Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 21 years of experience in business development, project proposal writing, and fundraising, the expert specializes in the Western Balkans. With extensive expertise in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) for large-scale programs, career highlights include managing EU and USAID-funded projects, co-authoring national strategies, and delivering impactful training and coaching. As Executive Director at SEG Holding, responsibilities have included strategic planning, client relationship management, and team leadership. The expert has been instrumental in establishing cross-sector partnerships and contributing to socio-economic development initiatives at both regional and national levels.

Project experience and donor exposure

The expert has collaborated with international donors such as the European Union, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), USAID, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Worked across diverse projects involving project implementation, technical assistance, evaluations, and capacity building. Thematic areas include governance, social entrepreneurship, and CSR. These projects have been implemented on a regional scale in the Western Balkans, specifically in countries like North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania. Background includes positions in key roles within EU-funded projects and USAID initiatives, focusing on socio-economic development and local governance.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in sectors such as business development, strategic communication, corporate social responsibility, and social entrepreneurship, the expert has held roles including Executive Director, Senior Consultant, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Expert. Responsibilities have included strategic planning, project management, and capacity building. The expert's interdisciplinary knowledge spans governance, socio-economic development, and cross-sector partnerships. Geographic experience is extensive in the Western Balkans, with a focus on regional and country-specific initiatives in North Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania. Long-term assignments in North Macedonia since 2004 and ongoing involvement in IPA countries since 2009 demonstrate region-specific expertise and a commitment to fostering cross-sector partnerships and capacity building.

Languages and education

With native proficiency in Macedonian and fluency in English, the expert also possesses strong proficiency in Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian, with intermediate skills in Albanian. German is spoken at a basic level. These language skills have been utilized in professional contexts across the Western Balkans, involving in-country work and collaboration with multilingual teams on international projects. The expert is currently pursuing a Doctoral Study Programme in Strategic Communication and Management at the School of Advanced Social Studies in Ljubljana, Slovenia. They hold a Master of Business Administration in General Management from University American College Skopje, North Macedonia, completed between 2008 and 2012. Additionally, a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature was obtained from SS. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia, from 1997 to 2001.