| Andon Damovski holds a Master’s degree in Social Policy and is a PhD candidate in Sociology at the Faculty of Philosophy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. His doctoral research focuses on civic association and its role in social policies in Macedonia. For more than thirteen years, he has been professionally engaged in the field of social protection and the development of social services for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. He currently holds a managerial position in the social protection sector, with a particular focus on the development and improvement of community-based services. He is the author of scientific papers, monographs, and professional publications in the fields of sociology, social policy, and civil society. He has participated in numerous national and international conferences, academic mobility programmes, and research projects. His analyses and opinion articles have also been published in national media and public debate platforms. He is a member of the International Sociological Association (ISA) and several professional and academic associations in the fields of social work and sociology. His professional and research interests include social policy, civic association, the welfare state, social inclusion, and public policy development. |  |
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| Berta Stojkovska specializes in project development focusing on local democracy, civic participation, and democratic development across the Western Balkans and beyond. As a Project Developer at ALDA – the European Association for Local Democracy, she works with a wide network of stakeholders on complex regional and international challenges, building partnerships and coordinating across diverse institutions. She has sharpened her professional skills through international experience, including a role on the coordination team behind the Bled Strategic Forum in 2021, where she acted as liaison during bilateral meetings among high-level representatives. She is also a Kennedy-Lugar YES Program alumna and regards multiculturalism as an asset rather than a liability. Her academic background in political science, specifically international relations and diplomacy, allows her to approach each challenge with integrity and a clear vision for prosperity. Guided by Joseph Nye’s insight that lasting influence is built through credibility and cooperation rather than coercion, Berta approaches her work through dialogue, trust, and patience in building partnerships. |  |
| Rijat Abdullai grew up in Gostivar, a small town in North Macedonia, where community, tradition, and meaningful relationships played an important role in everyday life. Those values continue to be part of how I approach my personal and professional life. Currently work at the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia, where I lead the software development department. My role involves working with a team of 26 developers and testers to deliver technology solutions and support the bank’s objectives. I enjoy the collaborative nature of software development and the opportunity to work with talented people to solve complex challenges. As a manager, I strive to combine technical understanding with leadership, while creating an environment where the team can do its best work. I enjoy traveling, as it allows me to experience different cultures, gain new perspectives, and learn from people with diverse backgrounds. |  |
| Kristina Najdovska Ilievski is a legal and public policy professional with over 15 years of experience in human rights, rule of law, anti-discrimination, gender equality, and European integration. She holds a Master of Law degree and has extensive expertise in EU-funded programmes, policy development, and institutional capacity building. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with the European Commission, OSCE, GIZ, and numerous national and international organisations, contributing to policy reforms, strategic planning, project evaluation, and the implementation of complex development initiatives. Her work focuses on strengthening institutions, advancing evidence-based policymaking, and promoting sustainable and inclusive development. Her professional interests include democratic governance, public policy innovation, and fostering more resilient and inclusive societies. |  |
| Sofia Dashtevska is a Macedonian legal professional, researcher, and interpreter specializing in international law, human rights, and European Union law. Born in Skopje on 8 October 2001, she completed her legal education at the Faculty of Law “Justinian I” at the University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” in Skopje, where she earned both her Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees. In May 2025, she successfully defended her master’s thesis entitled “The International Legal Regulation of Hate Speech with a Focus on the Case Law of the Republic of Macedonia,” obtaining a Master of Laws degree with a specialization in public international law, private international law, international relations, and EU law. In October 2025, she enrolled as a PhD candidate in Information Technology Law. Sofia gained practical legal experience as a Law Trainee in the office of Attorney Vladimir Bošnjakovski and currently serves as an External Associate at the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia. She is a court interpreter for Macedonian and English and has participated in numerous international academic programs, legal trainings, and leadership initiatives related to human rights, international law, public policy, and political debate. Fluent in English and Macedonian, Sofia combines strong legal expertise with excellent communication, organizational, and public speaking skills, demonstrating a commitment to academic excellence, professional development, and public service. |  |
| Maja Nikolikj is an environmental professional from Skopje, North Macedonia, working at the intersection of environmental management, public policy, and sustainability governance. She holds a multidisciplinary background in electrical engineering and environmental systems, complemented by extensive professional experience across corporate, governmental, NGO, and research sectors. She is currently employed as an Environmental Manager at Coca-Cola HBC (Pivara Skopje), where she focuses on environmental compliance, ISO systems, and sustainability performance, including energy efficiency, water stewardship, and waste optimization. In parallel, she is engaged in environmental policy analysis work related to EU environmental acquis alignment and national legislative frameworks. Her work and research interests include climate governance, environmental policy implementation, circular economy, and data-driven environmental decision-making. She has contributed to multidisciplinary field and GIS-based research projects, as well as international training programs in environmental governance and sustainability leadership. Maja is particularly interested in strengthening environmental policy implementation in the Western Balkans through evidence-based approaches, cross-sector collaboration, and practical integration of sustainability principles into industry and public institutions. |  |
| Стефан Штерјов е историчар од Скопје, магистер по историја, со академски интерес насочен кон историјата на Македонија, Хабсбуршко-османлиските односи, балканската историја и прашањата поврзани со културното наследство. Покрај академската работа, Штерјов има професионално искуство во образованието и во областа на заштитата и промоцијата на културното наследство. Активен е и во јавниот и општествениот живот, особено во прашањата поврзани со зачувувањето на влашката култура, јазик и идентитет. Стефан Штерјов е Организационен секретар на Партијата на Власите од Македонија, каде што работи на партиска организација, административна координација и унапредување на политичката застапеност на влашката заедница во Република Македонија |  |
| М-р Марија Бабан Во 2008 година дипломира на Факултетот за политички и правни науки во Скопје, при ФОН Универзитет со просек 10.00 и се стекнува со назив Дипломиран политиколог, насока дипломатија и меѓунардони односи. Во 2016 година магистрира на Универзитет Св.”Климент Охридски” -Битола, на Факултет за безбедност во Идризово и се стекнува со научен назив Магистар по меѓународна безбедност. Со долгогодишно работно искуство , повеќе од 19 години, работи како асистент на заменик премиер задолжен за земјоделие и образование во Влада на Република Македонија во период 2007-2008 година, а од 2008 година и понатаму, работи како советник за управување и координирање со човечки ресурси во Одделние за управување со човечки ресурси, Раководител на Одделние за меѓународна соработка и евроинтеграции, а во моментот работи како Раководител на Одделние за социјална заштита, заштита на децата и здравствена заштита, во Општина Куманово. Во долгогодишното работно искуство има учествувано на многу тематски работилници, панел дискусии, студиски патувања во дел на меѓународната соработка, креирање на јавни политики, локален и економски развој, управување и координација со човечки ресурси. Активно работи на имплментација на проекти од областа на инфраструктурата финансиски поддржани од меѓународни организации и фондации. Соработува со меѓународни организации и фондации, како и со дипломатски претставништва акредитирани во нашата држава, како и со збратимени градови и општини, се со цел развој и промоција на општината Куманово на меѓународен план, како и стекнување и практикување на нови искуства и знаење помеѓу заедниците. Активно го користи македонскиот , албанскиот, бугарскиот, српскиот, англискиот јазик. |  |
| My name is Neda Gacova, and I am a legal professional with more than 13 years of experience in public administration, legislative affairs, electoral processes, and legal advisory services. I hold a Master’s Degree in International Law and have successfully passed both the Bar Exam and the Notary Exam in the Republic of Macedonia. I am currently working at the Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of Macedonia as an Adviser and Assistant for Administrative Affairs in the Director’s Office, where I provide professional and administrative support in matters within the scope of the Director’s responsibilities. Throughout my career, I have worked in several key public institutions, including the Parliament of the Macedonia, the Government, and the State Election Commission. My professional experience includes legislative drafting, legal analysis, policy support, institutional coordination, and administrative management. I have been involved in drafting laws, amendments, and other legal acts, providing legal and advisory support to senior government officials, and participating in the EU bilateral screening process in the area of democratic institutions. I have also completed specialized training programs in electoral leadership, democratic governance, anti-corruption policies, and public administration. I am fluent in Macedonian, English, and Serbian, and have a basic knowledge of Spanish. I am recognized for my analytical thinking, strong communication skills, professionalism, teamwork, and ability to work efficiently in dynamic and demanding environments. |  |
| Marko Paloski is a Senior System Engineer from North Macedonia with a background in youth involvement, good governance, cybersecurity, and Internet governance. He graduated from the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering in Skopje and has built extensive experience in managing and securing IT infrastructure while contributing to the development of digital policies and governance frameworks at national, regional, and international levels. Alongside his technical career, Marko serves as the Coordinator of the National Internet Governance Forum (IGF MKD), operating under the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF) Secretariat. He previously served as a Steering Committee member for Eastern Europe in the Youth Coalition on Internet Governance (YCIG), was part of the organizing committee of the Youth School of SEEDIG (South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance), represented Club Alpbach Macedonia at the European Forum Alpbach, served as a Youth Ambassador for the World Summit Awards, and held the role of Impact Officer at Shapers Hub Skopje. A strong advocate for digital rights, cybersecurity, and an open, secure, and inclusive Internet, Marko actively contributes to policy development and multistakeholder initiatives addressing Internet governance challenges. He is was member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Generation Connect Europe Group, focusing on cybersecurity and Internet regulation policies, contributes to ICANN discussions on DNS Abuse and Top-Level Domains, and participates in Internet Society working groups on encryption and rural Internet access. Through IGF MKD, he is also engaged in the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) CEE Digital Rights Network. Marko is an Open Internet for Democracy Leader Fellow, supported by NDI, CIPE, and CIMA, where he works on advancing democratic values, digital rights, and Internet policy development across the region. |  |
| Twelve-time international representative of Macedonia in global beauty pageants and competitions, award-winning titleholder, fashion designer, and journalist, Tijana Petreska has built a distinguished presence on the international stage through her achievements across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Having proudly represented her country at 12 world pageants, she has earned numerous awards and distinctions, establishing herself among North Macedonia’s most recognized international representatives. Her academic background includes a university degree, a college education, and two specialized academies in Visual Arts, Fashion Design, and Business Management. Alongside her professional work, she actively supports environmental initiatives and continuously broadens her global perspective through independent travel, cultural exchange, and international engagement, with a big focus on mental health. |  |
| Isa Kasum is an international relations professional and senior simultaneous interpreter specializing in high-level diplomatic, institutional, and cross-cultural communication across the Balkans and Türkiye. He has built extensive experience supporting international organizations, governmental meetings, and multilateral cooperation frameworks, ensuring precise and context-sensitive interpretation in complex environments. Professional Experience He has contributed to multinational initiatives through institutions such as the International Eurasian Metalworkers Federation and TRT, where he provided simultaneous interpretation and linguistic support for international delegations from North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. His work includes participation in high-level assemblies, training programs, and regional cooperation events. Academic Background He holds M.A. and M.Sc. degrees with academic specialization in international law, European integration, and Balkan political studies. His academic training strengthens his analytical capacity in policy research, international governance, and regional security studies. Core Competencies Kasum’s professional profile is defined by advanced multilingual proficiency, simultaneous interpretation at institutional level, cross-border project coordination, and strategic engagement in diplomacy and international cooperation. He operates at the intersection of academia, policy, and international project development. |  |