Speakers

Pranvera Lipovica

Pranvera Lipovica is a Senior Program Manager at the National Democratic Institute (NDI). She joined NDI in 2006, and for more than 12 years has been part of the NDI political party development program. She is primarily responsible for designing and implementing programs aimed at empowering women and youth and promoting their participation in politics. Pranvera provided significant contributions in conceptualizing and implementing the “Week of Women,” one of NDI’s largest projects which gathers future women and men leaders from all segments of society to participate in a week-long networking and political skills development activities. Pranvera studied Public Policy and Management at the University of York, England. During her career at NDI, she has participated in numerous academic and professional development conferences and programs, including the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University

Philip Kosnett

Philip Kosnett - Ambassador of the United States to The Republic of Kosovo Philip S. Kosnett was nominated by President Trump in July 2018 and confirmed by the Senate in September to be America’s fifth Ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo. He was sworn in as Ambassador on November 27 in Washington, DC and presented his credentials to President Hashim Thaci on December 3. Ambassador Kosnett’s most recent prior assignment was as Deputy Chief of Mission and subsequently Chargé d’Affaires ad interim in Ankara, Turkey from 2016-2018. Much of Ambassador Kosnett’s career has been focused on international security cooperation and political reconciliation. He has served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Uzbekistan and in Iceland; and in political, political-military, and economic-commercial positions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, The Netherlands, Japan, and Turkey. Washington assignments include tours in the State Department’s European Affairs, Counterterrorism, Political-Military, and Intelligence & Research bureaus as well as State’s 24-hour Operations Center. Ambassador Kosnett is a multiple recipient of the State Department Superior Honor and Meritorious Honor Awards, and a recipient of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service and the Department of the Army Medal for Outstanding Civilian Service. A 1982 graduate of Harvard, Ambassador Kosnett worked as a game designer in New York and as a teacher in Japan prior to entering the Foreign Service.

Ramush Haradinaj

Ramush Haradinaj – Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj is the Prime Minister of Kosovo, elected in September 2017 after Parliamentary Elections held in June 2017. Born in western Kosovo in 1968, Haradinaj completed military service with the Yugoslav Army. After the conflict, Haradinaj studied law at the University of Prishtina and announced that he was entering politics by founding the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), on April 29, 2000. That time, Haradinaj had electoral success and was elected as Prime Minister. But soon after, Haradinaj resigned after being summoned by the International Criminal Tribunal of former Yugoslavia (ICTY). On April 3, 2008 he was acquitted of all accusations. In 2010, after an appeal from the prosecution, he returned to the Hague for partial retrial and on November 29, 2012 he was acquitted once again of all accusations. Following the elections in Kosovo in June 2017, Haradinaj was elected Prime Minister of Kosovo on September 9, 2017 as leader of the PANA coalition (PDK-AAK-Nisma-AKR).

Donikë Dobruna

Donikë Dobruna – Judge Donikë Dobruna has served as an attorney in Prishtina. After studying law, she ran her own law firm from late 2014 to 2018. Donika has also been working as a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Law at Iliria College. Just recently, she was appointed to be a Judge at the Basic Court of Prishtina and she is one of the youngest women judges ever appointed in Kosovo.

Xhevahire Izmaku

Xhevahire Izmaku – Member of the Assembly of Kosovo / Member of the Committee on Local Governance, Public Administration, and Media Xhevahire Izmaku is from Vushtrria and is a member of the Assembly of Kosovo from the ranks of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). She is also a member of the Committee on Local Governance, Public Administration, and Media. She served previously as Deputy Mayor of Vushtrria. In the meantime, she is also a university lecturer on local governance.

Mahir Yagcilar

Mahir Yagcilar – Minister of Public Administration.Mahir Yagcilar was born in Prizren. He completed his studies at the University of Sarajevo in the field of traffic engineering. Since 2000, he has been the President of the Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo (KDTP). During the period of 2000-2001, Mahir was appointed as a Member of the Transitional Council of Kosovo, and later as the Head of the Parliamentary Group 6+ in the Assembly of Kosovo. For five consecutive mandates, he has been elected as Member of Parliament in the Assembly of Kosovo during the National Elections held during 2001–2014. In 2007, he was appointed Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, and later in 2011 he was appointed Minister of the Public Administration. He was re-appointed Minister of Public Administration in December 2014.

Besnik Tahiri

Besnik Tahiri - National Koordinator for State Reforms.Besnik Tahiri was born in Prishtina. He is Master of Science in Local Governance and International Development. Tahiri finished his postgraduate studies with highest marks at Birmingham University in England. He has graduated from the OSCE Senior Academic Academic Program. Tahiri is the recipient of the prestigious 'Chevening' scholarship, which is awarded to future leaders by the UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2004). He is the founder of the Kosovo Institute for Local Governance. In the past, he served as senior adviser of local governance to Haradinaj and member of the AAK Presidency. Currently, Besnik Tahiri is the National Coordinator for State Reforms.

Rozafa Ukimeraj-Çuni

Rozafa Ukimeraj-Çuni - Secretary General of the Ministry of Local Government Administration.Rozafa Ukimeraj-Çuni was born in Prizren. She finished her studies in law and public administration. She holds a Master degree in Public Administration and pursued her postgraduate studies in the field of Public Administration and International Relations in the United States. Rozafa started her professional career in the private banking sector. She has more than 13 years of work experience in public administration. She held the position of the Director of the Department of Local Self-Governance for five years, and in 2013 she became Head of the Department for European Integration and Policy Coordination within the Ministry of Local Government Administration. In September 2016, she was appointed General Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Administration.

Adrijana Adrijana�

Adrijana Hodžić – Senior Chief Executive Officer in the Municipality of North Mitrovica.Adrijana Hodžić is Senior Chief Executive Officer in the Municipality of North Mitrovica. She was born in Mitrovica. Adrijana acquired valuable experience in running affairs of public importance immediately after the war in 1999, working as a regional manager in the NGO sector and managing projects in all Serbian-majority areas in northern Kosovo. As Head of the Administrative Office in North Mitrovica, Adrijana showed great success in managing infrastructure projects aiming to improve the daily lives of all citizens. In 2013, she ran Mayor’s Office in the Municipality of North Mitrovica during local elections.

Taulant Hoxha

Taulant Hoxha – Director for Research and Advocacy at the Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF).Taulant Hoxha has been a civil society activist for more than a decade, mostly engaged in the field of civil society development, including civil society participation in policy-making processes, civil society-government dialogue, public funding for civil society, and the legal framework for civil society. He has extensive experience in research, advocacy, policy and legal drafting, as well as on project and human resources management in the non-profit sector.

Sebahate Ajeti-Sadiku

Sebahate Ajeti-Sadiku - Director of the Directorate on Finance in the municipality of Ferizaj.Sebahate Ajeti-Sadiku is the director of the Directorate on Finance in the municipality of Ferizaj. She finished her studies on Banking, Finance, and Accounting at Iliria College and is also pursuing her Master’s degree in the same field at Iliria. Her long experience in the financial and managerial field started at NLB Prishtina bank, where she worked as a customer relations officer from 2008 to 2010 and as a financial client portfolio officer from 2010 to 2015.

Jetush Rrafshi

Jetush Rrafshi - Senior Financial Officer in the Municipality of Shtime.Jetush Rrafshi is a Senior Financial Officer in the Municipality of Shtime. He finished his university studies in baking and finance at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Prishtina. He is an auditor, certified by the National Training Program for Public Sector Internal Auditors, part of the Ministry of Finance; he is also completing a program at the Association of Certified Accountants and Auditors of Kosovo (SCAAK) to become a Certified Accountant. Rrafshi is a trainer at the Kosovo Institute for Public Administration (KIPA), focusing on administrative procedures of tax and customs, as part of the tax system in Kosovo. He has worked as a financial consultant for local businesses.

Arbënesha Kuqi

Arbënesha Kuqi - Week of Women alumna (cohort 2018) Arbënesha Kuqi is from the Municipality of Gjakova. She finished her master's studies in the field of economics. Now she works as a Coordinator at the Kosovo Insurance Bureau. She is the President of PDK's Women's Wing in Gjakova and the Vice-President of Women's Wing at the national level. Kuqi is a Week of Women alumna from the cohort of 2018.

Albulena Nrecaj

Albulena Nrecaj - Executive Director of Initiative for Progress Albulena Nrecaj has an experience of eight years in local governance and her expertise is focused in public procurement, municipal budget making and supervision of public money spending. She has been part of INPO since 2009 managing various projects in local governance and rule of law. Her academic background is law and sociology. Albulena is continuously engaged in holding trainings on public procurement for civil society organizations.

Kadri Veseli

Kadri Veseli - Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo is the Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, elected for the second consecutive term on September 7, 2017. He was elected Vice President of PDK in January 2013, and then as President in May 2016. Prior to his election as Vice President, Mr. Veseli, in cooperation with the international community, contributed to building peace, security, and stability in post-war Kosovo for nearly a decade. He was also one of the main figures of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), and actively supported the peace process in Rambouillet. In this process, Veseli served as External Adviser in the Kosovo Delegation. Veseli was one of the young leaders of student movements from 1988 to 1990 against the violation of the human rights of Albanians in Kosovo and in favor of the recognition of the right to independence. Kadri Veseli is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Mimoza Kusari-Lila

Mimoza Kusari-Lila - Member of the Assembly of Kosovo/Chair of the Kosovo-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group Mimoza Kusari-Lila is the leader of Alternativa and a Member of Parliament in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. She served as the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo and Minister of Trade and Industry from 2011 to 2013 and as the Mayor of Gjakova from November 2013 to 2017. In 1998-1999, when conflict broke out in Kosovo, she worked for organizations such as Doctors without Borders and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Mimoza Kusari-Lila was first exposed to politics and public service in 2003 when she was offered the position of spokesperson and political adviser to then-Prime Minister of Kosovo Bajram Rexhepi. She was the face and voice of the Kosovo government for more than a year at a time when Kosovo’s past returned in the March 2004 riots. She became the first woman mayor in the history of Kosovo. Mimoza Kusari-Lila holds an MBA from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kusari-Lila graduated in June, 1999, after she won a scholarship through the U.S. State Department’s Ron Brown Scholarship Program

Borys Wrzesnewskyj

Borys Wrzesnewskyj - Member of the House of Commons of Canada Borys Wrzesnewskyj is the Member of Parliament for the district of Etobicoke Centre. Borys is a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, as well as the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, and is the founder and current chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group. Borys received his Bachelor of Commerce from Trinity College at the University of Toronto in 1983 and quickly gravitated towards humanitarian and pro-democracy work, helping to organize and finance the People’s Movement of Ukraine “Rukh” in the late 1980s, and in support of the referendum for the independence of Ukraine in 1991.

Ibadete Guri

Ibadete Guri - Procurement Advisor at USAID, Transparent, Effective and Accountable Municipalities activity in Kosovo Ibadete Guri is currently the Procurement Advisor at the USAID Transparent, Effective and Accountable Municipalities activity in Kosovo, a five-year USAID funded anti-corruption project strengthening institutional public procurement, transparency, and accountability.Ibadete is an expert in procurement providing support to the procurement officers and managers of all Kosovo municipalities. Prior to joining the USAID activity, Ibadete served as the Head of Section for Contracting Authority at the Central Procurement Agency, for three years. Ibadete also held the position of the Head of Division for Special Procurement and the Head of the Division of the Centralized Procurement and Special Projects. Prior to taking the management role at the Central Procurement Agency, Ibadete served as the Procurement Officer for three years. Ibadete holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Tetovo – Faculty of Economics. She has completed her undergraduate studies in the University of Pristina “Hasan Pristina,” – Faculty of Economics. Ibadete also certified in Professional Procurement and actively participated in workshops hosted by central agencies in the field of public procurement

Mexhide Demolli-Nimani

Mexhide Demolli-Nimani - Executive Director at FOL Movement Mexhide Demolli-Nimani is the Executive Director of FOL Movement as well as one of its co-founders. For a long time she was the Coordinator of the Media Office and also a manager of numerous projects at FOL. For many years she has been engaged in promoting transparency and accountability of public institutions. Mexhide has drafted and organized awareness-raising campaigns aimed at citizens regarding the Law on Access to Public Documents in all municipalities of Kosovo. Furthermore, she has also been engaged in promoting dialogue between citizens and justice institutions for years, designing communication campaigns in municipalities between citizens' groups and justice institutions. Prior to working at FOL Movement, she worked as a journalist for four years. Mexhide studied at both the Faculty of Journalism and the Faculty of Albanian Language and Literature at the University of Prishtina 'Hasan Prishtina'

Gresa Smolica

Gresa Smolica Project Coordinator at FOL Movement Gresa Smolica works as Project Coordinator at FOL Movement. Since 2016, Gresa has been engaged at FOL Movement, first as Project Officer/Researcher and then as Project Coordinator. She has been involved in the anti-corruption program among several projects in the judiciary and public procurement. Gresa holds a Bachelor Degree in Political Science from the University of Prishtina-Faculty of Philosophy.

Afërdita Morina-Biffar

Afërdita Morina-Biffar - Week of Women alumna (cohort 2017) Afërdita Morina-Biffar is from the Municipality of Prizren. By profession, she is a political scientist. Morina-Biffar has been engaged mainly as a political activist and journalist. She is a member of the Presidency of the LDK local branch in Prizren. Morina Biffar is a Week of Women alumna from the 2017 cohort.

Alison Kosnett

Alison Kosnett - International Business and Development Consultant Alison Kosnett has over two decades of experience in development, diplomacy, and civil-military partnerships, including management of World Bank, Department of State, and USAID initiatives to support governance and economic renewal in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia. Ms. Kosnett has four years of experience on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, where she was engaged in development and diplomacy at the provincial and district levels. Ms. Kosnett has a proven record of utilizing cultural adaptability to foster local empowerment by developing the capabilities of staff members.

Tringa Kasemi

Tringa Kasemi - Week of Women Alumna (Cohort of 2017) is a civil society activist in Prizren, carrying out activities at various civil society organizations, with special emphasis on the rights of women and marginalized groups. She is also a co-initiator of the informal group of women and girls in the Municipality of Prizren, Femactive, which aims to change the patriarchal thinking in the public domain of Prizren. She finished her studies at the University of Prishtina Faculty of Law.

Dhurata Hoxha

Dhurata Hoxha - Minister of European Integration Dhurata Hoxha was appointed Minister of European Integration in September 2017, following her prior position as the Minister of Justice since July 2016. Before becoming a minister, Mrs. Hoxha was the Political Advisor to the Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Kadri Veseli, with responsibilities covering security and rule of law policies. Mrs. Hoxha also served as a Political Advisor to Prime Minister Mr. Hashim Thaçi from March 2011 to December 2015. Her main responsibilities covered aspects of national security and rule of law. Mrs. Hoxha successfully led the process of Security Sector Strategic Review and successfully coordinated the process with relevant institutions. Since 1999, Dhurata also worked in the political section of the U.S Office (now the U.S Embassy) in Prishtina. She also worked for the British Embassy as a Project Manager and other organizations such as OSCE and UNDP. In 2008, Mrs. Hoxha completed her master studies at the prestigious Georgetown University in Washington DC, in the department of security studies, with concentration on international security.

Atifete Jahjaga

Atifete Jahjaga is the first woman President of the Republic of Kosovo, elected by the Parliament of Kosovo on April 7, 2011. She is the President of the Jahjaga Foundation. President Jahjaga is the youngest female world leader to be elected and is also the first female head of state in the modern Balkans. She began her career as a police officer, since the establishment of the Kosovo Police in the early 2000s, progressively advancing to higher ranks to become c. President Jahjaga is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders (CWWL). She completed her studies at the Faculty of Law of the University of Prishtina in 2000, and has completed postgraduate certification programs in Police Management and Penal Law at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, and in Crime Science at the University of Virginia in the United States.

Christina Davis

Christina Davis - Director of Democracy and Governance Office, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Christina Davis attended Smith College in Massachusetts where she received her B.A. She received her M.A. in Economics from Western Illinois University. Christina held various jobs before joining USAID including working as a vet tech, study abroad manager, agricultural extension agent, and teacher. In addition, she worked as a community and economic development manager where she conducted strategic visioning programs for small towns in Illinois. She also worked in urban planning and writing comprehensive land use plans. She served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Zambia. She joined USAID in 2008 and has served in Jamaica, Afghanistan, and Colombia prior to coming to Kosovo. She is the Director for the Office of Democracy and Governance.

Arbesa Neziri

Arbesa Neziri - Week of Women alumna (cohort 2018) Arbesa Neziri is from the Municipality of Rahovec. She is currently completing her master's studies in law. Arbesa worked as an assistant at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and currently she is working as Head of Procurement Department at a private company. Neziri is Week of Women alumna from the 2018 cohort.

Fatmire Mulhaxha

Fatmire Mulhaxha-Kollçaku - Member of the Assembly of Kosovo Fatmire Mulhaxha-Kollçaku has finished the Faculty of Medicine and specialized in the field of Epidemiology. She continued her postgraduate studies for Health Management, under the project of the European Agency in cooperation with the University of Prishtina. She started the career as a doctor in the “Mother Teresa” organisation. She also participated “Regional summer School on Social Security 2006 Hope Fellowship program/Washington Leadership Study Tour 2007″. Kollçaku was a MP in the Kosovo Assembly in the 2004-2007 legislature. She was chair of the Committee for Health, Labour and Social Welfare. Based on her active performance she received the award as the most active MP in 2007, from KDI (Kosovo Democratic Institute). She currently works in National Institute of Public Health in Peja.

Qëndron Kastrati

Qëndron Kastrati is the Mayor of Kamenica and the Vice President of Social Democratic Party of Kosovo (PSD). From 2007 to 2008, he worked at the Kosovo Energy Corporation, and from 2010 to 2013 he worked as a telecommunications network engineer at 3CIS J.S.C. In 2013, he was elected as a member of the Municipal Assembly of Prishtina, where he chaired the Vetevendosje Movement Assembly Group. He was elected as a Member of Parliament in the Assembly of Kosovo in the general elections in June 2017, but he withdrew from the post after he was elected Mayor of Kamenica. Kastrati is currently a senior in the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Prishtina

Jovana Radosavljević

Jovana Radosavljević is the Executive Director of the New Social Initiative. She has experience in monitoring elections in Kosovo and supporting external peace campaigns in Serbia. Previously, she worked at the NGO 'Building Bridges Shift' She has also worked as a journalist and presenter at MIR Television. Radosavljevic is a TLP program fellow and has completed her Master’s in International Studies at the University of Denver with specialization in Conflict Resolution and International Development

Ganimete Aliu

Ganimete Aliu Gender Equality Officer in the Municipality of Obiliq Ganimete Aliu is Gender Equality Officer in the Municipality of Obiliq. She is also Chair of the LDK Women’s Wing in Obiliq. She is certified on different trainings related to gender empowerment, techniques of legislative drafting, etc. Previously, she was engaged as Chair of the Information Office in the Municipality of Obiliq. She finished her bachelor studies at the Faculty of Education and is pursuing her Master's degree at the Faculty of Law, at the Constitutional and Administrative branch of the University of Prishtina

Sanja Sovrlić

Sanja Sovrlić graduated from the Department of Sociology at the University of North Mitrovica. She has worked as a journalist since 2011 with her main focus on the Brussels Agreement and the transition process in Kosovo. She began her career in journalism at RTV Mir and later began cooperating with the media from Kosovo and the region. Today she is an editor at the portal A Black and White World in the Serbian language

Sonja Stamenkova

Sonja Stamenkova - Mayor of Municipality of Makedonska Kamenica, The Republic of North Macedonia Sonja Stamenkova is the Mayor of the Municipality of Makedonska Kamenica in the Republic of North Macedonia. She attended secondary medical school 'Veljko Vlahovic' in Štip where she received the title of a nurse. She worked as a nurse from 1997 to 2006 in Makedonska Kamenica. She studied psychology at the International Slavic University (MSU) 'Gavrilo Romanovic Derzavin' in Sveti Nikola, where she graduated with a degree in psychology. From 2006 to 2017 she worked as a private nurse at the medical institution 'Dr. Dragi Famili Medika' in Makedonska Kamenica

Ardian Gjini

Ardian Gjini is the Mayor of the Municipality of Gjakova and Vice President of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK). Gjini served as a Member of Parliament for two legislatures (2007-2014) and as Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning. He studied International Relations and European Studies at the University of Kent in Canterbury.

Xhafer Tahiri

Zize Blakaj

Zize Blakaj - Procurement Manager in the Municipality of Istog/Week of Women Alumna (Cohort of 2012) Zize Blakaj-Bujupi was born in Gurrakoc-Istog, where she finished her primary and high school studies. She finished her university studies at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Prishtina. In year 2000, Blakaj started working as a Financial Officer at the Department of Education at the Municipality, and since 2004 she has been the Procurement Manager in the Municipality of Istog. Blakaj was a participants of Week of Women in 2012.

Ivan Nikolić

Ivan Nikolić - Executive Director of Communication for Social Development Ivan Nikolić was born in Pristina. He graduated from the Faculty of Natural Sciences in Mitrovica, Department of Informatics. In 2005 he started working at CSDU as an administrative assistant, and eventually got involved in the implementation of various programs and projects in CSDU. In 2008 he was officially appointed as the Manager of the organization. With the decision of the board in 2010, he was elected Executive Director of the NGO Communication for Social Development.

Njomza Arifi

Njomza Arifi is a Program Manager at the Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS). In her position, she also directly engages with Kosovo institutions, local government, civil society organizations, and donors, both in Kosovo and regionally. With more than 10 years of experience, Njomza was directly engaged in the strategic management and implementation of different major projects for Kosovo institutions, international organizations, and civil society. Prior to joining GLPS, she was a Senior Project Manager at Management Development Associates (MDA), where she was involved in the planning, management, and monitoring of projects funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), USAID, and other donor organizations in Kosovo. Njomza has a BA in Business Administration with a degree in Marketing from the South East European (SEE) University in Macedonia and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development at the same university.

Mirlinda Ahmeti

Mirlinda Ahmeti - Audit Advisor at USAID, Transparent, Effective and Accountable Municipalities activity in Kosovo Mirlinda Ahmeti is currently the Audit Advisor at the USAID Transparent, Effective and Accountable Municipalities activity in Kosovo. Prior to joining the USAID project, Mirlinda was the Director of Performance Audit Department at the Kosovo National Audit Office (KNAO). She is an audit expert who coordinated Performance Audit activities ensuring that audit activities are conducted in accordance with international auditing standards, INTOSAI, and performance audit (PA) standards. Mirlinda was also engaged in drafting the Performance Audit Manual and audit report templates. In addition, she developed the capacity development program in performance audit and provided training for KNAO staff. Prior to joining KNAO. Mirlinda worked at the KEP Micro Financial Institution, served as Director of Centre for Professional Education “FOLEA,” and at UNMIK Kosovo. Mirlinda is a Master od Science in Banking, Finance, and Accounting graduated at the University of Pristina “Hasan Prishtina,” – Faculty of Economics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics by the University of Pristina “Hasan Prishtina,” – Faculty of Economics. Mirlinda is also a Certified Internal Auditor for Public Sector.

Erica van Lente

Erica van Lente is mayor of the Dutch municipality of Dalfsen. Before she was appointed to this position, she was Mayor of the Municipality of Bedum and a Member of the City Council of Groningen. She combined this last position with jobs in the energy and telecommunications sector. With her Master’s in Romance Languages and Cultures, her background was non-prototypical. As a woman of 39 years old, she is again atypical among Dutch mayors, only 20 percent of whom are women, and whose average age is approximately 55. Van Lente emphasized that in the local government: “Decisions are made by and for the local population, via the local parliament. You need to be willing and able to listen to the needs of the local society, and to explain the decisions made.”

Amra Zejneli Loxha

Amra Zejneli Loxha was born in Mitrovica. She finished her bachelor studies in the fields of Journalism and European studies at the University of Florida in the U.S. She started working as a Journalist in 2001. She currently works at the public broadcaster - Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) - as an editor in charge of the community language program, and she joined Radio Free Europe in 2010.

Agim Aliu

Agim Aliu is the Mayor of the Municipality of Ferizaj. He was also mayor of Ferizaj from 2012 to 2013. He finished his bachelor’s studies at the University of Prishtina Faculty of Law and is pursuing his Master’s degree in the same field. He is one of the founders of PDK’s local branch in Ferizaj. He was elected as a Member of Parliament in the 5th and 6th legislatures but later resigned after being elected Mayor of Ferizaj. He is the Chair of the PDK branch in Ferizaj.

Valdete Bajrami

Valdete Bajrami is Chief of Staff of the first deputy prime minister Fatmir Limaj. She is the Chair of the Women’s Wing of NISMA. Previously, she was a Member of Parliament in the 5th legislature and Caucus Leader of the NISMA caucus.

Arben Ahmeti

Arben Ahmeti - Author and Program Director of “Complaints Office”- RTV Dukagjini Arben Ahmeti is a Program Director at TV Dukagjini. He is the author and host of the morning TV and radio show Zyra e Ankesave (“Complaints Office”), a media platform in Kosovo that covers citizens’ everyday problems, such as infrastructure and local service provision. The show is based on civic journalism, where citizens report their problems and the show host calls mayors and ministers to tell them about those problems. Ahmeti has also served as a senior political reporter at Koha Ditore, and for two years he was the editor in chief at the Tribuna daily newspaper. Ahmeti was also elected head of the Kosovo Association of Journalists and took part in an investigative journalism training through the U.S. Embassy program. He has many years of experience in conducting interviews with political stakeholders, ambassadors and diplomats, working to promote freedom of speech, democratization and stability in the Balkans

Mimoza Gavrani

Mimoza Gavrani is a Program Manager at Caritas Switzerland in Kosovo. She is currently a fellow at Central European University (CEU) in Budapest, Hungary and she also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, received in Prishtina. She has more than 12 years of experience in civil society activism and development, actively involved in government-initiated policy-making processes that promote the integration of minority communities in Kosovo. Gavrani regards diversity as a valuable concept, so in 2017 she launched her own TV program named “Mimoza,” which is broadcast weekly on National Television of Kosovo (RTK) and demonstrates how media can be used to raise awareness of social issues in Kosovo. This program is unique because it was not only launched but is also managed by a woman from a minority community in the Balkans. Gavrani seeks to pave the way for future women and show how women professionals can increase gender equality across the Balkans.

Vlora Ferizi

Vlora Ferizi -Procurement Advisor at USAID, Transparent, Effective and Accountable Municipalities activity in Kosovo Prior to joining the USAID project, Vlora served as the procurement expert at various EU funded projects. Vlora also served as a short-term procurement expert for USAID supported Justice System Strengthening Program in Kosovo, as a procurement expert at the Public Procurement Regulatory Commission, and also Procurement Manager for the Pristina International Airport. Vlora is also a Procurement Trainer who supported the Kosovo Institute for Public Administration to develop curriculum and training modules for procurement qualification.Vlora is a Master on Business Administration (MBA) on Procurement, at the University of Business and Technology. She also holds a diploma of International Expert in Procurement Law and Management by the University of Business and Technology. Vlora completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Pristina “Hasan Prishtina,” – Faculty of Philology and English. Vlora holds a Professional Procurement certificate.

Shpend Ahmeti

Shpend Ahmeti serves as Mayor of the Municipality of Prishtina and the President of Social Democratic Party of Kosovo (PSD). He holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University in the United States, where he specialized in Economic and Political Development, from 2002 to 2004. He completed university studies in Economics and Business Administration at the American University in Bulgaria from 1996 to 2000, specializing in Applied Economics and Business Administration. While studying rom 1999 to 2002, Mr. Ahmeti was a student senator and then served as the President of Student Government at the American University in Bulgaria, as well as leader of various communities (from more than ten countries) through the period of reforms at the university. Starting in 2005, Ahmeti was a lecturer of Public Policy and International Political Economy at the American University in Kosovo (AUK). He has won several awards such as the World Bank Spot Award and awards from European debating championships.

Mexhide Mjaku-Topalli

Mexhide Mjaku-Topalli is a Member of Parliament in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo from PDK serving in her second legislature. She is the Chair of the Women’s Caucus and a member of the Committee on Human Rights, Gender Equality, Missing Persons, and Petitions. She holds a Master’s degree in psychology, and she was previously a teacher and director at a primary and secondary school in Ferizaj. Mjeku-Topalli is also a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Prishtina.

Vjosa Osmani

Vjosa Osmani is a Member of Parliament, representing LDK for the past three legislatures. Osmani is the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Diaspora, and Strategic Investments. Vjosa Osmani was the most-voted woman in the 2017 general elections in Kosovo. Osmani finished her bachelor studies at the Faculty of Law, University of Prishtina and holds a Master’s Degree and PhD from the University of Pittsburgh She has taught as a professor at the University of Prishtina, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Rochester Institute of Technology Kosovo.

Uran Ismaili

Uran Ismaili is the current Minister of Health of the Republic of Kosovo and Vice President of PDK. From 2010 to 2017, he was engaged in the public sector through advisory work to the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Agriculture, and most recently the adviser/chief of staff of the President of the Assembly. His experience ranges from implementing important infrastructure projects to developing multi-year national grant programs in agriculture. He has led the Ministry of Agriculture in meetings with donors from the EU, the U.S., and the World Bank, developing programs that have benefited many sectors throughout the value chain of agriculture. One of those important developments has been a unique partnership between USAID and the Government of Kosovo to fund agriculture loans through commercial banks. Apart from his advisory capacity, throughout his career he has been recognized as a successful entrepreneur in the food service sector, co-founding and co-owning a successful chain of pastry shops in Prishtina. Mr. Ismaili graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School with a Master’s in Public Administration and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Graceland University in Iowa. While at Graceland, he participated in efforts to promote religious and racial tolerance, including the International Student Club and Black Student Club.

Ismet Kryeziu

Ismet Kryeziu began his civil society career in 2001 when he joined NDI’s civic forum program. Once the civic program had ended, Ismet and his colleagues decided to establish a domestic NGO, today known as the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI). In 2006, Ismet was elected as KDI’s Executive Director and continues to serve in the role today. Ismet has extensive experience in elections, working with the Assembly of Kosovo, the fight against corruption, local government, and gender equality.

Lisa Magno

Lisa Magno - Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development in Kosovo Since October 2017, Magno has served as the USAID/Kosovo Deputy Mission Director. Prior to this, she was the acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Europe and Eurasia Bureau in Washington, D.C. Magno’s career with USAID spans 30 years, during which time she has worked in the Philippines, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and several countries in Latin America. This marks the second time that she has held a leadership role at USAID/Kosovo. From 2009–2011, she led the Program and Policy Office, and helped launch the USAID/Kosovo 2010–2014 country strategy. On July 27, Ambassador Greg Delawie swore in Lisa Magno as USAID/Kosovo’s new Mission Director.

Alexander Chavarria

Alexander Chavarria - Senior Resident Director, NDI Alexander Chavarría is the Senior Resident Director of NDI in Kosovo. He previously served as the Resident Director in Liberia and the Director for the Citizen Participation program of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador. He has served as an international consultant on issues of democracy and governance for the IADB, International Budget Program, Parliamentarians for Habitat Group and OAS. Mr. Chavarría co-founded, assisted and later served as an advisor for the Legislative Development Program (PRODEL) for the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica. He has also served as international consultant in legislative modernization programs in Guatemala and as legislative advisor for the House of Representatives of the Texas Legislature. Mr. Chavarría has also been an international observer for the OAS during the 2004 El Salvador presidential elections. A Costa Rica native, Mr. Chavarría holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, a master’s in political science from Texas State University, and is a graduate of the “licenciatura” program of University of Costa Rica, Political Science School.

Donikë Qerimi

Donikë Qerimi - Lecturer at the Faculty of Law of the University of Prishtina ‘’Hasan Prishtina’’ Donikë Qerimi is a lecturer at the Faculty of Law at the University of Prishtina ‘’Hasan Prishtina’’. She holds a PhD in Private International Law from the University of Gent in Belgium and she finished her Master’s studies at the University of Pittsburgh in the United States. Qerimi has worked as a legal advisor in the Ministry of Justice, focusing on drafting legislation, international legal cooperation, Kosovo-Serbia dialogue etc. She continues to serve as a consultant to this ministry as part of the supporting program of the British Embassy. Previously, she also worked on the process of the Kosovo Constitutional Court as well as in a number of non-governmental organizations.

Duda Balje

Duda Balje comes from the municipality of Prizren. She has been a member of parliament in the Assembly of Kosovo since 2010, and this is her third term. She is the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Gender Equality, Missing Persons, and Petitions, and is also a member of the Committee on Rights, Interests of Communities, and Returns. Duda Balje is a Doctor of Economic Sciences from Educons University in Novi Sad. Balje was also part of the Consultative Council for Communities in the 2013 Presidential Cabinet