor

Drinor Selmanaj

Mentor

Edi Demaj

Mentor

Edon Muhaxheri

Mentor

Edon Muhaxheri is an art professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art, in Baltimore, US. His teaching portfolio includes digital fabrication prototyping, and courses on the design and making of mechanical sculptures. He also co-leads curriculum support workshops, including vector illustration and animation.

Edona Maloku

Mentor

Emidio Tedeschini

Mentor

Ermal Hasimja

Mentor

Etrit Demaj

Mentor

Fatos Ismali

Mentor

Florian Qehaja

Mentor

Gani Abazi

Mentor

Garentina Kraja

Mentor

Genti Beqiri

Mentor

Genti Beqiri is from Tirana, Albania. He has more than 24 years of experience in financial management and project management with diverse work experience in the public sector, university, international organizations and private companies.
He has been involved in business management, consulting, administrative management, economic development, investment and economic policy practices in Albania but also in various countries such as Japan, USA, Ethiopia, Kosovo and Greece.
He is specialized in financial, commercial management, business development and planning, process and investment rebuilding.

Gent Ahmetaj

Mentor

Gent Ahmetaj is the head of research at TM, an Emerald Group company. His primary specialism lies in organisational strategy, management philosophy, and organisational development. The main focus of his work is helping organisations link strategy to practice and gain a better understanding of their human capital. He is also undergoing his PhD at the University of Warwick.

Hana Hoxha Qerkini

Mentor

Ilir Hoxha

Mentor

Indira Kartallozi

Mentor

Jakup Ferri

Mentor

Konstadin Ristani

Mentor

Kamer Vishi

Mentor

Lulzim Syla

Mentor

Mark Kosmo

Mentor

Mentor Dida

Mentor

Melita Ymeraga

Mentor

Melita Ymeraga is a passionate and innovative leader in incorporating new technologies into the world of financial management with over 20 years of experience.

As a founder of Melita & Partners Ltd, Melita has succeeded in bringing together her two passions, finance and information technology in order to lead over 700 different businesses and organizations towards the digital transformation of financial management.

Nebi Qena

Mentor

Nebi Qena is a journalist who began his career in Kosovo’s fist independent Albanian-language daily Koha Ditore in 1997 for which he reported during the Kosovo war. He was Head of News and Current Affairs in Kosovo’s public broadcaster where he also hosted a current affairs show.

Përparim Rama

Mentor

Përparim Rama, the CEO and Founding Director of 4M Group, is an award-winning Architectural Designer and Conceptual Artist. He is the winner of the best bar design in the World award from World Interior News at Saatchi Gallery in 2013, in 2016 he has been shortlisted with his innovative Restaurant Bar design concept in London UK.

Rilind Latifi

Mentor

Rilind Latifi works as a consultant for a business investigations and due diligence firm in Washington D.C. He focuses on fraud and corruption investigations in the United States and the German-speaking countries in Europe. He also assists clients in screening potential business partners and conducting asset tracing for enforcement of arbitration judgments.

Rudina Jasini

Mentor

Sead Zimeri

Mentor

Shenaj Shala

Mentor

Shenaj Shala is a protocol specialist, courtesy consultant, independent mentor and lecturer. She completed her master’s degree in 2014 in Brussels at the prestigious Institute for International Protocol and Soft Diplomacy – The International School for Protocol and Diplomacy (ISPD).

Shqipe Neziri Vela

Mentor

Liza Gashi

Mentor

Sabri Tahiri

Mentor

Selam Hajrizi

Mentor

Shkamb Qavdarbasha

Mentor

Shqipe Buzuku

Mentor

Tringë Krasniqi

Mentor

Valon Murtezaj

Mentor

Vjollca Hajdari

Mentor

Venera Demukaj

Mentor

Venera Kusari

Mentor

Venera Kusari is a Programs Coordinator at Columbia University. She conducts research on conflict and conflict resolution. Venera’s concentration is on communication, reflective practice, and on complex dynamical systems theories.

Vjosa Musliu

Mentor

Adnan Sogojeva

Mentor

Adnan Sogojeva is the co-founder (director) of the NGO – Institute for Leadership, Management and Research (ILMH). He has experience as an external expert in evaluating NGO projects in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as well as in the Ministry of Regional Development.

Evetar Zeqiri

Mentor

Teuta Sahatqija

Mentor

Isuf Jahmurataj (PHD)

Mentor

Arjeta Sahiti Seferi

Mentor

Gezim Nagavci

Mentor

Albulenë Kastrati

Mentor

Diana Lekaj

Mentor

Edona Peci

Mentor

Edona Peci is a Capacity Development Manager at the Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKM), and a Policy and Media Adviser to the former president of the Republic of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga. Earlier, she worked as a journalist and broadcaster for the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and the Albanian Satellite Television (ALSAT).

Alban Krasniqi

Mentor

Gezim Zeqiri

Mentor

Hana Sahatqija

Mentor

Hana Sahatqija is the Global Youth Engagement Lead for Generation Unlimited – the UNICEF-led multi-stakeholder partnership for youth. In her capacity, she plays a key leadership role in introducing meaningful youth engagement practices in governance, programmatic initiatives, and rollout at the country level.

Ermira Krasniqi

Mentor

Ermal Leci

Mentor

Arbresha Meha

Mentor

Mrika Hana Nagavci

Mentor

Armend Salihu

Mentor

Arijeta Pajaziti Qerimi

Mentor

Besnik Krasniqi

Mentor

Sytrime Dervisholli

Mentor

Sytrime Dervisholli has about 15 years of experience in the public and private sector, mainly in the international trade and private sector development.

She is an Economic Development and Gender Economist Consultant.

She is a a certified trainer on Circular Economy by the French Institute Circulab Academy and certified trainer on Community Leadership Academy by the USAID.

Arianit Maraj

Mentor

Kujtim Bytyqi

Mentor

Selvije Alshiqi Bekteshi

Mentor

Valon Canhasi

Mentor

Zana Sahatcija

Mentor

Faton Deshishku

Mentor

Donat Rexha

Mentor

Dafina Beqiri

Mentor

Dafina Beqiri is a Growth and Development Expert, currently working in Tirana as Senior Program Manager at Western Balkans Fund a grant-giving organization founded by Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

Ujkane Hana Beshiri

Mentor

Ms. Ujkane Hana Beshiri – has a lifetime of accumulating experience in the field of education in a role of a master teacher, director of studies / quality assurance director and curriculum instructor, MAP Growth assessment coordinator, and teacher trainer.

Avdullah Hoti

Mentor

Avdullah Hoti teaches Macroeconomic, Labour Economics and Research Methods at the Faculty of Economy, University of Prishtina.

Donjeta Sahatciu

Mentor

Donjeta is a passionate executive and a certified digital transformation expert, leading a team of professionals at Rrota – a digital agency in Prishtina, over the last 10 years.

Egzona Shala

Mentor

Egzona is an enthusiastic and ambitious nature lover. She has a master’s degree in Environmental Protection and is certified as a Climate leader by Mr.Al Gore. With more than 10 years of experience in environmental protection.

Rifat Hyseni

Mentor

Rifat Hyseni is the Director of the IT department of the Tax Administration of Kosovo. He is a Professor of MIS in the Department of Public Policy at the UBT – Kosovo.

Arta Berisha

Mentor

Besnik Sylejmani

Mentor

Njomëza Zejnullahu

Mentor

Vjollca Komoni

Mentor

Zeqir Veselaj

Mentor

Zeqir Veselaj is professor of the Environmental education and Sustainable development in the Faculty of Education at the University of Prishtina.

Ilir Dula

Mentor

Besart Hyseni

Mentor

Armend Tahirsylaj

Mentor

Alban Zeneli

Mentor

About us

Mentoring our Future (MoF) is a mentoring program for Kosovan students. The main aim of this program is to facilitate the transfer of professional knowledge and experience between established professionals and Kosovar students who are interested in developing their career in a respective field. This program will serve as a meeting point of these professionals and as an exchanging space of their professional experience, therefore this networking will be an address where the community will communicate and benefit in different areas.

Mentoring our Future

Abit Hoxha is a researcher at the Institute of Nordic and Media Studies at University of Agder in Norway. He is currently working on his PhD titled “Conflict News Production” at LMU Munich, Germany where he is focusing on comparing journalistic news production in Western Balkans, Middle East and Great Lakes through reconstructing news coverage with journalists to find out influences on news production and how news comes into being. He holds a MSc from Durham Global Security Institute at Durham University in UK as well as an MA in Journalism from the Kosovo Institute of Journalism and Communication and BA degree in Political Science from the University of Prishtina.

Originally from Kosovo, Abit is engaged in both academic discussions and research of transitional societies as well as in training journalists on sensitive reporting. He has worked in several research projects in relation to dealing with the past including research on narratives of the second world war in history books in Kosovo which was published as a report “Fostering a Critical Account of History in Kosovo: Engaging with History Teacher’s Narratives of the Second World War”. Prior to joining LMU Munich, he worked for UNDP, UNFAO, World Bank, UN Women and Civil Society in Kosovo. Prior to joining UIA he worked in the FP7 funded project INFOCORE at the LMU Munich.

Alba Jasini

Alba Jasini is a social and cultural psychologist. She is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Leuven, Center for Social and Cultural Psychology. Her research work focuses on the topics of emotion, culture, acculturation and intergroup relations. In her postdoctoral research, she aims to contribute in the understanding of the phenomenon of emotional acculturation in immigrant minorities. More specifically, she seeks to map both the micro- and macro- level factors that afford or constrain minority’s emotional similarity to the majority’s culture members, as well as uncover when this similarity is beneficial (or not) for minorities’ wellbeing and social adjustment. In several studies conducted in intergroup conflict contexts (i.e. Kosovo), she has examined factors that contribute in the development of emotions as collective experiences.

Alba’s education and academic research experience has been inspired by her professional background as a researcher in the fields of community development, child protection, and programme monitoring and evaluation.

Alba holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Leuven, an MSc in Psychology from the University of Amsterdam (major in Social Psychology and minor in Work and Organizational Psychology), and a BA in Psychology from the University of Tirana (major in Clinical Psychology).

Albina Balidemaj is a clinical psychologist specializing in international community and family studies. Her research work focuses on migrant mental health and human rights with a focus on acculturation, ethnic identity, and human trafficking.

Albina holds a PhD in International Community and Family Studies from Clemson University College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, a MSc in Clinical Psychology from University of Prishtina, and a BA in Psychology from University of Minnesota. She is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), American Orthopsychiatric Association (AOA), and Association for Psychological Science (APS).

Albina is a lecturer of Psychology at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K.) and a co-director of RIT Kosovo Research Center for Human Rights. She has served as a senior research reviewer at the The International Academic Forum (IAFOR) in association with the IAFOR Research Centre at Osaka University in Tokyo, Japan; Journal of Comparative Migration Studies, Violence and Victims, Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care and she’s also been recognized as a valuable reviewer by American Journal of Public Health in 2018. Her latest research has been presented at the European Congress of Psychology in Moscow in 2019.

Her work has been published by international publishers like Elsevier, Routledge, and SAGE.

Arbër Selmani is a culture journalist, editor at the online magazine KultPlus and Digital Media and Copywriter Editor at Europe House in Pristina.
Selmani graduated in Marketing from the University of Pristina. He has been working for 12 years in journalism, previously for different radio and TV stations, continuing at ZËRI – Daily newspaper and writing as a freelancer for several media in Kosovo and abroad.
In 2013 his piece on LGBT community in Kosovo was awarded by the UNDP and UNWomen in Kosovo as the ‘Best Online Media Story’, during 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women. In 2018 he was one of the 14 recipients of the Sakharov Fellowship, given the European Union, a programme empowering human rights defenders from all over the world. From time to time, Selmani lectures on culture and art reporting and also LGBT reporting issues.
This year he has been a grantee of two prestigious grants given by EU, BIRN and AGK in Kosovo: ‘Contribute to strengthening independent, investigative and publicly beneficial journalism and freedom of expression in Kosovo’ and a grant to report about transitional justice matters. He is a Robert Bosch Stiftung alumni and he actively collaborates with BIRN – Balkan Investigative Reporting Network and CRD – Civil Rights Defenders. Currently he is preparing a book called “Kosovo in 14 cultural stories” and soon will publish his second book with poetry.

Ardit Memeti

Ardit Memeti is an Associate Professor of International Law at the Kuwait International Law School and at the China-EU School of Law in Beijing, he teaches WTO Law.

Previously, he worked as a Lecturer at Maastricht University and an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law of the South East European University in Tetovo, Macedonia. Ardit holds a PhD in Law from Maastricht University (2013), an LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from the University of Pittsburgh (2005), and an LL.B. from the University of St. Cyril & Methodius in Skopje, Macedonia (2003).

He is a fellow of the Netherlands Fellowship Programme funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ron Brown Fellowship of the US State Department and the Open Society Institute Fellowship for Returning Scholars.

Annea Hapçiu

Annea Hapciu is the Director of Development and Marketing at KosovaLive and the Country Director for Global Girl Media Kosova, an all girls educational and professional bureau, part of the international network of GlobalGirlMedia. Annea was also the founder of the first yoga brand in Kosovo, N'Yoga. She is also the creator of the award-winning artistic project, Yoga in Albanian Lands. Her project "Shedding Light to Kosovo through Yoga" was presented at TedxWomenPrishtina'2013.

Annea completed her Bachelor of Sciences in Business Administration, with a focus in Entrepreneurship and Marketing at the University of Dayton, in Dayton Ohio, and a John W.Berry Scholars Honors. Her honors thesis, "The Internal Effect of the Kosovo the Young Europeans Nation Branding Campaign on the Kosovar Population" was published by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Kosovo. She completed her Master studies at the School of International Service (SIS), in Social Enterpreneurship at the American University in Washington D.C. through the Kosovo American Education Fund (KAEF). She is also a certified yoga instructor from Yoga District and CorePower Yoga.

Artan Mustafa

Artan Mustafa (PhD) is currently a lecturer and researcher focusing on social policy, a regular blogger at Sbunker.net/Kosovo2.0, and was formerly editor in chief at Gazeta Jeta në Kosovë. His mentoring contribution can include the following fields: social policy (labour policy and redistribution), social science academic writing from an empirical perspective, and written journalism.

Artan’s other research interests include democracy, social stratification, social solidarity, quality of life, and Southeastern Europe. He previously studied at the University of Vienna, Uppsala University, University of Prishtina, and had a research stay at the University of Tokyo.

Arton Baftiu

Arton has an extensive teaching experience for graduate students, and for doctors and pharmacists in Norway, Austria, Senegal and Australia. Arton works on several projects in patient safety in Europe, including Kosovo, Italy and Russia. He is also a member of board of Norwegian Pharmaceutical Society.

Arton holds a Master of Pharmacy degree from University of Oslo, and a doctoral degree from Oslo Metropolitan University.

Bardh Hoxha

Bardh Hoxha is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science in the Department of Computer Science at Southern Illinois University. Bardh holds a PhD degree in Computer Science from Arizona State University where he worked in the area of testing and verification of Cyber-Physical Systems with Prof. Georgios Fainekos and was part of the Cyber-Physical Systems Lab. He received his Masters degree in Mathematics from Central Connecticut State University and a Bachelors degree in Computer Science from New York Institute of Technology. Bardh has published papers on various methods for testing and verification of CPS ranging from elicitation of formal requirements, parameter mining of temporal logic requirements, and conformance testing of CPS. The research methods aim to alleviate/solve problems from the automotive, aerospace, and medical device industries. In addition, Bardh is one of the main contributors of the award-winning verification toolbox S-TaLiRo. One of Bardh's papers on robustness guided testing of stochastic CPS was nominated for best paper awards from IEEE. At ASU, Bardh received an outstanding PhD student award.

Bardh's main research interests include: Formal methods, Testing and Verification of Cyber-Physical Systems, Logic, Motion Planning for Autonomous Vehicles, and Human Robot Interaction

Berat Thaqi is a Policy Analyst at GAP Institute – one of the most influential think tanks in Kosovo. He has also been engaged as external researcher and consultant with organizations such as: International Alert (London), National Democratic Institute (NDI), USAID etc. Berat has also been a research fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels.

He has conducted research on topics related to public finance, private sector development, corporate governance and trade issues. During his work he has contributed on national strategies for economic development, laws and held workshops for members of parliament of Kosovo with regard to budgetary issues.

Driton Zeqiri is a researcher involved in important research studies done in Kosovo. His field of expertise covers a range of different skills, such as: research design, data analyses, qualitative and quantitative research methods, project/program evaluation, gap analysis, impact assessment, and research project management.

Driton Zeqiri is PhD candidate in Sociology, with his study focused on research methods. He teaches courses to university students on Research Methods in Social Sciences, Public Relations, Academic Writing, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Logics.

Driton work experience includes local and international organisation, research institutions, higher education, think tanks and other nongovernmental organizations.
As a sociologist, he has been active in raising awareness about human rights, civil society, transition of society and democracy

Besnik Bislimi

Besnik Bislimi studied Macroeconomic Analysis at the University of Zagreb in the period 1990-1994. He has a PhD from the Freiberg University in Germany in the field of Macroeconomics with a specialization in Fiscal Policy and Transition to a Market Economy. He has pursued postdoctoral research in the area of fiscal decentralization for developing countries at Andrew Young School of Political Studies at Georgia State University in Atlanta, the US through the Fulbright Scholarship Program.
Since 2004 he has been working at the American University in Kosovo where he has lectured so far on Macroeconomics; Fiscal Policies; Monetary Analyzes and Policies; Natural Resources Economics; Labor Market Economics and Microeconomics. He also held the position of the head of the unit for economics at the American University and for several years that of the Managing Director of the Research Center within this university. He has also lectured for 6 years at Macroeconomics 1 and 2 at the Regional Procredit Academy in Veles, Macedonia.

Earlier he worked for six years at Freiberg University of Germany as an assistant for Macroeconomics and Public Finance, supported the University of Pristina with projects funded by the Stability Pact, German DAAD and WUS Austria; has been a UNDP CBF project fiscal consultant; consultant on several GTZ projects; FAO's fiscal policy expert; has worked as a consultant and project provider for various institutions. He has served as a deputy in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo for the period 2014-2016 and has chaired the parliamentary committee for public finance supervision.

Dita Dobranja

Dita Dobranja is an economist focused on labor market economics, gender economics, and international trade. Currently, Dita works as a researcher at Riinvest Institute and as lecturer at Staffordshire University's Kosovo Programs, where she teaches classes related to economics and entrepreneurship. She has completed her Master's degree in International Economics at the American University in Washington DC with the thesis “Firm Export Status Impact on Gender Earnings Differential.” Dita has been awarded the USAID Transformational Leadership Scholarship in Kosovo. In 2013, through a Japanese government scholarship, Dita spent an academic year in Japan as research student on trade policies at Waseda University in Tokyo. Dita has published policy and academic research, focused on the labor market in Kosovo. She is also a featured author on the Exploring Economics platform, where she has published an analysis of global care chains.

Dita is a contributing author on the s'bunker platform, where she writes on issues concerning the economic empowerment of women and international economics. She is passionate about data and data analysis, both narrative and visual. In addition to economic data, Dita spends time analyzing various sports data as well.

Donika Limani

Donika Limani is a PhD candidate in Development Economics and a teaching assistant (TA) at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) in Geneva, Switzerland. Her main research interests are development economics, foreign aid, development NGOs and social policy. She obtained a BSc with Honours in Economics, Politics and International Studies at University of Warwick, UK in 2013 and a MA with Distinction in Economic Policy at Central European University (CEU) in Hungary.

She has experience in researching social and labour policy at the Budapest Institute for Policy Analysis and poverty and well-being indicators at TARKI Social Research Institute in Hungary. She spent two years in Kosovo working as a Research Analyst for UBO Consulting where she was engaged in several projects with various international donors and local NGOs.

Drilon Gashi

Drilon Gashi is an Economist and Economic Development Consultant with 9 years of international experience, leading projects and producing policy analysis for government and multilateral agencies. Since early 2017, Drilon has been engaged with Deloitte U.S. Financial Advisory in Washington, D.C. as a Senior Consultant, and previously served as a Consultant for the World Bank Group from 2014-2017. His areas of focus are urban development, smart cities, infrastructure finance, economic development strategy, and energy infrastructure. Drilon has provided advisory services to city governments in over 10 countries, on their strategies to finance new infrastructure projects and design economic development strategies. Drilon has worked on projects in Kosova, Georgia, India, Malaysia, Burundi, South Africa, St. Lucia, Bangladesh, the United States (State of New York), Greece, Guyana, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Colombia.

Drilon holds a Master of International Affairs (Economic and Political Development) degree from Columbia University in the City of New York, and a Bachelor of Economics and International Affairs from Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Drinor Selmanaj

Drinor Selmanaj is a lecturer, entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert from Kosovo. He is the founder of “Cyber Academy” the first advanced program for cybersecurity in the region, that provides learning opportunities, and career pathways by simulating environments with real-life cyber threat scenarios. Cyber Academy helps to grow the cyber workforce to fill the expanding skills gap and provide all the necessary tools and techniques to perform day-to-day cybersecurity operations.

Drinor is experienced in securing and defending information technology infrastructures with specializations in detection, investigation and response. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found “Sentry L.L.C “ a cybersecurity company committed to empowering cyber resilience and defense in every aspect of business operations by assisting, protecting, and fortifying critical infrastructure.

Edi Demaj

Edi Demaj is a Co-Founder of Rocket Fiber and KODE Labs. In addition to helping shape the vision of Rocket Fiber, he is responsible for helping with the execution of the Rocket Fiber vision by bridging the gap between technology, product and other areas within the company.

At KODE Labs, he’s involved in shaping the vision and setting the structure of the company in addition to other Co-Founder responsibilities.

Edi is a partner in Gjirafa.com and a regular investor in real estate. Starting from zero, building and scaling businesses to become leaders in their industry is one of his primary drivers. Life mission is to impact the lives of others by building technology businesses that make the all around life experience of other humans better.

Edon Muhaxheri

Edon belongs to the pioneering generation of digital arts in Kosovo. For 18 years, he has contributed in the visual and conceptual identity of private businesses, public enterprises, non-governmental organizations, and public figures. His most popular works are the illustration of Albanian national football fan team emblem and mascot (Tifozat Kuq e Zi), and designs for the official Kosovo declaration of independence campaign.

Edon’s last art project, reviving of the Evetari alphabet, is internationally recognized and covered by magazines such as Yorokobu, How Stuff Works, Print Mag, GDUSA, AIGA Eye On Design, and Design Week UK, amongst others.

As for his academic background, through the Fulbright scholarship, Edon finished his MFA in Illustration Practice from the Maryland Institute College of Art. While he earned his bachelor degree on Media and Graphic Communication from RIT Kosovo. Besides his academic and working experience, Edon is an entrepreneur and a philanthropist.

Edona Maloku

Edona Maloku is a social psychologist working on reconciliation in post-conflict societies and a research member of Utrecht Groups and Identity Lab (the Netherlands). Her work on the social-psychological processes of developing Kosovo’s new national identity following independence is considered pioneering for the context and has been recognized for its significance by the Open Society International (London, UK), when Edona was granted the Open Society Scholar Award in 2017. She has been profiled as a rising international scholar (2014) by the Society for Psychological Studies of Social Issues (SPSSI, a division of American Psychological Association), while her PhD project has received the prestigious Netherlands Fellowship (2013). Her work has been published by international publishers like Springer, Sage and Routledge. She has recently co-edited a book on shaping social (group) identities after the violent conflicts in the Western Balkans (Palgrave Macmillan 2017).

Edona is a lecturer of Psychology at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K.) and has previously taught at University of Prishtina (Department of Psychology) for a decade. She is finalizing her PhD at Leiden University (The Netherlands), where she also completed her master studies with distinction (Cum Laude).

Emidio Tedeschini

Emidio Tedeschini is a qualified lawyer based in Rome (Italy) since 2014 and he has worked for the firm RSM Studio Palea Lauri Gerla for the last six years. His activity focuses on assistance to major international and national companies on topics related to corporate law, banking law and financial law.

Emidio graduated in Law in 2012 at the University of Florence (Italy) and was a Visiting Student at the University of Uppsala (Sweden) for one semester in 2009. Since 2015 he is pursuing his research on European banking law as a PhD candidate of the University of Rome Tor Vergata (Italy) and has been Summer Visiting Guest at Max Planck Institute for International, European and Regulatory Procedural Law (Luxembourg) in 2017 and 2018.

Ermal Hasimja

Ermal Hasimja is a university professor in the field of political science and coomunication. His focus is on political representation and theories of democracy. He currently teaches at the University of New York in Tirana.

He has a PhD from Paris VIII University and has been a visiting scholar at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Among others Dr. Hasimja has worked as a program manager for the public administration and local government program for KFOS (Soros Foundation Kosovo) and also as adviser to the Prime Minister of Albania during 2005-2006. In the educational sector he worked as a chair fo the department of political science at the University of Tirana and vice-rector of the European University of Tirana.

Etrit Demaj

Etrit Demaj is the Co-founder and CEO of KODE Labs. His background consists of banking, investment and entrepreneurship.

He is an entrepreneur who has been involved in the starting and growth of numerous startups in different industries that have afforded him a variety of experiences. Building sustainable and impactful technology products that provide a world class experience is the core of Etrit’s vision.

Having operated and built numerous businesses, Etrit brings a wealth of knowledge that helps build and scale businesses.

Fatos Ismali

Fatos has many years of experience in the IT industry working initially in the startup world as a developer and then moving to the corporate IT world with Oracle where he worked for over four years as a Solutions Architect advising customers on Cloud migrations, Big Data, Machine Learning, and Analytics strategy. He has had the opportunity to work with customers in industries and sectors such as: Retail, Media and Publishing, Biomass Energy, Financial Services, Insurance, Public Sector to name a few.

As of September 2018, Fatos will be working for Microsoft as a Data Solution Architect within the Data & Artificial Intelligence team. Outside of work, Fatos runs a Data Science meetup group in London with over 1400 members and is an avid Data Science practitioner himself. Fatos is very interested in Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing and Computer Vision.

Florian Qehaja

Florian Qehaja is the Executive Director of the Kosovar Center for Security Studies (KCSS) and one of the founders of the KCSS. Floriani is the author of several scientific and policy publications in the sphere of security. He is also engaged as an international consultant on security issues by collaborating with prestigious international, governmental and non-governmental organizations. Recently, he is coordinating the bilateral support of the Norwegian Ministry of Defense at the Kosovo Security Force Ministry. Florian is a non-resident adviser to the Program Director for Peace Building and Human Rights at Columbia University. Florian is also a security analyst with analyzes for local and international media. Florian Qehaja has completed his post-doctoral study at Columbia University (SIPA).

He holds the title of Doctor of Science in Security Studies from the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana. His doctoral thesis is "Developing the Security Sector and Local Ownership Problem: The Case of Kosovo". Moreover, Floriani has graduated from postgraduate studies at Sussex University of the UK (as a beneficiary of the OSI / Chevening scholarship) and undergraduate studies at the University of Prishtina. The latest book, published by Westphalia Press, is titled "Local or International Ownership? Development of the Security Sector in Post-Independence Kosovo "(2017).

Gani Abazi

Gani Abazi a medical doctor was awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship for the academic year 2005-06 and came to Harvard University to study in the Masters of Public Health Program, concentrating on Health Care Policy and Management. He completed his MPH degree on June 2007 and with the help of Rotary International received a research fellowship position in the Department of Neurosurgery of Children’s Hospital Boston where he conducted clinical research on hydrocephalus and epilepsy.

Gani has served as an Adviser to the Board of Trustees of Rotary International in Evanston for the Ambassadorial Scholarship Program for Low Income Countries. He also helped the establishment of the first Rotary Club in Kosovo, and initiated in Kosovo a branch of Gift of Life International that provides free reconstructive heart surgery for Kosovar patients in the U.S. hospitals through the Rotary International. He also co-founded the Gift of Life Kosova, a branch of Gift of Life International, which so far has helped the cure of more than 40 Kosova children from reconstructive hear diseases in the United States, South Korea, Israel and Italy.

Garentina Kraja

Garentina Kraja studied political science at the American University Yale University, where she graduated with BA and MA. Since 2012 she has lectured at the American University of Kosovo RIT-Kosovo on developing state policies, international relations and the link between globalization and religion as social phenomena.

During 2011-2016 Garentina served as an advisor for foreign policy and security of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Madam Atifete Jahjaga. In this role, it has assisted in the expansion and deepening of bilateral relations and partnership between Kosovo institutions and other states in various fields including Kosovo's international consolidation, national coordination for achieving the country's strategic goals and confronting violent extremism.

Earlier, Garentina in the capacity of correspondent of the American News Agency The Associated Press from 2000 to 2007 reported on the deployment of the international protectorate in Kosovo, the security situation and the transition challenges in this period. In this role she came from her work as a journalist in the daily "Koha Ditore" from 1997 to 2000, a period during which she reported on armed mobilization in Kosovo, war and its consequences.

Her Bachelor Thesis theme at Yale University has researched the aspect of recruiting Kosovo Liberation Army during the 1990s and was awarded the Charles Washburn Clark prize for the best essay in comparative politics at this university.

Hana Hoxha Qerkini was born in Pristina. She completed her Bachelor Degree in International Business from the University of Sheffield in 2006 and later completed her MBA degree from the same University. She also holds two professional certifications, one in Leadership & Management from the Chartered Institute of Management and one in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in England. She is a member of the Business Consulting Council and contributor to the global Medium Marketing blog.

Hana has more than 13 years of experience in the private sector and international organizations. Hana has a wide range of expertise in marketing, research and market analysis, product development, business strategy, training and consulting. In addition to her private sector experience, she has been involved with the Ministry of Education where she has coordinated the scholarship project offered between the International Faculty of the University of Sheffield and the Ministry of Education in Kosovo. Hana has also managed all the promotional activities of the International Faculty of Sheffield University for the Kosovo market. Furthermore, in the last 2 years she has been working for Swisscontact - PPSE Project, Promoting Private Sector Employment.

Ilir Hoxha

Ilir Hoxha MD is a Specialist in Public Health. He holds a Master of Science in Health Systems Management awarded by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and PhD in Public Health awarded by University of Bern. He is Fulbright Fellowship recipient for research work at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, New Hampshire, United States.

Since 2002, Ilir is involved in advisory and research work that supports health policy processes in Kosovo and beyond. In 2006, he established DI Consulting, which specializes in provision advisory services and solutions in health care. As of 2011, he serves as Project Adviser, for Solidar Suisse, in a long-term project that facilitates participation of civil society actors in policy processes related national health reform in Kosovo.

Ilir is Assistant Professor, at Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and Lecturer, at Department of Health Management, Heimerer College in Prishtina.

Indira Kartallozi

Indira Kartallozi is a director at Kaleidoscope Futures a Cambridge-based think-tank and media company focused on creating a better and brighter future – one that is safe, smart, shared, sustainable and satisfying. Through courses, research, publications, and films, Kaleidoscope promotes the creation of future-fitness and integrated value. Indira is also a founder of the Migrant Entrepreneurs International - a social enterprise that stands for recognizing the positive contribution of migrant entrepreneurs globally, for empowering marginalized migrant communities through entrepreneurship and for promoting sustainable and responsible practices by migrant entrepreneurs.

With over 15-years of experience working with most marginalised communities, her expertise ranges from forced migration and human rights, gender equality, to social entrepreneurship, transformative leadership and sustainability. Her expertise has taken her to various countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Indira is also on the Advisory Board of GERMIN, a Kosovo based diaspora initiative, and ‘Impacto’, a Malaysian social enterprise and previous roles as the chair of the judging panel for the Social Enterprise Reporting Awards (SERAs), an initiative of CSR Nigeria.

Jakup Ferri

Jakup Ferri studied at the Academy of Arts in Pristina 2001/2004 and at the Rijksakademie Van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam 2007/2008. Some of his artistic residences are Tembe Art Studio in Suriname 2010/2011, KulturKontakt in Vienna, Austria 2005, International Study and Curatorial Program in New York 2004, NIFCA, West Balkan AIR, Rooseum Museum, Malmo 2004 and Cultural City Network in Gratz.

He has participated in many individual and collective exhibitions, some of them being: Hannah Ryggen Triennial, Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseu; The Whale That Was a Submarine, Ludwig Museum, Budapest; Tembe fu Libya, Moengo Festival of Visual Arts, Suriname; His master's voice, HMKV, Dortmunder & Montpellier; Genius without Talent, Appel, Amsterdam; Niet Normaal, Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam; U-TURN Quadrennial for Contemporary Art, Copenhagen, Istanbul Biennale etc.

Konstadin Ristani

Konstandin Ristani obtained the secondary education at “Sami Frashëri” high school of Tirana and the bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Tirana, Faculty of Civil Engineering, in 1974.

After a competitive process for employment in the Federal Government workforce he was offered a position at Statistics Canada as Information Systems Specialist in Ottawa, where he worked until the end of 2001. At the very beginning of 2002, as a result of a selection process in the federal public service, he was employed by the Department of National Defence (DND) as enterprise architect for the automated information systems in the military domain. Currently his function is Senior Enterprise Architect. During this time he completed the master’s level studies and program for Project Management in the Public Administration Sector provided by The George Washington University at USA.

Kamer Vishi is a Security Researcher and PhD Research Fellow at the University of Oslo. Kamer holds a Master of Information Security from Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU Gjøvik). Currently, he is an active member of various international standardization committees for developing security standards. Prior to the University of Oslo, Kamer served in management roles managing cross-functional initiatives within technology and business development. His research focuses on Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI), Security Orchestration and Automation technologies, Privacy, and Biometrics.

Lulzim Syla

Lulzim Syla is one of the founders, co-owner and Managing Partner in ELEN, one of the largest electrical engineering and renewable energy companies in Kosovo and the region. He is also of the managing director at ELEN's office in Germany, which operates as ELEN GmbH. Mr. Syla has studied at the Faculty of Economics in the field of business management at the University of Prishtina and is certified for strategic management and business development in training centers and institutes abroad such as Austria, Sweden, Germany etc. Mr. Syla has a long employment and entrepreneurship experience since 2004, and recently he is one of the co-founders of the Metal Cluster of Renewable Metal and Renewable Energy Companies (KIMERK) and the first chair of the Board of this organization.

He was one of the first establishers of the German-Kosovo Chamber (OEGJK). He has helped create a diaspora business network in Europe. In the field of publications and writings he collaborated with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Prishtina where he published the papers "Germany as Kosovar "strategic" in the field of energy and energy efficiency" (2014) and "Energy - a practical approach to a sustainable economic development "(2015) and other media articles in the field of economic and energy development.

Mark Kosmo

Mark is the chair of Massachusetts Albanian American Society (MAAS BESA), and has been the co-chair since MAASBESA began in 2006, and is in the process of creating Global Albanians Foundation. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the Mentor Group in Boston. Mark holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin, and did his undergraduate degree in Economics and Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He has lived in Albania working as an independent consultant, worked for the World Bank in Albania and Washington D.C. as an economist, and served as a Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College.

Mark is a past member of the Board of Trustees of the National Albanian-American Council, and is currently on the Board of Directors of Albanian-American Success Stories and the Massachusetts Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. Mark is also a member of Advisory Board of Germin working on Diaspora Engagement.

Mentor Dida

Mentor considers himself as a compassionate and enthusiastic social entrepreneur that wants to see everyone live in harmony with themselves, others and planet. With a systemic impact focus, he is never content with just giving a person a fish, nor teaching them how to fish, he will not stop until the fishing industry is changed.

As a system changer, he has started many initiatives, including Prosperity Initiative in Kosovo NGO, Two Dollar Challenge at ASU, #KaArdheKoha movement, #PërTëMirën and many others. Mentor currently works at Ashoka, the organization that pioneered the field of social entrepreneurship and has the largest network of social system changing entrepreneurs in the world. He is based in Washington D.C., and his role at Ashoka is to advance a collective mindset shift so that young people and adults are nurtured to be Changemakers.

Melita Ymeraga is a passionate and innovative leader in incorporating new technologies into the world of financial management with over 20 years of experience.

As a founder of Melita & Partners Ltd, Melita has succeeded in bringing together her two passions, finance and information technology in order to lead over 700 different businesses and organizations towards the digital transformation of financial management.

She holds a Masters in Business Administration, Staffordshire University-UK and is a Certified Accountant from SCAAK. The only one in the region as a US-based INTUIT Certified Advisor for all QuickBooks® UK and US Edition products. Also Certified as Xero® Advisor for all financial management products.
Beneficiary of Mentoring Program “Fortune / U.S. State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership 2017”.

Moreover, Melita is also a partner of Vital Voices for Kosovo in organizing the global event “VITAL VOICES Global Mentoring Walk”.

Nebi Qena

Nebi Qena is a journalist who began his career in Kosovo's fist independent Albanian-language daily Koha Ditore in 1997 for which he reported during the Kosovo war.

He was Head of News and Current Affairs in Kosovo's public broadcaster where he also hosted a current affairs show.

He joined the Associated Press as a multi-disciplinary correspondent in 2007 initially in Kosovo and then covered breaking news stories in Europe and the Middle East, including the war in Ukraine and in Syria.

He is currently the AP Senior Producer in Jerusalem, in charge of agency's TV operations in Israel Gaza and the West Bank.

Qena holds an MA in Cultural Policy and Management from Warwick University which he attended as a Chevening scholar.

Perparim Rama, the CEO and Founding Director of 4M Group, is an award-winning Architectural Designer and Conceptual Artist. He is the winner of the best bar design in the World award from World Interior News at Saatchi Gallery in 2013, in 2016 he has been shortlisted with his innovative Restaurant.Bar design concept in London UK.
His work has been published in several international design magazines including the London Building Design Magazine and has been interviewed by BBC, CNN, BLOOMBERG, RAI, The Times Newspaper on Architecture and Urbanism.

Rama has participated as a specialist consultant for the 2012 London Olympics. He is a specialist consultant on Generative Architecture and Urban planning for Doha 2030 Vision, and proudly made history at the 13th Venice Biennale in 2012, as the first person to represent his native Kosovo in the event. He has over 20 years’ experience on various projects in residential, commercial, hotels and mixed use developments and has previously worked as a consultant for Southampton Airport.

Rama has teaching experience as a unit tutor at Nottingham University School of architecture and co-supervises PhDs in Generative Architecture & SMART building design at MA and PHD program at SmartLab Media institute,
Rama is regular presenter on international conferences. He presented at TEDx talks in Prishtina, Kosovo and Tirana, Albania on the impact of built environment on human behaviour. Future Capitals 2009 in Abu Dhabi, Share Architects conferences in Tirana 2016, Bucharest 2017 and Athens 2018, Green Festival in Prishtina 2018, American Institute of Architects conference in Prishtina 2018. He is currently working on multiple luxury residential development projects in central London including a Grade II listed Hotel, and as a London team project leader on two Boutique Hotels in Hamburg, a restaurant in Helsinki, a 400,000m2 and 60,000m2 Mixed use Developments and a new green landmark building in Prishtina city centre, to name a few.

Rilind Latifi

Previously, Rilind was a fellow at the German Parliament (Bundestag) in Berlin, where he worked for a parliamentarian preparing speeches and legislation materials. He also worked for a European Union-funded project on agriculture and environmental protection in Kosovo.

Rilind holds a master degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington D.C. and Bologna, Italy.

Rudina Jasini

Dr Rudina Jasini is an attorney and researcher specialising in international criminal law and human rights law. She is an Economic Social Research Council (ESRC) fellow at the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford and is currently leading the ESRC Impact Acceleration Award (IAA) project Advancing the Impact of Victim Participation at the International Criminal Court: Developing Avenues for Collaboration; in cooperation with the International Criminal Court Office of Public Counsel for Victims and the International Criminal Court Bar Association.

In 2017-2018, Rudina was appointed as an ESRC Global Challenges Research Fund
Fellow at Faculty of Law, University of Oxford, and in 2016-2017 a Postdoctoral Global Fellow at New York University Law School Center for Human Rights and Global Justice. Rudina has been a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School and the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law. Her research focuses primarily on the role and scope of the participation of victims of mass atrocities as civil parties in international criminal proceedings. In addition to research, she also teaches tutorials in public international law at Oxford University.

Rudina holds a DPhil and an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Oxford, an LLM in International Legal Studies from Georgetown University Law Center and a BA in Law from the University of Tirana.

Sead Zimmer is a philosopher, from Macedonia. He has studied in several countries around the world: Turkey, Syria, the UK and Norway. He has studied Turkish and Arabic languages, Arabic philosophy and Islamic theology, contemporary Arab thought and feminism, psychoanalysis and Western philosophy especially German Idealism, Immanuel Kant's practical philosophy and legal philosophy. He is a lecturer in philosophy and a doctorate at the Arctic University in Tromsø, Norway. During 2018-2019 academic year he was a visiting scholar at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany. He has published academic articles in several languages and is a regular contributor to albanian newspapers in Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania.

Shenaj Shala is a protocol specialist, courtesy consultant, independent mentor and lecturer. She completed her master's degree in 2014 in Brussels at the prestigious Institute for International Protocol and Soft Diplomacy - The International School for Protocol and Diplomacy (ISPD).

During 1999-2013, Shenaj worked for the United Nations Organization in Kosovo and East Africa as a Special Assistant to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
From 2013-2015, Shenaj worked for the oil industry giant Shell Oil & Petroleum as the Coordinator of the Shell Training Center in the Middle East.
In June 2015 she was appointed Balkan Liaison Officer of the International School for Protocol and Diplomacy (ISPD), and in 2018 Shenaj received the title of one of 15 global 'pitch' and presentation skills trainers at International Pitch School for IDACB (International Decentralized Association for Cryptocurrency and Blockchain) headquartered in Moscow.

Shenaj continues to mentor and advice young entrepreneurs in Kosovo focusing on soft skills and topics such as effective communication, public speaking, emotional intelligence, and motivational speech; and is the personal trainer of many public figures in Kosovo through counseling on media appearances, personal image, body language and non-verbal communication

Shqipe Neziri-Vela is a Development Assistance Specialist in energy sector and rule of law with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) & the U.S. Department of State. She has over 17 years of professional experience in anti-corruption, energy, and environment sector with organizations in Kosovo, Hungary, and the United States, including the World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, OSCE, and U.S. Congress.

Ms. Vela completed her post-MA research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) in Environmental Policy. She holds a double MA degree in Public Administration & Public Policy from the Central European University (Hungary) and University of York (UK), focused mainly on energy sector. She completed her BA degree in Management & Entrepreneurship at the American University in Kosovo/RIT Kosovo.

She teaches courses part of the Public Policy & Governance Unit at the American University in Kosovo/RIT Kosovo. She is the Chairperson of the Board at the Association of Women in Energy Sector and the co-founder of the Kosovo – Hungary Friendship Association. In addition, she is part of Transparency International global anti-corruption network. She is a contributor to Harvard's Global Anti-Corruption Blog, Kosovo 2.0, and Flatra Magazine. For years, she has been mentoring international students recipients of the “Erasmus Plus” scholarships.

Liza Gashi

Liza Gashi is a public policy professional with experience in project and campaign management, qualitative analysis and big data, and multi-stakeholder engagement in Kosovo, the United States, Costa Rica and Argentina. Liza is a founding member and executive director of Germin, a non-governmental organization that uses technology and virtual channels to connect and engage Diaspora in advancing the development and democratization of their home countries. She has also founded the United World Colleges Committee in Kosovo (UWC Kosova), which has administered over 50 scholarships for Kosovo high school students to attend UWC colleges in 17 different countries. Liza completed a Master of Public Administration (MPA) at Arizona State University, and holds a bachelor degree from Wartbrug College (IA) in International Relations, Political Science and Spanish Language and Literature. She is also a proud alumna of United
World College in Costa Rica and the National University of Córdoba in Argentina.

Sabri Tahiri

Sabri Tahiri is a Project and Program Manager, with focus on Information Technology and
Linguistics/Localization. On 2008, Sabri completed Master of Science degree, Computer Sciences at George Washington University, Washington, DC. He was awarded Global Leaders Fellow scholarship from the university.
On 2001, Sabri had been awarded a scholarship from Kosovo Open Society, for Bachelor studies at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG). He completed Bachelor degree with honors “Cum Laude” in Computer Sciences with minor in Management Information Systems. He was an active member and had leadership positions on various student clubs and Student Government.

Upon completion of Masters degree, Sabri initially worked as programmer and software developer and later his interest shifted towards project and team management as well as entrepreneurship. As a result, he focused on these areas for the rest of his career and completed Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Since 2008, he works at The World Bank, in Washington, DC, currently managing Multilingual Program and IT projects. He is focused on achieving efficiencies on operations through implementing new and innovative technologies in linguistics, general services, and finance for The World Bank. Outside of the office, he is very interested in innovation, technology, and an active member of Diaspora community of Washington, DC.

Selam Hajrizi

Selam Hajrizi, lives in France since 1999 where he has worked in many French and international NGOs and is the founder of the LOBUESE Lobbying International Kosova organization for lobbying in countries that did not recognize Independence of Kosovo.

Selam finished his Master studies in three Universities, in Aix en Provence in the south of France, Paris in the Paris IV Sorbonne and Erasmus in Heidelberg in Germany on Political Science and International Relations.

His works and studies at the CRISIS Group at IFRI (French Institute of International Relations) were the conflicts in the Middle East, the Israeli - Palestinian conflict, and the Balkan crisis, especially in the former Yugoslavia (conflict in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo) and American Politics is part of it.

Shkamb Qavdarbasha

Shkamb Qavdarbasha is a professional in the field of corporate finances and public finances. His specific focus is the financial assessment of companies and the management of financial assets. In Kosovo, he has worked as an adviser and public finance specialist for the Ministry of Finance and now as a consultant for Recura Financials company.

Mr. Qavdarbasha has a Master in Business Administration, a specialization in Finance at the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management where his focus has been the assessment of financial investment assets. Among others, he has worked in investment banks and financial consulting companies in the US.

Mr. Qavdarbasha also has a passion for charity and volunteering for public good issues.

Shqipe Buzuku

Shqipe Buzuku is a doctoral researcher in School of Engineering Science, in the department of Industrial Engineering and Management, at Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) with a major in Systems Engineering. She worked as a research assistant in Technology Chemistry Lab at Lappeenranta University of Technology for two years (2011-2013) while holding the pre-position for PhD candidate from Erasmus Mundus Action 2 (EM2-STEM) project with the European Commission scholarship program. In 2014, she received a grant for full degree PhD studies at Lappeenranta University of Technology from Finnish Cultural Foundation and in 2016 a grant from Foundation for Economic Development in Finland.

Her research interest focuses on design thinking and problems solving of complex systems applying systems design methods with their applications including knowledge management and supporting decision-making in systems and process engineering. By focusing on the themes of complexity, human behavior, and uncertainty, she develops understanding, knowledge, methods and tools for public and private organizations to be more effective in the design, construction and operation of large-scale sociotechnical engineering systems. Examples include applications in water management systems, particularly in wastewater treatment and management (e.g. development and integration of transformative technologies) while considering sustainability aspects as part of the system. She is also involved in the research projects with focus in industrial creativity and eco-innovation.

Tringë Krasniqi

Tringë Krasniqi is an experienced autism practitioner, having worked with learners with autism and their parents in a variety of settings for over 6 years. She teaches a special education class for third to fifth grade pupils in a self-contained classroom at Alexandria City Public Schools in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. She is also an autism education consultant for Qendra Për Fëmijë Me Vështirësi Në Mësim Dhe Adaptim, based in Prishtina, Kosova, since 2015.

Prior to working with public schools in the Washington D.C. area, Tringë served in various organizations in Kosova, providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children in one-on-one and small group settings. She worked on therapist training, parent training, and provided direct services to children and families in a center-based or in-home therapy setting.

Tringë holds a Master of Education in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis from Endicott College in Massachusetts, U.S. She is also a recipient of a French Government scholarship for her Master of Cognitive Psychology studies, completed at Université de Nantes in France. Tringë holds a Bachelor of Psychology from the University of Prishtina in Kosova.

Valon Murtezaj

Valon Murtezaj is an expert in the fields of international negotiation, diplomacy, conflict
management, and leadership. Professor Murtezaj, is a professor in IESEG School of
Management in Paris, France. He lectured at other institutions such as Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, Faculty of Economics at University of Ljubljana. In Kosovo, he lectured at several colleges such as Riinvest, UBT, ESLG, and different Think Tanks.
Murtezaj has served at senior positions of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo; Principal Advisor for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Isa Mustafa.

He is Doctor of Diplomacy, graduated from Swiss Management Center, Switzerland; has completed his Master degree in Management from University for Business and Technology in Prishtina and University for Technology, Vienna, Austria; whereas his BA in the University of Prishtina as a Medical Doctor. Furthermore, he completed several
executive education programmes at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Kennedy School, College of Bruges, Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, The Fund for American Studies, and many more.

For distinguished merits, professional and university, and service to humanist values, President of French Republic awarded Mr. Murtezaj with the title Officer of the National Order of Merit, among the highest honors that France awards to the most prominent personalities of the world. Furthermore, Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, for the most distinguished achievement and career, inducted Mr. Murtezaj to its Hall of Fame.

Vjollca Hajdari

Vjollca Hajdari has a master in journalism and communication science, political science and ethnology at Freie Universität (Free University) Berlin. Vjollca Hajdari is a political activist and lobbyist of the Albanian affair, a practicing of public diplomacy and cultural one with focus on the image of Albanians. She writes about the famous German daily "Die Welt", is a producer of documentary films, political analyst for the European News Portal - EurActiv, as well as for the media and for the international press. Her analyzes are published at the European Academy.

She is a member of the board of two communities who cooperate with the United Nations, the Official Representative for Southeast Europe and the Balkans at the Global Co-operation Council (GCC). She has worked in the Bundestag (German Parliament), in the Berlin Senate, as well as in many important international institutions and organizations. She is lecturer and academic at the Center for Eastern Europe (Sector South East) in Berlin. Co-Founder and Vice Chair of Open International Dialogue (OID) in Berlin. Founder and Director of Globalingo Translations Company.

Venera Demukaj

Venera Demukaj is an Assistant Professor at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K). She teaches Development Economics, Natural Resource Economics, Environmental Economics and International Trade and Finance. She also supervises RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) Honors’ Society projects. Venera also serves as member of the Advisory Board of the GAP Institute in Prishtina and is a member of the CEFTA LSEE Academic Network in London. Previously she has worked at the University of Prishtina and Institute for Development Research Riinvest.

Venera received her Ph.D. from the School of International Studies, University of Trento (Italy), with a dissertation on ‘Aid Effectiveness in Post-Conflict Countries’ under supervision of Richard Pomfret from University of Adelaide. During her Ph.D. research, Venera has spent three months as a PhD intern at UNU-WIDER in Helsinki and worked under supervision of Finn Tarp.

In 2015 Venera was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and spent four months as a visiting scholar at West Virginia University with a focus on energy sector developments. Venera has also been involved in several national and regional projects as a team leader or principal investigator such as UNDP project on ‘Second Millennium Development Report for Kosovo’ (2007); Regional Research Promotion Project (RRPP) on ‘Education Specific Corruption in Western Balkan’ (2012-2013); USAID BEEP/Balkan Trust for Democracy Project on Economic Development and Political Transition in Kosovo (2012-2013).

Venera Kusari

Venera Kusari is a Programs Coordinator at Columbia University. She conducts research on conflict and conflict resolution. Venera's concentration is on communication, reflective practice, and on complex dynamical systems theories.

Through her work on peace education Venera attempts to explore the links between theory and practice in conflict settings and to provide tools for resolutions.

Venera holds a Master’s degree in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University.

Vjosa Musliu

Vjosa Musliu is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Political Science, at the Free University of Brussels in Belgium and a lecturer at the University of Kent in Great Britain. Musliu has taught at a number of universities (Warwick University, Oxford University, Marie Curie Sklodowka University, and Ghent University) and has presented at over 50 international conferences.

Her work focuses on the EU's external relations with the Balkan countries and post-structuralism and post-colonial theories. Her current project focuses on the performance spectrum of the EU's external relations with Kosovo, Ukraine and Peru.

Adnan Sogojeva

Adnan Sogojeva is the co-founder (director) of the NGO - Institute for Leadership, Management and Research (ILMH). He has experience as an external expert in evaluating NGO projects in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as well as in the Ministry of Regional Development. He has also been engaged as a Professional Advisor for Economic Integration within the project SUREP - Sustainable Integration of Repatriated Persons in Kosovo, a project funded by CARITAS CH, implemented by APPK and KRCT.

Adnan has experience in public institutions such as; Ministry of Internal Affairs, Reintegration Department in drafting Reintegration Strategy, Reintegration Regulations, Reintegration Manual,
Guidelines, etc. Has long experience in training for public officials and for Start Up Businesses.

Evetar Zeqiri is a Governance and Financial Management professional. He graduated with a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Strategic Management & Leadership from Northern Illinois University in the U.S.A. He also graduated in Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from the University of Sheffield, U.K. His undergraduate studies were in Management and Information Systems, University of Prishtina. Evetar is a Certified Public Auditor from SCAAK. He’s also a full member of CIPFA and CMI (U.K) – leading international professional bodies in finance, accounting, audit, and management.

Evetar has a combined working experience of 10 years in areas such as consulting, project management, audit, finance & accounting, and procurement, both in the private and public sectors. He has worked at the National Audit Office for seven years. Recently he has worked at local management consulting firm Recura Financials as Project Manager/ Senior Consultant where he consulted and implemented projects in the area of Governance and Financial Management. While in the U.S he worked as a Public Financial Management consultant at the World Bank at the PEFA Secretariat.

Teuta Sahatqija

Teuta Sahatqija has extensive experience in institutional systems, international relations, diplomacy and foreign affairs, and parliamentary work during state building processes within the Republic of Kosovo. She has recently served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, and previously as Consul General of Kosovo in New York. She also acted as Advisor to President Sejdiu and Chair of the European Integration Parliamentary Committee during the preparation for the SAA, among many other institutional positions. Her fields of interest are diplomacy, with a focus on multilateralism, United Nations, European Union and multilateral organizations.

She holds a Bachelors and Masters of Science Degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Pristina in Kosovo. She has also completed the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at Dartmouth College in the United States receiving a Graduate Certificate. She is also a consultant and Certified Digital Transformation Expert from ICMCI Austria.

Isuf Jahmurataj

Mr. Isuf Jahmurataj, has earned his PhD in the field of law with the Southeast European University in Northern Macedonia and is now a University Professor in the field of civil law. Isuf is a regular participant in many conferences and seminars presenting academic and professional perspective in the field of justice, namely legislation, civil, trade and commercial law. In the professional aspect he has more than ten years of extensive experience in policy and legislation drafting in the field of justice, as well as in the monitoring of the implementation of the legislation.

Isuf has passed the Bar Examination, as well as Examinations for Notary, Private Bailiff, Bankruptcy Administrator and Licensed Mediator. Isuf strives to transfer his knowledge and experience to young lawyers, assisting in their career orientation and how to choose what would be the most beneficial for them and the justice system.

Arjeta Sahiti Seferi

Arjeta Sahiti Seferi is a public policy and public administration specialist. She worked in the public administration sector for 16 years dealing with policy planning, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluating, impact assessment and policy coordinating in public administration.

She managed the unit that was responsible for coordinating the preparation of the Government Annual Work Plan and monitoring the implementation of it. From 2016-2020 she was project manager for SIDA founded project aimed to support the Office of Prime Minister and line ministries in “Policy development”. Arjeta is a certified trainer by Kosovo Institute for Public Administration (KIPA) and provides regular training with a focus on building partnership among stakeholders in drafting policy documents. Currently she is working as financial specialist in Joint Technical Secretariat of the IPA II-Cross Border Cooperation Program Kosovo-North Macedonia 2014-2020. She studied Political Science in University of Prishtina and she has Master degree on Professional Studies with focus on Public Administration at RIT Kosovo (A.U.K).

Gezim Nagavci

Gezim studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Prishtina. He holds a Master of Science degree and has extensive experience in project planning and execution.

His experience begun with NATO/British Army when they were deployed in Kosovo in 1999, while in the last eighteen years he is focused in the banking industry by implementing state of the art principles and approaches in project management, facilities management and OKRs. In addition, he has attended numerous training courses and workshop with focus on improving business processes and efficiency.

Gezim strives to tailor engineering and banking field in order to produce example results. He is known for building successful teams and is enthusiastic and ecstatic mentor, therefore he always, shared his knowledge with the peers/colleagues, while also giving out professional advice and recommendations, so that they may fully develop the needed skills and have an easier transition in the job.

Albulenë Kastrati

Albulenë Kastrati is a Ph.D., university professor, researcher of economic policies and central banking specialist. As an applied economist, her research interests are public policy, economic programs, financial regulation, banking and financial reporting, education, inequality and econometrics, with a numerous of local and international publications tackling these topics. She is a KUSA member and engages in projects concerning the Kosovan youth.

Albulena is chief editor at ‘Macro Chats’ blog, where she expresses her views and welcomes the contribution of the next generation with cutting edge ideas and new perspectives.

Albulena has recently returned from the Duke University as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar, where she worked on a research project involving banking systems of European transition economies. She holds a Ph.D. in economics from Staffordshire University, UK. Currently works as Assistant Professor at AAB College, and lectures Banking Management, Corporate Governance, Leadership and Ethics and mentors master students’ thesis.

Diana Lekaj

Diana Lekaj is a Co-founder of Edutask LLC. She is also a member of the supervisory board at Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo. Besides, she teaches business and management courses at Riinvest College at their business faculty and UoL/LSE programs.

She has worked in the higher education sector for more than 19 years in different roles including academic management, quality assurance and academic and industry liaison. She has vast experience in research, monitoring and evaluation of various local and international projects and programmes.

Her specialty is in training and coaching for business development, organization transformation and strategic planning. She has also led, managed and supervised a number of international programmes supported by renowned organizations.

Edona Peci

dona Peci is a Capacity Development Manager at the Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKM), and a Policy and Media Adviser to the former president of the Republic of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga. Earlier, she worked as a journalist and broadcaster for the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and the Albanian Satellite Television (ALSAT). As such, Edona’s professional portfolio is multi-faceted with a long history of working in the media sector and a focus on public policy, strategic management and organizational behavior.

She studied Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Pristina, and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Non-Profit Management from the University of Arkansas.

Alban Krasniqi

Alban Krasniqi is lawyer, currently working at the European Union / Kosovo Justice Sector Program. Alban has served in a number of honorable legal positions working with main rule of law and justice related domestic and international stakeholders. including: Law Schools, Judiciary, Chamber of Advocates, Kosovo Judicial Council, Kosovo Judicial Academy, Ombudsperson international organizations such as EU, USAID, OSCE, ILO.

Alban has demonstrated skills working with high-level stakeholders in his experience as USAID’s Dialogue Consultant at the Office of Prime minister and in his position as Senior Rule of Law at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kosovo. He in Bachelor and Masters of Law at University of Pristina. He also graduated in 2017 in the area of Comparative Constitutional Law and Human Rights from the University of Texas in Austin School of Law. He is currently enrolled in the Doctoral Program of Law in the University of Pristina.

Gezim Zeqiri

Gezim Zeqiri is a researcher focused on educational, and socio-economic studies. Gezim is the director of the “Kosovo Institute for Quality Education”, a recently established organization that aims to improve the quality of education received by Kosovo students. Currently, Gezim works in USAID After School Support for Teens (ASSET) program, implemented by Kosova Education Center.

Gezim has been awarded the USAID Transformational Leadership (TLP) Scholarship and has completed his Master's degree in Teaching and Curriculum at Syracuse University in New York, USA. He has also completed another Master’s degree in Economy and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology.

He has published articles in peer-reviewed journals and has participated in international conferences. He is also a contributing author on the S'bunker platform, where he wrote various articles on educational issues in Kosovo.

Hana Sahatqija

Hana Sahatqija is the Global Youth Engagement Lead for Generation Unlimited - the UNICEF-led multi-stakeholder partnership for youth. In her capacity, she plays a key leadership role in introducing meaningful youth engagement practices in governance, programmatic initiatives, and rollout at the country level.

She brings a decade of international development experience, having worked in many capacities at the nexus of social innovation, youth engagement, and youth entrepreneurship, including as Innovation Specialist, Chief of Adolescent Development, Innovation Lab Lead etc. Her work has ranged from community-based, to national, and then global level, focusing on human-centered design programming with young people, globally scaling up social entrepreneurship programming for youth and developing youth engagement and social innovation curricula used in 50+ countries.

She brings in a multifaceted perspective having worked for UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, bilaterals and academia. Hana holds a Bachelor’s degree from Rochester Institute of Technology, a Master’s degree in International Development Policy from Georgetown University and an Advanced Project Management certificate from Stanford University.

Ermira Krasniqi

Ermira Krasniqi is a pharmaceutical specialist in the field of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs, with a PhD in Preclinical Medicine – Pharmacovigilance. Currently, she is doing her second PhD at University of Vienna.

She has more than a decade of experience in academia and pharmaceutical industry/distribution (as an expert in regulatory issues/quality assurance). An internationally published author, with the main research interests in pharmaceuticals, healthy aging, genetics, nutritional sciences, and physical activity.

She is currently working on vitamin D, genetic polymorphism in vitamin D pathway related genes and functional performance, in association with different covariates such as nutritional intake, physical activity, health status and medicines usage, in older adults. She is also engaged in the implementation of several ongoing research projects both locally and internationally.

Ermal Leci

Ermal Leci is a finance professional and has been working in the financial industry since 2011. He started the career in Auditing in a commercial bank, while currently works in the Risk Management Department, as Chief of Operational Risk Management, in Central Bank of Kosovo.

Ermal has an extensive knowledge of banking industry from both commercial and regulatory point of view, regarding internal auditing, risk management and decision-making. Ermal also has lectured Corporate Finance and Decision Making in Finance.

Ermal holds a Master’s of Science in Finance degree, as a recipient of the USAID Transformational Leadership Scholarship. He finished the graduate studies in Saunders College of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. Furthermore, Ermal majored in Management and Economics during his Bachelor studies.

Arbresha Meha

Arbresha Meha is a Professor Assistant at the University of Applied Sciences in Ferizaj. Arbresha has completed bachelor studies in English Language and Literature, master degree in Marketing and Business Management, and holds a PhD in Organization and Management of Information Processes. Her research includes social and informing sciences, communication, and education.

Arbresha has been involved in management, education consulting and coordination of projects of a different scale, including development of strategies, action plans, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects. Her experience also includes the development of education and training programs and courses at the national level, sectoral programming and research.

Arbresha is certified as a trainer and master learning facilitator in the field of education, environment and leadership. She is also certified in the Leadership Program in Washington DC.

Mrika Hana Nagavci

Mrika Hana Nagavci is experienced in training and education, providing a wide range portfolio of training courses. Holding a BA and MA in English Language and Literature, she also comes from a highly experienced Training Center, having trained a large number of people in Soft Skills and English for Specific Purposes.

She has been part of Training and Development Institute of RIT Kosovo for several years as well as the University for Business and Technology (UBT) as English Language / TOEFL iBT Instructor. Her experience in Training and Academic skills will be of immense interest to students of different backgrounds.

Armend Salihu

Armend Salihu is an experienced IT Auditor conducting information system audits and providing assurance in the IT field. With over 12 years of working experience, mainly in the banking and financial sector (Auditing, System and Information Security, System Administration, etc.). Currently he is employed as an Internal IT Auditor at NLB Prishtina Sh.A.

Armend is also working at the University of Prishtina - Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, in the field of Computer Science (Java Programming, Data Structures, Algorithms and Databases). He is currently pursuing PhD in Computer Science at South East European University with a focus on Parallel Processing and Algorithm Complexity Analysis, and his research interests include: Theoretical Computer Science, Business Process Optimization and Automatization, Information System Security and Data Privacy, and Applied Mathematics with a focus on matrices and determinants. Also, has volunteered as a career development mentor in the IT field. One of the mentees is now studying in the United States on a full scholarship. While the rest are employed in the field of information technology.

Arijeta Pajaziti Qerimi

Arijeta Pajaziti Qerimi’s developed a professional career as an electrical engineer is complemented by her academic profile with a Master of Science degree from the Electrotechnical Faculty, University of Prishtina. Recently she has graduated from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in Gender Equity Executive Leadership Program.

She has more than 22 years of expertise gained in the field. She currently works as a specialist engineer for SCADA / EMS in the Kosovo Transmission System and Market Operator (KOSTT) and as an executive director of AWESK (Association of Women in the Energy Sector of Kosovo) and contributes to the advancement of the national agenda for the inclusion of women in energy.

Besnik Krasniqi

Besnik Krasniqi is a Fulbright Scholar, holds MA and PhD in Economics from Staffordshire University (UK). He teaches Entrepreneurship and Research Methods at the University of Prishtina. His career spans teaching and research in entrepreneurship at Maastricht School of Management (NL), Indiana University (US), University of Michigan (US), Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (France). His research appeared in journals such as Small Bus Econ, Int Entrep Manag J, IJEBR, Econ System.

Besnik has a wide range of working experiences in the government, public and private sector, as a manager, consultant, and entrepreneur. He has extensive local and international experience as an independent business consultant and trainer for both domestic and international private companies, government, and international donor organizations such EU Commission, USAID, UNDP, World Bank, Chemonics etc.

Besnik is a Certified Management Consultant awarded by the International Council of Management Institutes. Besnik has served as a business mentor for TUCK Business School (USA) students’ business projects in US and Kosovo and Entrepreneurship Network Faculty at Entrepreneurship Development Center, Michigan University (USA). He is a founding director of the Business Support Centre in Kosova.

Sytrime Dervisholli

Sytrime Dervisholli has about 15 years of experience in the public and private sector, mainly in the international trade and private sector development.

She is an Economic Development and Gender Economist Consultant.

She is a a certified trainer on Circular Economy by the French Institute Circulab Academy and certified trainer on Community Leadership Academy by the USAID.

Arianit Maraj

Arianit Maraj is a recognized cybersecurity expert and Professor Assistant at the University level. From 2004, he lectured at several Universities and Colleges, such as University of Prishtina, AAB College and University of Prizren. From 2005, he worked for Telecom of Kosovo where he has held various positions such as; Specialist Engineer, Services Coordinator and currently Network development and planning Manager.

He has a PHD on Information and Communication Engineering, graduated from Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania; has completed his Master and Bachelor Degree from University of Prishtina. Furthermore, in 2018, he performed Postdoctoral Research studies at Florida Institute of Technology-USA, as a Fulbright Scholar. His research interests lay in Data security, Networking and Wireless communications. He has published a considerable number of scientific papers in international journals and conferences.

Kujtim Bytyqi

Kujtim Bytyqi holds two Masters Degrees, a Master in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Westminster in London, and a Master in International Security Studies from the University of German Federal Armed Forces in Munich. Currently, he is a PhD researcher at the Bundeswehr University in Munich, and his research interests are focused on Returning Foreign Fighters from the Balkans.

During 2013-2020 Kujtim served as a Head of Analysis Sector at the Kosovo Security Council Secretariat. Responsible for coordination and monitoring the implementation of the National Strategy on Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalisation leading to Terrorism and all other strategies and policy formulations relating to the security issues.

Kujtim is currently working for the Ministry of Defence. Kujtim has published numerous articles and book chapters, and regularly presents at national and international, trainings, workshops, conferences and symposiums. Besides working for the Government, Kujtim is also engaged as a consultant on security issues to various international organizations and adjunct professor since 2009.

Selvije Alshiqi Bekteshi

Sevdie Alshiqi Bekteshi is a lecturer and teaching assistant at University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Economic Faculty, Management and Informatics department. She is Doctor of Science – Entrepreneurship and SMES Management, Regional Joint Doctoral Programme in Entrepreneurship and SME Management for Western Balkan Countries (DOCSMES). Also, she has Doctor of Business Administration DBA at Université Cote D’Azur – Nice, France.

As co-owner and CEO of Business Kosova Center, Sevdie has more than 13 years in teaching, economic development consultant and training related to Financial Module, Human Resources, Structure Development, Financial Management and other project related to Small and Medium Enterprises. Her main research interests are entrepreneurship, international development, risk management, export performance of SMES.

Valon Canhasi

Valon Canhasi is the Founder and CEO of Hallakate, the leading Social Media Agency in Kosovo. Valon is responsible for all digital & creative aspects of the company, business development, training & coaching as well as day to day operations.

Combining Valon’s extended experience in entrepreneurship, social media, news media organizations and the business ICT sector, together with the great team at Hallakate, we provide organizations and individuals with best services in creative ideas and online presence. Up till now Hallakate has served more than 100 clients! From mom and pop shops to multinational corporations.

Valon helps organizations and individuals to build their audience and presence online through combining Marketing and TECH experiences. Since 2013 Valon has been engaged as a trainer and has trained more than +2000 people on Social Media Management and Digital Marketing.

Zana Sahatcija

Zana Sahatqija works in the Business Process Solutions department in Brussels, focusing on statutory accounting and financial reporting for the EMEA countries. Her specific focus is the interpretation and application of the new International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for large multinational companies and converting their financial statement figures into the local EMEA frameworks.

She is also responsible for advising clients on the treatment of complex accounting issues. She started her career in audit in Kosovo, which was a step that largely influenced her career further.

Zana completed her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the American University in Kosovo (AUK) and later on continued her Master’s degree studies in Accounting at St. John’s University in New York, with the support of the Fulbright Scholarship. She is also a Certified Public Accountant as well as a Certified Fraud Examiner, two licenses that she uses at her current position.

Faton Deshishku

Faton Deshishku supported the Ministry of Education and Skills Development through GIZ project “Youth Employment and Skills” in Kosovo the delivery of its key mandate, which provided efficient, quality and relevant education and training that is accessible to all.

Over the years he gained knowledge and experience in managing and coordinating different projects such as developing and conducting corporate, business and training for a variety of industries, including employee training, skills and knowledge development, business planning, analyses, market research, strategic planning, In-company training, linking education with the industry, labour markets and trends, government and vocational institutions.

Faton is skilled in bringing learning programs to life, developing session plans and conducting and providing training to staff with varying levels of needs including front line leaders. Faton’s presentation style is energetic, anecdotal and learner-focused, with a view not only to help others improve their knowledge levels, but also to enhance their willingness and ability to apply what they’ve learned in a practical setting.

Donat Rexha

Donat Rexha ka përfunduar doktoraturën në Fakultetin e Biznesit dhe Ekonomisë, në Universitin e Evropës Juglindore (UEJL). Studimet bazike dhe magjistraturën i ka përfunduar ne Fakultetin Ekonomik ne Universitetin Islamik Ndërkombëtar të Malajzisë (IIUM), ku ka qene përfitues i bursës nga shteti i Malajzisë.

Donati që nga viti 2012 është Profesor në Kolegjin AAB në Fakultetin Ekonomik në lëndët Makroekonomi dhe Financa Publike dhe për 3 vite ka qenë edhe koordinator i studentëve të Fakultetit Ekonomik. Që nga viti 2016 është angazhuar si konsulent (ekspert lokal) në organizatën e UNICEF-it, për të ofruar konsulencë në Zyrën e Planifikimit Strategjik dhe Zyrën për Qeverisje të Mirë, brenda institucioneve publike.

Përvoja hulumtuese shkencore i përket fushës së Ekonomisë më specifik Politka fiskale, Financave Publike dhe Makroekonomisë, ku është autor i publikimeve shkencore ndërkombëtare, dhe pjesëmarrës në disa konferenca shkencore.

Dafina Beqiri

Dafina Beqiri is a Growth and Development Expert, currently working in Tirana as Senior Program Manager at Western Balkans Fund a grant-giving organization founded by Ministries of Foreign Affairs. Dafina has over fifteen years of experience in Program/Project Management and Regional Development and as an international leader, she contributed to the empowerment of different local and international institutions from the level of government, civil society organizations to business community to professionally grow.

She worked for different international organizations such as Council of Europe, European Union, UN, IREX. She led projects in different places such as Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, United Arab Emirates, Italy, UK including Australia. She is a frequent international speaker and trainer on topics such as: Reconciliation and Dialogue, Conflict Resolution, Strategic Development, Organizational Behavior Management, Leadership and Management, Marketing & Branding, Project Cycle Management, Business Development and Management, Emotional Intelligence, Public Relations and Human Rights.

She is specialized on Intercultural and Inter Religious Dialogue, holds a Master degree on International Affairs from University LUISS Guido Carli, Rome, Italy, and Project & Business Management from UCLA, Los Angeles, USA, diploma on European Legal Order from Italy, with a Bachelor’s degree, in Sociology from University of Pristina, and a diploma on Human Rights from Oslo University.

Ujkane Hana Beshiri

Ms. Ujkane Hana Beshiri - has a lifetime of accumulating experience in the field of education in a role of a master teacher, director of studies / quality assurance director and curriculum instructor, MAP Growth assessment coordinator, and teacher trainer.

She is a member of VisionaryEd, KUSA, Inspire Citizens and a CEO of the NGO ‘ Room for Growth”. Currently she is doing her specializing course on The Certificate in School Management and Leadership [CSML], a multi-course certificate program for PreK-12 school leaders, an innovative collaboration between the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School. She is also a Teacher Trainers certified by the University of Arizona, a program funded by US Embassy of Kosovo.

Avdullah Hoti

Avdullah Hoti teaches Macroeconomic, Labour Economics and Research Methods at the Faculty of Economy, University of Prishtina. He served in several professional and academic councils at home and abroad. He has published a number of research papers on labour market, economic development and transition, education, migration and remittances. He has experience in policy making as he has served in various positions at local and national level administration.

He is married and has two sons, Ledion and Antian.

Donjeta Sahatciu

Donjeta is a passionate executive and a certified digital transformation expert, leading a team of professionals at Rrota - a digital agency in Prishtina, over the last 10 years. As a dedicated enabler of change, she's hands-on involved in the dynamics of youth engagement and empowerment, contributing to the missions of both VentureUP and Kosovo ICT Association as Board Chair, and as Board Member at RIT Kosovo and Business Consultants Council (BCC). With a postgraduate background in management, she is particularly specialized in business process innovation, people management, and operations. Donjeta can guide mentees towards their journey of success by providing mentorship in business planning, leadership, and ICT.

Egzona Shala

Egzona is an enthusiastic and ambitious nature lover. She has a master's degree in Environmental Protection and is certified as a Climate leader by Mr.Al Gore. With more than 10 years of experience in environmental protection. She initiated glass recycling in Kosovo, advocated against hydropower plants, querries and is a great environmental education of youth generations. Directs EcoZ an NGO is driven by the community for a better future on our planet.

Rifat Hyseni

Rifat Hyseni is the Director of the IT department of the Tax Administration of Kosovo. He is a Professor of MIS in the Department of Public Policy at the UBT - Kosovo. He has experience in the ICT sector of over 22 years, working for International and Local Organizations such as ;TADAT Assessor, IMF, World Bank, FAD, IMF, European Commission, OSCE – Mission in Kosovo.

Mr. Hyseni is an electrical technical engineer specializing in Automatics and Informatics, a degree obtained from the University of Prishtina. He received his MSc. in Professional Studies from RIT, USA. He received professional certification in Management of IT from IIT-Chicago/USA, in IT PM, IT Audit, Cyber Security, DataWarehousing, Data Analytics.

Arta Berisha

Arta Berisha is a journalist and a lecturer from Kosovo. She has been part of the media environment in Kosovo since 2007, firstly as a political reporter, and then as researcher focusing on the challenges of journalism in the digital era.

Currently, she is doing her Ph.D at the School of Media, Communication, and Sociology at the University of Leicester. In the past five years, due to numerous journalism changes because of technology and the internet, Berisha initiated and conducted projects to fight and debunk misinformation and fake content produced by online-only news media in Kosovo. She is an alum of the Fulbright Faculty Development Program of the 2019-2020 academic year as a visiting researcher at the University of Northern Iowa in Iowa.

Besnik Sylejmani

Besnik Sylejmani holds an MBA degree from the University of Cumbria, UK with focus in Corporate Governance. He attended a one year program for Senior Human Resources Management with Cornell University, USA. He has worked with United Nations between 1999-2016 in the field of Human Resources in different countries such as Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Haiti, Ivory Coast and Mali.

Between 2017-2019 I had the opportunity to be engaged as Chief Operations Officer with one of the biggest retail chains in Kosovo employing over 3000 staff. Besnik is a the co-founder of Hoja and currently serves as Senior Consultant, whose vision is to help companies achieve their full potential through sustainable Human Capital Management.

Njomeza Zejnullahu

Njomëza holds a PhD in Law from Nova Univerza, Faculty of Law, Ljubljana, a Msc in Financial Law from University of Prishtina, a BA in Law from University of Prishtina and a BA in Political Science from University of Prishtina. She completed a six months post-doctoral research as a Fulbright scholar at the University of Iowa, College of Law.

Njomëza is a Professor Assistant at the University of Business and technology (UBT). She has served in different roles as legal advisor and expert in the field of commercial law for many years.

Vjollca Komoni

Vjollca Komoni is a professor at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, in the department of Electrical Engineering at University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”. She has over 40 years of professional experience in teaching and in the implementation of many professional and research projects in Renewable Energy. She holds a certificate of Renewable Energy and Sustainability of Arizona State University. She is an instructor at the Center for Energy and Sustainability at the University of Prishtina.

She completed her BA degree in Technical Faculty, Department of Power Engineering at the University of Prishtina, M.Sc. degree at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of Zagreb, Croatia, and PhD at the Polytechnic University of Tirana. She teaches courses of Renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy
management at the University of Prishtina. She has been a visiting professor for two academic years at Mother Teresa University in Skopje, Northern Macedonia.

She is e member of professional organization IEEE and CIGRE.

Zeqir Veselaj

Zeqir Veselaj is professor of the Environmental education and Sustainable development in the Faculty of Education at the University of Prishtina. Fulbright Scholar with a PhD in Natural Sciences. Extended expertise in environmental policy, biodiversity conservation, science and environmental education, and education for sustainable development. He served as Director of the Institute for Nature and Environmental Protection of Kosovo, and later as Environmental adviser of the first Minister of Environment of Kosovo (2002-2005). During 2005-2012 he was Kosovo Country Office Director of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe. The Open Society Foundations awarded him Civil Society Scholar Award for 2021.

Ilir Dula

Ilir Dula is an accomplished executive with more than 20 years of experience, highly skilled in financial management for private business manufacturing sector, execution and expertise in commercial lending development strategies and energy utility operational challenges. He was working in several USAID funded projects in Kosovo, commercial banks (American Bank of Kosovo, Procredit Bank, Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo) and many international financial and consulting firms. Ilir is also an experienced strategic sales leader capable of increasing market share, advertising, and commercial revenues and building successful customer-centric relationships. He has expansive professional knowledge of finance and accounting as well as the ability to provide sound judgment and guidance into overall operations of humanitarian and business sectors. His understandings of greater systems implementation make him an effective leader as well as an esteemed industry professional.

Besart Hyseni

Besart Hyseni is an experienced researcher and trainer in various scientific fields,
especially in the design of research methodology, research instruments and the application of statistics with SPSS, STATA, R-Studio, SAS, PYTHON, TABLEAU, POWER BI. He is a PhD candidate in the South East European University - SEUU, Faculty of Contemporary Sciences and Technologies, and the field of interest of his doctoral studies is Big Data and their administration. Besart Hyseni is also a trainer and teacher in the field of ICT in many institutions such as the Ministry of Education, European Commission, USAID, KEC, British Council. He has a master's degree from UBT, at the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, precisely in the field of management of computer networks, and is in the graduation phase at the University of Prishtina, in the Faculty of Education - Leadership in master education. He also completed his bachelor's degree at UP in Information Technology.

Armend Tahirsylaj

Armend Tahirsylaj is an associate professor of education at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway, where he currently teaches classes on pedagogy, Didaktik/Bildung, and research design. He has a PhD from the Pennsylvania State University in the US in educational theory and policy as a major area, and curriculum & instruction, and international comparative education as minor areas. His research and publications have so far focused on curriculum theory, Didaktik/Bildung, education policy, teacher education, and international large-scale assessments (such as PISA & TIMSS), applying quantitative and qualitative methods as well as systematic reviews. Armend is a member of and contributor to major international educational associations (such as American Educational Research Association (AERA), European Educational Research Association (EERA), and Nordic Educational Research Association (NERA)) and serves as a reviewer for top educational journals such as Journal of Curriculum Studies, European Educational Research Journal and Nordic Journal of Studies in Education Policy.

Alban Zeneli

Alban Zeneli is a lecturer at the Journalism Department, University of Prishtina where he has been working since 2009. He has completed the PhD studies in Communication Science and Journalism in University of Prishtina. He has been working since 2002 as a journalist for different media outlets in Kosovo and right now he is working as free-lance journalist. His research interest is in broadcasting journalism, online media, media technology, fact checking and the rights of journalists. He has published articles and participated in different national and international conferences in the field of media. He was a secretary of the board of the Seminar of Albanology, an international traditional conference organized by Prishtina University, and secretary at the Media Institute which is part of the Department of Journalism(UP). He is assisting at the department the classes in the courses of Broadcast Journalism, Radio Journalism, New Media, Research Methods in Social Sciences and Journalism ethics taught at BA and MA level.