SPEAKERS
Louise Xin
Fashion designer & Human Rights activist
Sweden
Born in China, raised in Sweden, and currently based in Paris. Louise Xin is a self-taught, award-winning fashion designer and founder of Scandinavia’s first Rental-only none sale couture brand Louise Xin Couture. She discovered the world of couture and started to experiment with upcycled materials by the end of 2019 and decided to start a rental-only brand during the pandemic 2020 as a humble attempt to inspire a change in consumption patterns and customer behaviour.
Her passion for sustainability, and her goal to create a circular brand led her into humanitarian work. Xin dedicated her debut fashion show in the fall of 2021 to human rights. The show went viral worldwide, and Xin gained international recognition. One month after the show, Xin was granted the first-ever edition of the Fabric of Life Award during the International Textile Conference -Next Textile -in Borås. Since then, she has been travelling around the world, doing lectures and participating in exhibitions in museums, art galleries, and luxury mall. She has been featured in radio, podcast and television interviews, and over 70 magazine articles in 10 languages worldwide. In June 2022 Xin was selected as the first Sakharov Fellow from the fashion industry and spoke in front of the European Parliament. March 28th Xin will be holding a fashion show in Brussels inside the Parliament together aiming to raise awareness about ending modern slavery and forced labour in fashion.
“Louise Xin is Changing the World one dress at the time” – Vogue Scandinavia
Emiland Skora
Co-Founder & CEO
MEIA Oils, Albania
Maria Smith
Secretary General
Axfoundation, Sweden
Maria Smith has been Secretary General of Axfoundation since 2019. She has more than twenty years of experience form leadership positions and from working with sustainability issues in a corporate context within, FMCG, the engineering industry and the service sector, among others. Maria holds a MSc in Chemistry and an Executive MBA. Axfoundation is a stand-alone, non-profit organization developing practical and innovative solutions to complex sustainability challenges.
Louise Xin
Fashion designer & Human Rights activist
Sweden
Emiland Skora
Co-Founder & CEO
MEIA Oils, Albania
Maria Smith
Secretary General
Axfoundation, Sweden
Biljana Braithwaite
Founding Partner & CEO
Sustineri Partners, United Kingdom
Biljana Braithwaite is CEO and Founding Partner at Sustineri Partners, ESG consultancy company, founder and organizer of Western Balkans ESG Summit, first major regional event dedicated to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) topics, held in April 2023, Montenegro. The Summit has become the flagship annual regional sustainability event, with expansion to the Adria region in 2024. Through the initiatives and work at the Sustineri Partners, Ms Braithwaite drives gender diversity in corporate leadership and empowers countries, institutions, companies and organizations to put sustainability at the heart of their work.
Ms Braithwaite is founder of Women on Boards Adria (WOBA) initiative, which aims to increase the participation of women in corporate decision-making in the Adria region. Initiative is inspired by the EU Directive that requires listed companies in the EU to reach a target of 40 percent of non-director positions to be taken by women by 2026, and WOBA initiative is a joint effort of Sustineri Partners and partners of the Western Balkans ESG Summit 2023, who believe that gender diversity on boards leads to better decision-making and better business performance.
Biljana Braithwaite is also Western Balkans Programme Director at The AIRE Centre. She has over twenty years’ experience of advising governments, businesses and international organizations on social justice and human rights issues in the region. She has particular expertise in human rights law, anti-corruption, good governance and other key social policies. Biljana has deep knowledge of the region, extensive networks and practical experience in implementing reforms. A lawyer by training with degrees from Belgrade University and Lund University’s Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Biljana began her career at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and has been associated with the AIRE Centre since 1998. She is a member of the boards of the AIRE Centre USA and the International Bridges to Justice.
Anna-Karin Dahlberg
Director of Sustainability
Lindex, Sweden
25 years in fashion industry and most of this time in leading positions from buying and assortment + heading production offices in China, India and Hong Kong. Last 8 years from sustainability and business development. Now part of the management team.
Emma Danielsson
Head of Sustainability Energy & Industry
Sweco, Sweden
Emma Danielsson has worked with industrial improvement projects during 15 years, as Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Quality Manager and Project Manager. She has later specialized in sustainable and efficient circular systems. Today she works with sustainability at Sweco, helping both industries and municipalities to create the sustainable society of the future.
Biljana Braithwaite
Founding Partner & CEO
Sustineri Partners, United Kingdom
Anna-Karin Dahlberg
Director of Sustainability
Lindex, Sweden
Emma Danielsson
Head of Sustainability Energy & Industry
Sweco, Sweden
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager
Sweden Global Compact, Sweden
Responsible for members and partnerships at UN Global Compact Network Sweden. Previously worked with sustainability in the private sector and as a consultant.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog has a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and Economics from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and Lund University in Sweden. She is a certified Leadership Coach and has obtained several specialized certificates from: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Springfield University, the World Bank, Self Leaders, Eunonia Leadership Academy, Deep Democracy Institute and Harvard Business School. She has worked for the World Economic Forum, for the United Nations, several Governments, Inter-Governmental Organisations, Development Banks, as well as academic institutions including Stockholm School of Economics, INSEAD, Scottish Leadership Institute, Technólogico de Monterrey and Indian Institute for Finance. She has over 30 years working experience within Sustainable Business Development, Strategy and Leadership in 61 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A skilled trainer and certified coach and a much-demanded mentor, Åsa is CEO of Global Leadership for Sustainable Development and President of the Sweden Africa Chamber.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager
Sweden Global Compact, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Louise Xin
Fashion designer & Human Rights activist
Sweden
Born in China, raised in Sweden, and currently based in Paris. Louise Xin is a self-taught, award-winning fashion designer and founder of Scandinavia’s first Rental-only none sale couture brand Louise Xin Couture. She discovered the world of couture and started to experiment with upcycled materials by the end of 2019 and decided to start a rental-only brand during the pandemic 2020 as a humble attempt to inspire a change in consumption patterns and customer behaviour.
Her passion for sustainability, and her goal to create a circular brand led her into humanitarian work. Xin dedicated her debut fashion show in the fall of 2021 to human rights. The show went viral worldwide, and Xin gained international recognition. One month after the show, Xin was granted the first-ever edition of the Fabric of Life Award during the International Textile Conference -Next Textile -in Borås. Since then, she has been travelling around the world, doing lectures and participating in exhibitions in museums, art galleries, and luxury mall. She has been featured in radio, podcast and television interviews, and over 70 magazine articles in 10 languages worldwide. In June 2022 Xin was selected as the first Sakharov Fellow from the fashion industry and spoke in front of the European Parliament. March 28th Xin will be holding a fashion show in Brussels inside the Parliament together aiming to raise awareness about ending modern slavery and forced labour in fashion.
“Louise Xin is Changing the World one dress at the time” – Vogue Scandinavia
Maria Smith
Secretary General
Axfoundation, Sweden
Maria Smith has been Secretary General of Axfoundation since 2019. She has more than twenty years of experience form leadership positions and from working with sustainability issues in a corporate context within, FMCG, the engineering industry and the service sector, among others. Maria holds a MSc in Chemistry and an Executive MBA. Axfoundation is a stand-alone, non-profit organization developing practical and innovative solutions to complex sustainability challenges.
Fashion designer & Human Rights activist
Sweden
Louise Xin
Fashion designer & Human Rights activist
Sweden
Born in China, raised in Sweden, and currently based in Paris. Louise Xin is a self-taught, award-winning fashion designer and founder of Scandinavia’s first Rental-only none sale couture brand Louise Xin Couture. She discovered the world of couture and started to experiment with upcycled materials by the end of 2019 and decided to start a rental-only brand during the pandemic 2020 as a humble attempt to inspire a change in consumption patterns and customer behaviour.
Her passion for sustainability, and her goal to create a circular brand led her into humanitarian work. Xin dedicated her debut fashion show in the fall of 2021 to human rights. The show went viral worldwide, and Xin gained international recognition. One month after the show, Xin was granted the first-ever edition of the Fabric of Life Award during the International Textile Conference -Next Textile -in Borås. Since then, she has been travelling around the world, doing lectures and participating in exhibitions in museums, art galleries, and luxury mall. She has been featured in radio, podcast and television interviews, and over 70 magazine articles in 10 languages worldwide. In June 2022 Xin was selected as the first Sakharov Fellow from the fashion industry and spoke in front of the European Parliament. March 28th Xin will be holding a fashion show in Brussels inside the Parliament together aiming to raise awareness about ending modern slavery and forced labour in fashion.
“Louise Xin is Changing the World one dress at the time” – Vogue Scandinavia
Emiland Skora
Co-Founder & CEO
MEIA Oils, Albania
Emiland Skora
Co-Founder & CEO
MEIA Oils, Albania
Maria Smith
Secretary General
Axfoundation, Sweden
Maria Smith
Secretary General
Axfoundation, Sweden
Maria Smith has been Secretary General of Axfoundation since 2019. She has more than twenty years of experience form leadership positions and from working with sustainability issues in a corporate context within, FMCG, the engineering industry and the service sector, among others. Maria holds a MSc in Chemistry and an Executive MBA. Axfoundation is a stand-alone, non-profit organization developing practical and innovative solutions to complex sustainability challenges.
Anna-Karin Dahlberg
Director of Sustainability
Lindex, Sweden
25 years in fashion industry and most of this time in leading positions from buying and assortment + heading production offices in China, India and Hong Kong. Last 8 years from sustainability and business development. Now part of the management team.
Emma Danielsson
Head of Sustainability Energy & Industry
Sweco, Sweden
Emma Danielsson has worked with industrial improvement projects during 15 years, as Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Quality Manager and Project Manager. She has later specialized in sustainable and efficient circular systems. Today she works with sustainability at Sweco, helping both industries and municipalities to create the sustainable society of the future.
Biljana Braithwaite
Founding Partner & CEO
Sustineri Partners, United Kingdom
Biljana Braithwaite
Founding Partner & CEO
Sustineri Partners, United Kingdom
Biljana Braithwaite is CEO and Founding Partner at Sustineri Partners, ESG consultancy company, founder and organizer of Western Balkans ESG Summit, first major regional event dedicated to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) topics, held in April 2023, Montenegro. The Summit has become the flagship annual regional sustainability event, with expansion to the Adria region in 2024. Through the initiatives and work at the Sustineri Partners, Ms Braithwaite drives gender diversity in corporate leadership and empowers countries, institutions, companies and organizations to put sustainability at the heart of their work.
Ms Braithwaite is founder of Women on Boards Adria (WOBA) initiative, which aims to increase the participation of women in corporate decision-making in the Adria region. Initiative is inspired by the EU Directive that requires listed companies in the EU to reach a target of 40 percent of non-director positions to be taken by women by 2026, and WOBA initiative is a joint effort of Sustineri Partners and partners of the Western Balkans ESG Summit 2023, who believe that gender diversity on boards leads to better decision-making and better business performance.
Biljana Braithwaite is also Western Balkans Programme Director at The AIRE Centre. She has over twenty years’ experience of advising governments, businesses and international organizations on social justice and human rights issues in the region. She has particular expertise in human rights law, anti-corruption, good governance and other key social policies. Biljana has deep knowledge of the region, extensive networks and practical experience in implementing reforms. A lawyer by training with degrees from Belgrade University and Lund University’s Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Biljana began her career at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and has been associated with the AIRE Centre since 1998. She is a member of the boards of the AIRE Centre USA and the International Bridges to Justice.
Anna-Karin Dahlberg
Director of Sustainability
Lindex, Sweden
Anna-Karin Dahlberg
Director of Sustainability
Lindex, Sweden
25 years in fashion industry and most of this time in leading positions from buying and assortment + heading production offices in China, India and Hong Kong. Last 8 years from sustainability and business development. Now part of the management team.
Emma Danielsson
Head of Sustainability Energy & Industry
Sweco, Sweden
Emma Danielsson
Head of Sustainability Energy & Industry
Sweco, Sweden
Emma Danielsson has worked with industrial improvement projects during 15 years, as Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Quality Manager and Project Manager. She has later specialized in sustainable and efficient circular systems. Today she works with sustainability at Sweco, helping both industries and municipalities to create the sustainable society of the future.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager
Sweden Global Compact, Sweden
Responsible for members and partnerships at UN Global Compact Network Sweden. Previously worked with sustainability in the private sector and as a consultant.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog has a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and Economics from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and Lund University in Sweden. She is a certified Leadership Coach and has obtained several specialized certificates from: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Springfield University, the World Bank, Self Leaders, Eunonia Leadership Academy, Deep Democracy Institute and Harvard Business School. She has worked for the World Economic Forum, for the United Nations, several Governments, Inter-Governmental Organisations, Development Banks, as well as academic institutions including Stockholm School of Economics, INSEAD, Scottish Leadership Institute, Technólogico de Monterrey and Indian Institute for Finance. She has over 30 years working experience within Sustainable Business Development, Strategy and Leadership in 61 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A skilled trainer and certified coach and a much-demanded mentor, Åsa is CEO of Global Leadership for Sustainable Development and President of the Sweden Africa Chamber.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager
Sweden Global Compact, Sweden
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager
Sweden Global Compact, Sweden
Responsible for members and partnerships at UN Global Compact Network Sweden. Previously worked with sustainability in the private sector and as a consultant.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog has a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and Economics from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and Lund University in Sweden. She is a certified Leadership Coach and has obtained several specialized certificates from: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Springfield University, the World Bank, Self Leaders, Eunonia Leadership Academy, Deep Democracy Institute and Harvard Business School. She has worked for the World Economic Forum, for the United Nations, several Governments, Inter-Governmental Organisations, Development Banks, as well as academic institutions including Stockholm School of Economics, INSEAD, Scottish Leadership Institute, Technólogico de Monterrey and Indian Institute for Finance. She has over 30 years working experience within Sustainable Business Development, Strategy and Leadership in 61 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A skilled trainer and certified coach and a much-demanded mentor, Åsa is CEO of Global Leadership for Sustainable Development and President of the Sweden Africa Chamber.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog has a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and Economics from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and Lund University in Sweden. She is a certified Leadership Coach and has obtained several specialized certificates from: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Springfield University, the World Bank, Self Leaders, Eunonia Leadership Academy, Deep Democracy Institute and Harvard Business School. She has worked for the World Economic Forum, for the United Nations, several Governments, Inter-Governmental Organisations, Development Banks, as well as academic institutions including Stockholm School of Economics, INSEAD, Scottish Leadership Institute, Technólogico de Monterrey and Indian Institute for Finance. She has over 30 years working experience within Sustainable Business Development, Strategy and Leadership in 61 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A skilled trainer and certified coach and a much-demanded mentor, Åsa is CEO of Global Leadership for Sustainable Development and President of the Sweden Africa Chamber.
Zejni Musaj
Founder and Managing Director
MUSAJ-Z sh.p.k.
Zejni Musaj
Founder and Managing Director
MUSAJ-Z sh.p.k.
Zejni Musaj is one of the first founders of businesses in the city of Patos. Born and living in Patos, Zejniu took his first steps after graduating from the Mechanical Technical School in Patos in the oil transport business in the same city. Like a good part of Albanians, in the 90s he emigrated to Greece where he worked, observed the market and clarified his entrepreneurial ideas by returning to his hometown. Equipped with technical knowledge and an entrepreneurial spirit, in 2000, together with his brother, he founded the first fashion business company, where he held various management positions that gave him the opportunity to enrich his managerial skills. For 8 (eight) years, he held management positions as administrator, managing director, as well as managing relations with clients of the international market, being a good connoisseur of Italian and Greek. In 2018, as a result of the increased opportunities to do business and the consolidation of his skills and knowledge, Zejni Musaj undertakes his own individual initiative, giving life to the business he currently manages, MUSAJ-Z sh.p.k. It started this journey with 80 workers and only one client, with a monthly order of 5,000 (five) pieces. With patience, quality and stability, year after year, he built strong and reliable relationships with other and different companies, mainly in Italy and Switzerland, working for well-known brands such as HOGAN, NEROGIARDINI, TECHNOBOOTS, BOGNER, WOOLRICH, LA MARTINA, LORI BLUE. Today the company has almost tripled its staff and exports at least three times a week to countries and companies that have long-term contracts with MUSAJ-Z sh.p.k. and that see this company as a loyal and long-term partner in Albania. The company employs boys and girls who come from the same district, educated and experienced in this sector. Most of the employees have been part of the team of MUSAJ-Z sh.p.k. for at least 5 years. growing and developing together with the company. The next challenge for Zejni and the company is the re-organization of processes and the consolidation of best practices, with the aim of increasing quality but also efficiency and cost optimization. This process has started through the expertise provided by the SCORE program enabled by the ILO and Zejniu aims to translate it into an organic part of everyday operations.
Constantin von Alvensleben
Board Member
Foreign Investor Association in Albania (FIAA)
Constantin von Alvensleben
Board Member
Foreign Investor Association in Albania (FIAA)
Born in 1962 in Germany, Dr. Constantin has a Doctorate Degree in Law and an Economics Specialization from the London School of Economics.
Dr. Constantin has served FIAA as President from 2020 to 2022, while he was CEO of Tirana International Airport SHPK for a second time.
He joined last year, the French renewable energy developer Voltalia, as the Country Manager of Voltalia Albanie SHPK and has since then further developed Voltalia’s activities in Albania. In addition, he comes with a long experience in the air transport, but also the property development industry and is very familiar with Albania and its business environment since his first position in Albania as CEO of TIA during 2005-2007 with the German HOCHTIEF group. Since March, he holds also the Chairmanship of the Energy Industry Council within FIAA dedicated to contribute to a fostering foreign Business Community, consolidating and strengthening FIAA’s leading role in ALBANIA.
Thomas Lindhqvist
The International institute for Industrial
Environmental Economics, Lund University
Thomas Lindhqvist
The International institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
Lund University
Thomas Lindhqvist has worked with environmental research and policy since 1984. His main focus has been on environmental product policy and management responses to such policies. He has done substantial work on waste management, recycling and industrial pollution prevention in Sweden, the EU, and the Nordic countries, in Canada, Argentina, India, Georgia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and several other countries. In 1990 he introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and has subsequently continued to promote the implementation and theory of this policy principle. Besides working with academic research projects, he has worked with, for instance, Swedish Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, when coining the EPR principle in 1990, OECD, Swedish Car Association when developing their proposal for EPR system, as well as several NGOs. He worked a short time in the secretariat of UNECE, and cooperated extensively with UNIDO and UNEP. He defended his PhD on EPR in 2000. He has for almost three decades been working at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) at Lund University in Sweden.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog has a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and Economics from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and Lund University in Sweden. She is a certified Leadership Coach and has obtained several specialized certificates from: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Springfield University, the World Bank, Self Leaders, Eunonia Leadership Academy, Deep Democracy Institute and Harvard Business School. She has worked for the World Economic Forum, for the United Nations, several Governments, Inter-Governmental Organisations, Development Banks, as well as academic institutions including Stockholm School of Economics, INSEAD, Scottish Leadership Institute, Technólogico de Monterrey and Indian Institute for Finance. She has over 30 years working experience within Sustainable Business Development, Strategy and Leadership in 61 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A skilled trainer and certified coach and a much-demanded mentor, Åsa is CEO of Global Leadership for Sustainable Development and President of the Sweden Africa Chamber.
Ardita Seknaj
Secretary General
ICC Albania
Ardita Seknaj
Secretary General
The International Chamber of Commerce in Albania (ICC Albania)
Ardita Seknaj has been the Secretary General of ICC Albania (the International Chamber of Commerce in Albania ) since 2013. Ardita’s relationship with the organization stems from the establishment process that started in 2011 as part of the leading team in Albania. Before joining ICC Albania, Ardita worked for about eight years in the banking sector, where she expanded her experience in different fields such as trade finance, project management, insurance, corporate banking, and financial institutions. She is engaged as a consultant in various regional projects in her areas of interest and has led various projects in the area of sustainable development, integrity and collective actions. Ardita is one of the five signatories of the Southeast Europe (SEE) Good Governance and Anti-corruption Women Leaders Forum. Ardita’s fields of interest remain international trade and investments, trade finance and sustainable development.
Shkëlzen Marku
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Junus Social Business Balkans
Shkëlzen Marku
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Junus Social Business Balkans
Shkelzen is founder and CEO of Enterimpact and co-founder and Managing Director of Yunus Social Business Balkans (YSB Balkans), supporting development of entrepreneurship ecosystem and impact enterprising initiatives in Western Balkan countries. He has 20+ years of experience in the design and delivery of business development services, practical/hands-on training, coaching and mentoring to MSMEs, startups and social impact entrepreneurs, as well as in the design and implementation of financial and non-financial instruments in support to entrepreneurs in Albania and other Western Balkan countries. He has served, for several years, as consultant and advisor on economic development policies and project design, implementation and management for several governmental and international development institutions (including World Bank, IFAD, FAO, UNDP, GIZ, etc.) in more than 15 countries around the world (including in Western Balkans, Caucasus, Africa and Asia).
As an entrepreneur himself, he is involved in various companies as co-founder, investor, board member or advisor. He is also President of the Partnership for Development Foundation (Albania), member of the Board of Directors of KGMA-Microcredit Fund (Kosovo) and member of the Advisory Board of Albanian Center for Economic Research (Albania). He graduated from CNEARC (France) in Agro-Engineering and holds a Master of Science degree in Agribusiness Economy from CIHEAM-IAMM (France) and a Doctorate degree in Economic Development Policies from AUT (Albania). For more than 15 years he has also served as visiting lecturer at various universities in Albania.
Bosse Rosenqvist
Green Business Mobilisation Expert
Bosse Rosenqvis
Green Business Mobilisation Expert
Bosse Rosenqvist is one of the producer pioneers of the Swedish Organic Farming Community in the beginning of 90´s. With a long farming experience and studies at the Swedish University he was an initiator to meet the growing consumer interest in organic produced products by establishing economical associations for the marketing and sales of organic goods like grain, meat and vegetables. Besides the own farming business, he has been open to share his organisational, financial and value chain experiences in several donor funded projects in among others the Baltics, Ukraine and Albania.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog has a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and Economics from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and Lund University in Sweden. She is a certified Leadership Coach and has obtained several specialized certificates from: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Springfield University, the World Bank, Self Leaders, Eunonia Leadership Academy, Deep Democracy Institute and Harvard Business School. She has worked for the World Economic Forum, for the United Nations, several Governments, Inter-Governmental Organisations, Development Banks, as well as academic institutions including Stockholm School of Economics, INSEAD, Scottish Leadership Institute, Technólogico de Monterrey and Indian Institute for Finance. She has over 30 years working experience within Sustainable Business Development, Strategy and Leadership in 61 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A skilled trainer and certified coach and a much-demanded mentor, Åsa is CEO of Global Leadership for Sustainable Development and President of the Sweden Africa Chamber.
Flori Uka
Founder of Uka Wine
Co-Founder of Uka Farm
Flori Uka
Founder of Uka Wine and Co-Founder of Uka Farm
Born in 1985, Flori Uka is a passionate enologist., sommelier and winemaker, actively engaged in promoting the extraordinary Albanian wine heritage. Founder of Uka Wine and co-Founder of Uka Farm, he specialized in Enology in Italy at the University of Udine. He followed in his father’s footsteps, who is a wll-known professor of Agriculture. The ambition of Flori is to put Albania on the world wine map.
Rudrajeet Pal
Full Professor in Textile Value Chain
Swedish School of Textiles, University of Borås
Rudrajeet Pal
Full Professor in Textile Value Chain
Swedish School of Textiles, University of Borås
Rudrajeet Pal works as a Professor of Textile Value Chain at Swedish School of Textiles, University of Boras in Sweden. He has worked as textile and apparel industry expert in various multi-stakeholder projects for over 10 years, such as for The United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing (Textile ETP), Swedish National Platform for sustainable fashion and textiles.
In his academic career Rudrajeet has been an active investigator in several projects that have received funding from European Commission, European Education and Culture Executive Agency, Swedish Innovation Agency, on industrial sustainability in textiles and fashion value chains, in the areas of circular economy, traceability and digital production.
Rudrajeet holds a PhD in Engineering Science, Master’s in industrial economics and Bachelors in Textile Engineering from Finland, Sweden and India respectively, and has previously worked in both textile and IT sectors.
Ermira Shehi
Head of Textile and Fashion Department
PUT & National Expert, UNIDO
Ermira Shehi
Head of Textile and Fashion Department
Polytechnic University of Tirana & National Expert, UNIDO
Prof. Ermira Shehi graduated as a Textile Engineer with post university studies at RWTH Aachen, many trainings in Europe and USA, she has more than 28 years of experience in the Textile and Fashion Department with a high contribution in the academic field, research and scientific area, as well as in the garment and footwear sector by giving her contribution as an expert for the garment and footwear sector in Albania. Her field of expertise is Garment Technology, Manufacturing, Textile structure, process, and product optimization, industrial logistics. She has been member of many international development project teams for agencies, including USAID, GIZ, ILO and UNIDO. She is Head of the Council of Professors, Mechanical Engineering Faculty. She has more than 50 papers presented and published in various International Scientific Conferences and Journals.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog has a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and Economics from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and Lund University in Sweden. She is a certified Leadership Coach and has obtained several specialized certificates from: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Springfield University, the World Bank, Self Leaders, Eunonia Leadership Academy, Deep Democracy Institute and Harvard Business School. She has worked for the World Economic Forum, for the United Nations, several Governments, Inter-Governmental Organisations, Development Banks, as well as academic institutions including Stockholm School of Economics, INSEAD, Scottish Leadership Institute, Technólogico de Monterrey and Indian Institute for Finance. She has over 30 years working experience within Sustainable Business Development, Strategy and Leadership in 61 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A skilled trainer and certified coach and a much-demanded mentor, Åsa is CEO of Global Leadership for Sustainable Development and President of the Sweden Africa Chamber.
Samir Memedov
Program Officer
WeEffect
Samir Memedov
Program Officer for Environment, Climate Change and Resilience
WeEffect
He is an environmental engineer with a Master’s in environmental economy. He worked in environmental Civil Society Organisations, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, UNDP programme associate, GIZ deputy fund manager in two projects, We Effect, international and national consultant and expert in environment and climate change.
Sabah Djaloshi
Executive Director
AgroPuka
Sabah Djaloshi
Executive Director
AgroPuka
Sabah Djaloshi is the executive director of Agropuka, an association of agriculture and livestock producers in Puka district (Northern Albania). As a farmers’ association contributes to the integrated development of the rural areas through encouraging and promoting rural economic development and initiatives and activities of community development in order to improve the lives of its members and rural communities.
Emir Adžović
Programme Analyst
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Emir Adžović
Programme Analyst
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Emir Adžović has over 20 years of experience working with public and private sector reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. In the last five years, he focused his energy on promotion of the importance of the UN Agenda 2030 and the sustainable development goals in the private sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. With a committed team of colleagues, he stands behind the SDG Business Award in BIH that recognizes potent private companies that create decent jobs and reduce negative environmental impacts through their business models. He is also actively involved in design and implementation of the SDG Week in BIH. As part of the good governance sector within UNDP, Emir Adžović led the SDG Accelerator for SMEs in BiH as well as the Decarbonization Challenge for companies in BiH. Last but not least, Emir is a husband, father of two daughters and a passionate amateur runner.
Social media handles: @zamisli2030 and @undpbih
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager
Sweden Global Compact, Sweden
Responsible for members and partnerships at UN Global Compact Network Sweden. Previously worked with sustainability in the private sector and as a consultant.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog has a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and Economics from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and Lund University in Sweden. She is a certified Leadership Coach and has obtained several specialized certificates from: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Springfield University, the World Bank, Self Leaders, Eunonia Leadership Academy, Deep Democracy Institute and Harvard Business School. She has worked for the World Economic Forum, for the United Nations, several Governments, Inter-Governmental Organisations, Development Banks, as well as academic institutions including Stockholm School of Economics, INSEAD, Scottish Leadership Institute, Technólogico de Monterrey and Indian Institute for Finance. She has over 30 years working experience within Sustainable Business Development, Strategy and Leadership in 61 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A skilled trainer and certified coach and a much-demanded mentor, Åsa is CEO of Global Leadership for Sustainable Development and President of the Sweden Africa Chamber.
Dean Celaj
CEO
Akademi.al
Dean Celaj
CEO
Akademi.al
With a BSc from University College London and a Masters from Harvard University, Dean is a serial entrepreneur focusing his ventures on education technology. He has been recognized by world class organizations and institutions for his achievements in the field, specifically for his startup Akademi.al, the e-learning platform counting more than 500’000 users that aided the Albanian educational system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fabiola Duro
Founder and CEO
INNVEST| IMAA
Fabiola Duro
Founder and CEO
INNVEST|IMAA
Fabiola Duro was born on February 29th, 1984, in Tirana, Albania. Since the early years she has shown a specific interest in the business management & entrepreneurship. For this reason, in 2002 she chooses to study at the University of Tirana, Faculty of Economics. Her achievements include a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration which leads her to have management & communication skills and a Master Degree in Economic Diplomacy at the Mediterranean Academy of Malta. She has Excellent business language skills in English and Italian. She furthered her academic achievements by taking on the position of Assistant Professor of Business Communication & Entrepreneurship at the Management and Communication Department for SMEs at Economic Faculty of Tirana. Fabiola is Founder and CEO of Innovation Investment Fund (hereinafter INNVEST) and IMAA. INNVEST is a private entity that combines innovative research while bringing investors and new business ideas together for pressing economic challenges. Also in 2022, she also found Innovation Management Academy Albania (IMAA). Through IMAA as a unique educational format that incorporates lectures, training, and workshops, aiming to build the organization’s capability to manage innovation, build a sustainable business in the age of digital revolution and impact the ecosystem by empowering Albanian companies with actionable and sustainable practices and brining the importance of CSR’s.
Arben Shkodra
Secretary General
Albanian Manufacturers Union
Arben Shkodra
Secretary General
Albanian Manufacturers Union
Arben Shkodra is a highly accomplished professional with an extensive experience in various fields such as economics, finance, international relations, diplomacy, political studies, governance, and territorial development. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics/Finance from the University of Tirana and has completed several postgraduate courses in international relations and diplomacy, political studies, and governance.
Throughout his career, Mr. Shkodra has held diverse managerial roles across both public and private sectors. For over a decade, he made significant contributions as the Head of Human Resources, Finance, and Operations Department at the Prime Minister’s Office and is currently the Managing Partner at Daminani & Partners, Executive Director at Future Center, and Secretary General at the Albanian Manufacturing Union.
In addition to his primary roles, throughout his career Mr. Shkodra has taken on several parallel positions, including external advisor for the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Albania (UCCIAL), Head of Authority of the Council of Ministers in the High Inspectorate for Conflict of Interest and Asset Declarations, and Ad Interim General Director in the General Directorate of Patent and Trademarks.
Furthermore, Mr. Shkodra is also an active member of numerous chambers of commerce and national councils including the the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tirana (CCIT), Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Albania (UCCIAL), National Council of EU Integration, National Economic Council, and the Interministerial Working Group of S3.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager
Sweden Global Compact, Sweden
Responsible for members and partnerships at UN Global Compact Network Sweden. Previously worked with sustainability in the private sector and as a consultant.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog has a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and Economics from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and Lund University in Sweden. She is a certified Leadership Coach and has obtained several specialized certificates from: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Springfield University, the World Bank, Self Leaders, Eunonia Leadership Academy, Deep Democracy Institute and Harvard Business School. She has worked for the World Economic Forum, for the United Nations, several Governments, Inter-Governmental Organisations, Development Banks, as well as academic institutions including Stockholm School of Economics, INSEAD, Scottish Leadership Institute, Technólogico de Monterrey and Indian Institute for Finance. She has over 30 years working experience within Sustainable Business Development, Strategy and Leadership in 61 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A skilled trainer and certified coach and a much-demanded mentor, Åsa is CEO of Global Leadership for Sustainable Development and President of the Sweden Africa Chamber.
Joana Kaçorri
Founder
Amargi
Joana Kaçorri
Founder
Amargi
I was born and raised in Rrëshen. I completed my studies in architecture at the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning at the Polytechnic University of Tirana. I have been living in Tirana for 10 years. I work as an architect at the Construction Institute in Tirana. I founded Amargi 4 years ago and have been the designer ever since.
Amargi is a business that at first sight looks like came into my life out of thin air, but when I think about it closely it is the thing I have always wanted to do. From a young age I had a special feeling on clothing – I didn’t think of it not only in terms of functionality, but went deeper – looking at the combination of colors, shapes and cuts. In the journey toward the beautiful, Amargi stays true to its roots. The word Amargi translates from ancient Sumerian as “return to mother”. Through the exploration of the Albanian ethnographic heritage, Amargi seeks to reawaken a national intellectual wealth that will evanesce with generation of our grandparents. At the core of our brand is our selection of artisan hand-loomed fabric, deliberately chosen in support of the local economy, the empowerment of women and the principles of sustainability.
The idea to establish a business was born on 28.12.2018. The business I would create would be a clothing brand inspired by traditional Albanian clothing.
Arjeta Puca
Founder
Timak
Arjeta Puca
Founder
Timak
Arjeta Puca is the founder of “Timak”, a company that manufactures and sells construction machinery, parts accessories, and specialized public service vehicles, with branches in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria.
Currently, one out of every 2 Ambulances in Albania has the name of our company Timak. Recently , Timak exported its “Made in Albania” products to Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Libya, Chile. The vision of Arjeta is to build a strong Albanian business that will grow and become a dominant presence throughout Europe and later worldwide, a company that will affect the reputation of the Albanian industry by increasing the prestige of Albanian goods in these markets.
In 1991, when Arjeta was 4 years old, her family emigrated to Turkey in 1991. In 2006, the family opened a shop to repair superstructures. She was studying Computer Engineering at the university and working part-time in the family shop which became a company later. At university times she had different internships in Croatia and China. After graduation, Arjeta worked at the Research and Development department at Bosch Germany and Bosch Japan. 6 years ago, she decided to move to Albania and start completely from zero her company.
Plejada Gugashi
Programme Manager
Olof Palme International Center
Plejada Gugashi
Programme Manager
Olof Palme International Center
Ms. Plejada Gugashi commenced her tenure at the esteemed Swedish organisation, the Olof Palme International Center, in 2007, and has since held the position of Programme Manager for the Albania Programme. With more than 15 years of professional experience, her expertise lies in bolstering institutional and capacity development within civil society organizations, and, more recently, trade unions. She engages in supporting and ensuring respect for human rights, with a distinct focus on labour and socio-economic rights.
She is involved as expert in the International Labour Organization (ILO) programme SCORE- Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises, focusing on improving productivity and working conditions in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within the garment sector. Additionally, she is recognized as a specialist in gender equality within the world of work.
Ms. Gugashi holds her Master of Arts degree in Health and Social Care Policies from Middlesex University in London and was granted the prestigious Chevening scholarship by the United Kingdom Government. She actively participates in multiple inter-sectoral working groups within the country, addressing pressing matters related to labor rights, democracy, and gender equality.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager
Sweden Global Compact, Sweden
Responsible for members and partnerships at UN Global Compact Network Sweden. Previously worked with sustainability in the private sector and as a consultant.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog has a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and Economics from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and Lund University in Sweden. She is a certified Leadership Coach and has obtained several specialized certificates from: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Springfield University, the World Bank, Self Leaders, Eunonia Leadership Academy, Deep Democracy Institute and Harvard Business School. She has worked for the World Economic Forum, for the United Nations, several Governments, Inter-Governmental Organisations, Development Banks, as well as academic institutions including Stockholm School of Economics, INSEAD, Scottish Leadership Institute, Technólogico de Monterrey and Indian Institute for Finance. She has over 30 years working experience within Sustainable Business Development, Strategy and Leadership in 61 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A skilled trainer and certified coach and a much-demanded mentor, Åsa is CEO of Global Leadership for Sustainable Development and President of the Sweden Africa Chamber.
Elira Karaja
Senior Sustainability Specialist
UN System, and / Fellow, C-RASC, and BBS
Elira Karaja
Senior Sustainability Specialist
UN System, and / Fellow, C-RASC, and BBS
An Economist by training and International Development Practitioner. Former Senior Economist and Sustainability Specialist at the United Nations Industrial Development, HQ in New York, she has previously served as an Economist at the World Bank, DC, and the Insitute for New Economic Thinking in New York. An Alumni of Columbia University and UC Berkeley, she is also an Affiliate at the Center for Resilience Building, George Mason University, and Lecturer at the Bologna Business School.
Tina Molund
Co-worker Engagement
IKEA Social Entrepreneurship
Tina Molund
Co-worker Engagement
IKEA Social Entrepreneurship
An interest in how organisations play an active role in the society has taken her to be HR manager for complex and values-based organisation as Swedish Television and Säkerhetspolisen (Swedish Security Service) and IKEA where she has had the role as HR manager and change manager. Since 2018 she is working for IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, supporting social entrepreneurs scaling up their social impact
Elida Zhulati
Textile entrepreneur supported
by Cultural Heritage without Borders
Elida Zhulati
Textile entrepreneur supported by Cultural Heritage without Borders
Elida Zhulati is an artisan with over 25 years of experience focused on traditional clothing and bringing them back to life, but what is most important to her is the preservation and conservation of tradition in its best form. With a desire to pass on her knowledge to the youth, she has decided to share her experience wherever possible, creating various projects like ZeArt or participating in workshops organized by CHwB Albania as part of Reinvent Tradition. She believes in the youth, she believes in heritage!
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager
Sweden Global Compact, Sweden
Responsible for members and partnerships at UN Global Compact Network Sweden. Previously worked with sustainability in the private sector and as a consultant.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog has a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and Economics from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and Lund University in Sweden. She is a certified Leadership Coach and has obtained several specialized certificates from: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Springfield University, the World Bank, Self Leaders, Eunonia Leadership Academy, Deep Democracy Institute and Harvard Business School. She has worked for the World Economic Forum, for the United Nations, several Governments, Inter-Governmental Organisations, Development Banks, as well as academic institutions including Stockholm School of Economics, INSEAD, Scottish Leadership Institute, Technólogico de Monterrey and Indian Institute for Finance. She has over 30 years working experience within Sustainable Business Development, Strategy and Leadership in 61 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A skilled trainer and certified coach and a much-demanded mentor, Åsa is CEO of Global Leadership for Sustainable Development and President of the Sweden Africa Chamber.
Leona Hyseni
Textile entrepreneur supported
by Cultural Heritage without Borders
Leona Hyseni
Textile entrepreneur supported by Cultural Heritage without Borders
Leona Hyseni is a 21-year-old who has been involved in fashion design and various styling for the past 4 years. She graduated as a designer and is currently pursuing her master’s studies in the same field. She spends her time working at a tailoring factory and simultaneously manages her online clothing business according to clients’ requests. She embraces everything new, innovative, and creative that helps her grow and move forward.
Dhurata Thanasi Daneri
Founder
Luga e Argjendte
Dhurata Thanasi Daneri
Founder
Luga e Argjendte
Dhurata Thanasi Daneri is the founder of the well-known brand “Luga e Argjendte”. In 2012 Luga e Argjendte started as a blog to share the history and stories about Albanian recipes. In a short period of time, Luga e Argjendtë turned into one of the most popular blogs for Albanian food culture and the promotion of a long life, both inside and outside Albania (40 thousand followers). Then, Luga e Argjendtë expanded from a virtual platform, to the first store with 100% local products obtained directly from farmers and producers of all Albanians. Then Luga e Argjendtë transformed into a restaurant, located inside Tirana Castle and focused on increasing the supply chain of farmers and producer by receiving Albanian products directly from the source of production. Dhurata promotes the popular slow food movement and educates children in schools and kindergartens on cooking techniques and seasonal produce through Luga e Argjendte.
Dhurata Thanasi is a collector and promoter of ancient and autochthonous Albanian recipes and organizer of culinary events which focus on the promotion of the culinary culture of Albania. Dhurata Thanasi is well acquainted with the Balkan culture and has a long experience working in the Southeast Balkan region.
Briseida Gjoza
CEO, Co-Founder
ConsciESG
Briseida Gjoza
CEO, Co-Founder
ConsciESG
Briseida is the co-founder & CEO of ConsciESG, a US and Albanian based ESG Fintech Startup. She has lived in three continents and speaks five languages. In her earlier career, she developed and implemented SDG-aligned projects for UNESCO World Heritage in Senegal, followed by several managerial, leadership and business development roles in multinational companies in SEE. She co-founded ConsciESG in 2022 with the vision to redefine ESG scoring and to help investors globally to deploy capital for impact with confidence. Having developed an innovative impact progress assessment framework & a proprietary AI technology that addresses data gaps in the supply chain, ConsciESG has received several international awards and has secured the partnership of global data giants such as Morningstar and Factset and is currently raising.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Elona Bejo
Co-Founder
Agritourism “Grand Albanik”
Elona Bejo
Co-Founder
Agritourism “Grand Albanik”
Dritan Mezini
Serial Enterpreneur
DM Consulting Services, duapune.com
Dritan Mezini
Serial Enterpreneur
DM Consulting Services, duapune.com
Dritan Mezini is the founder and managing partner of DM Consulting Services (www.dm-consulting.biz) in Albania and Kosovo. In addition, he created the well-known online job portal, www.duapune.com.
With over 25 years of progressive experience, Mr. Mezini brings a wealth of expertise in digital transformation, ICT, innovation, entrepreneurship, IT consulting, business management, human resources, and more. He is an accomplished professional in various complex global industries, having led multiple multi-million-dollar business initiatives. He is deeply involved in numerous digital transformation, startup, entrepreneurship, and innovation initiatives in Albania, Kosovo, and the region. He has served as a juror and mentor for several startup events across the area.
Egla Ballta
Principal Banker
SME Finance and Developer (EBRD)
Egla Ballta
Principal banker
SME Finance and Developer (EBRD)
Egla has joined the EBRD as Associate Banker since 2015 in Tirana office as part of SME Finance & Development (SME F&D) group of the Bank. She is currently Principal Banker and Risk Sharing Framework (RSF) Coordinator for Western Balkan region at the Bank. During +8 years at the EBRD Egla has been working with all phases of the financing cycle for private sector companies in Albania as well as wider Western Balkan countries (incl. project origination, structuring, execution, implementation and monitoring).
Before joining the EBRD Egla was Head of the SME Department in one of the local banks in Albania, position which she held for over 7 years. She comes with previous working experience also in the USA (financial services and hedge funds).
Egla holds a MBA from the Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, Illinois, USA) and a Bachelor in Science through a double-major in Finance and MIS from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Illinois, USA). She has also completed a study programme in Business Sustainability Management from University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Edlira Muka
Chief Executive Officer
BALFIN Group
Edlira Muka
Chief Executive Officer
BALFIN Group
Edlira Muka holds the position of the Chief Executive Officer of BALFIN Group since 2016, after several years of top management positions within the Group. Previously, Edlira has been Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of the Group, whereas currently she is also Chairperson of its Management Board. Edlira joined Balfin Group in 2005, right after her graduation in Finance from the Faculty of Economy, University of Tirana. She has attended several courses in London Business School, and in INSEAD Business School. She is the Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Albania. During her time as Chief Executive Officer, BALFIN Group is applying a new philosophy in real estate,
upgrading the actual touristic offer of the country, improving the retail sector and strengthening the position of Tirana Bank. Internationally, the Group is increasing its new investments in countries of the
region and European Union as well. At the same time, BALFIN Group is playing its role to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals related to its fields of activity.
Edvin Prençe
Chairman of Association
PROEKSPORT Albania
Lousie Xin
Fashion designer & Human Rights activist
Sweden
Louise Xin
Fashion designer & Human Rights activist
Sweden
Born in China, raised in Sweden, and currently based in Paris. Louise Xin is a self-taught, award-winning fashion designer and founder of Scandinavia’s first Rental-only none sale couture brand Louise Xin Couture. She discovered the world of couture and started to experiment with upcycled materials by the end of 2019 and decided to start a rental-only brand during the pandemic 2020 as a humble attempt to inspire a change in consumption patterns and customer behaviour.
Her passion for sustainability, and her goal to create a circular brand led her into humanitarian work. Xin dedicated her debut fashion show in the fall of 2021 to human rights. The show went viral worldwide, and Xin gained international recognition. One month after the show, Xin was granted the first-ever edition of the Fabric of Life Award during the International Textile Conference -Next Textile -in Borås. Since then, she has been travelling around the world, doing lectures and participating in exhibitions in museums, art galleries, and luxury mall. She has been featured in radio, podcast and television interviews, and over 70 magazine articles in 10 languages worldwide. In June 2022 Xin was selected as the first Sakharov Fellow from the fashion industry and spoke in front of the European Parliament. March 28th Xin will be holding a fashion show in Brussels inside the Parliament together aiming to raise awareness about ending modern slavery and forced labour in fashion.
“Louise Xin is Changing the World one dress at the time” – Vogue Scandinavia
Emiland Skora
CEO, MEIA Oils
Albania
Emiland Skora
Co-Founder & CEO
MEIA Oils, Albania
Maria Smith
Secretary General, Axfoundation
Sweden
Maria Smith
Secretary General
Axfoundation, Sweden
Maria Smith has been Secretary General of Axfoundation since 2019. She has more than twenty years of experience form leadership positions and from working with sustainability issues in a corporate context within, FMCG, the engineering industry and the service sector, among others. Maria holds a MSc in Chemistry and an Executive MBA. Axfoundation is a stand-alone, non-profit organization developing practical and innovative solutions to complex sustainability challenges.
Biljana Braithwaite
Founding Partner & CEO, Sustineri Partners
United Kingdom
Biljana Braithwaite
Founding Partner & CEO
Sustineri Partners, United Kingdom
Biljana Braithwaite is CEO and Founding Partner at Sustineri Partners, ESG consultancy company, founder and organizer of Western Balkans ESG Summit, first major regional event dedicated to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) topics, held in April 2023, Montenegro. The Summit has become the flagship annual regional sustainability event, with expansion to the Adria region in 2024. Through the initiatives and work at the Sustineri Partners, Ms Braithwaite drives gender diversity in corporate leadership and empowers countries, institutions, companies and organizations to put sustainability at the heart of their work.
Ms Braithwaite is founder of Women on Boards Adria (WOBA) initiative, which aims to increase the participation of women in corporate decision-making in the Adria region. Initiative is inspired by the EU Directive that requires listed companies in the EU to reach a target of 40 percent of non-director positions to be taken by women by 2026, and WOBA initiative is a joint effort of Sustineri Partners and partners of the Western Balkans ESG Summit 2023, who believe that gender diversity on boards leads to better decision-making and better business performance.
Biljana Braithwaite is also Western Balkans Programme Director at The AIRE Centre. She has over twenty years’ experience of advising governments, businesses and international organizations on social justice and human rights issues in the region. She has particular expertise in human rights law, anti-corruption, good governance and other key social policies. Biljana has deep knowledge of the region, extensive networks and practical experience in implementing reforms. A lawyer by training with degrees from Belgrade University and Lund University’s Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Biljana began her career at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and has been associated with the AIRE Centre since 1998. She is a member of the boards of the AIRE Centre USA and the International Bridges to Justice.
Anna-Karin Dahlberg
Director of Sustainability, Lindex
Sweden
Anna-Karin Dahlberg
Director of Sustainability
Lindex, Sweden
25 years in fashion industry and most of this time in leading positions from buying and assortment + heading production offices in China, India and Hong Kong. Last 8 years from sustainability and business development. Now part of the management team.
Emma Danielsson
Head of Sustainability Energy & Industry, Sweco
Sweden
Emma Danielsson
Head of Sustainability Energy & Industry
Sweco, Sweden
Emma Danielsson has worked with industrial improvement projects during 15 years, as Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Quality Manager and Project Manager. She has later specialized in sustainable and efficient circular systems. Today she works with sustainability at Sweco, helping both industries and municipalities to create the sustainable society of the future.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Aida Laković Hošo has a passion for sustainable development, particularly in the field of governance and development partnerships. She has over 15 years of experience in working with governments on policy coordination, strategic planning and development management. Since 2018 Aida has focused on promoting the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and she successfully facilitated processes of preparation of key documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina that enable translating the global goals into action. Aida is a mother of an amazing 10-year-old boy and a skillful puzzle solver. She is currently the SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader at UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager, Sweden Global Compact
Sweden
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager
Sweden Global Compact, Sweden
Responsible for members and partnerships at UN Global Compact Network Sweden. Previously worked with sustainability in the private sector and as a consultant.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes, IDG
Sweden
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes
IDG, Sweden
Åsa Jarskog has a Masters Degree in International Business Administration and Economics from Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and Lund University in Sweden. She is a certified Leadership Coach and has obtained several specialized certificates from: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Springfield University, the World Bank, Self Leaders, Eunonia Leadership Academy, Deep Democracy Institute and Harvard Business School. She has worked for the World Economic Forum, for the United Nations, several Governments, Inter-Governmental Organisations, Development Banks, as well as academic institutions including Stockholm School of Economics, INSEAD, Scottish Leadership Institute, Technólogico de Monterrey and Indian Institute for Finance. She has over 30 years working experience within Sustainable Business Development, Strategy and Leadership in 61 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. A skilled trainer and certified coach and a much-demanded mentor, Åsa is CEO of Global Leadership for Sustainable Development and President of the Sweden Africa Chamber.
Zejni Musaj
Founder and Managing Director
MUSAJ-Z sh.p.k.
Zejni Musaj
Founder and Managing Director
MUSAJ-Z sh.p.k.
Zejni Musaj is one of the first founders of businesses in the city of Patos. Born and living in Patos, Zejniu took his first steps after graduating from the Mechanical Technical School in Patos in the oil transport business in the same city. Like a good part of Albanians, in the 90s he emigrated to Greece where he worked, observed the market and clarified his entrepreneurial ideas by returning to his hometown. Equipped with technical knowledge and an entrepreneurial spirit, in 2000, together with his brother, he founded the first fashion business company, where he held various management positions that gave him the opportunity to enrich his managerial skills. For 8 (eight) years, he held management positions as administrator, managing director, as well as managing relations with clients of the international market, being a good connoisseur of Italian and Greek. In 2018, as a result of the increased opportunities to do business and the consolidation of his skills and knowledge, Zejni Musaj undertakes his own individual initiative, giving life to the business he currently manages, MUSAJ-Z sh.p.k. It started this journey with 80 workers and only one client, with a monthly order of 5,000 (five) pieces. With patience, quality and stability, year after year, he built strong and reliable relationships with other and different companies, mainly in Italy and Switzerland, working for well-known brands such as HOGAN, NEROGIARDINI, TECHNOBOOTS, BOGNER, WOOLRICH, LA MARTINA, LORI BLUE. Today the company has almost tripled its staff and exports at least three times a week to countries and companies that have long-term contracts with MUSAJ-Z sh.p.k. and that see this company as a loyal and long-term partner in Albania. The company employs boys and girls who come from the same district, educated and experienced in this sector. Most of the employees have been part of the team of MUSAJ-Z sh.p.k. for at least 5 years. growing and developing together with the company. The next challenge for Zejni and the company is the re-organization of processes and the consolidation of best practices, with the aim of increasing quality but also efficiency and cost optimization. This process has started through the expertise provided by the SCORE program enabled by the ILO and Zejniu aims to translate it into an organic part of everyday operations.
Constantin von Alvensleben
Board Member
Foreign Investor Association in Albania (FIAA)
Constantin von Alvensleben
Board Member
Foreign Investor Association in Albania (FIAA)
Born in 1962 in Germany, Dr. Constantin has a Doctorate Degree in Law and an Economics Specialization from the London School of Economics.
Dr. Constantin has served FIAA as President from 2020 to 2022, while he was CEO of Tirana International Airport SHPK for a second time.
He joined last year, the French renewable energy developer Voltalia, as the Country Manager of Voltalia Albanie SHPK and has since then further developed Voltalia’s activities in Albania. In addition, he comes with a long experience in the air transport, but also the property development industry and is very familiar with Albania and its business environment since his first position in Albania as CEO of TIA during 2005-2007 with the German HOCHTIEF group. Since March, he holds also the Chairmanship of the Energy Industry Council within FIAA dedicated to contribute to a fostering foreign Business Community, consolidating and strengthening FIAA’s leading role in ALBANIA.
Thomas Lindhqvist
The International institute for Industrial
Environmental Economics, Lund University
Thomas Lindhqvist
The International institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
Lund University
Thomas Lindhqvist has worked with environmental research and policy since 1984. His main focus has been on environmental product policy and management responses to such policies. He has done substantial work on waste management, recycling and industrial pollution prevention in Sweden, the EU, and the Nordic countries, in Canada, Argentina, India, Georgia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and several other countries. In 1990 he introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and has subsequently continued to promote the implementation and theory of this policy principle. Besides working with academic research projects, he has worked with, for instance, Swedish Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, when coining the EPR principle in 1990, OECD, Swedish Car Association when developing their proposal for EPR system, as well as several NGOs. He worked a short time in the secretariat of UNECE, and cooperated extensively with UNIDO and UNEP. He defended his PhD on EPR in 2000. He has for almost three decades been working at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) at Lund University in Sweden.
Ardita Seknaj
Secretary General
ICC Albania
Ardita Seknaj
Secretary General
The International Chamber of Commerce in Albania (ICC Albania)
Ardita Seknaj has been the Secretary General of ICC Albania (the International Chamber of Commerce in Albania ) since 2013. Ardita’s relationship with the organization stems from the establishment process that started in 2011 as part of the leading team in Albania. Before joining ICC Albania, Ardita worked for about eight years in the banking sector, where she expanded her experience in different fields such as trade finance, project management, insurance, corporate banking, and financial institutions. She is engaged as a consultant in various regional projects in her areas of interest and has led various projects in the area of sustainable development, integrity and collective actions. Ardita is one of the five signatories of the Southeast Europe (SEE) Good Governance and Anti-corruption Women Leaders Forum. Ardita’s fields of interest remain international trade and investments, trade finance and sustainable development.
Shkëlzen Marku
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Junus Social Business Balkans
Shkëlzen Marku
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Junus Social Business Balkans
Shkelzen is founder and CEO of Enterimpact and co-founder and Managing Director of Yunus Social Business Balkans (YSB Balkans), supporting development of entrepreneurship ecosystem and impact enterprising initiatives in Western Balkan countries. He has 20+ years of experience in the design and delivery of business development services, practical/hands-on training, coaching and mentoring to MSMEs, startups and social impact entrepreneurs, as well as in the design and implementation of financial and non-financial instruments in support to entrepreneurs in Albania and other Western Balkan countries. He has served, for several years, as consultant and advisor on economic development policies and project design, implementation and management for several governmental and international development institutions (including World Bank, IFAD, FAO, UNDP, GIZ, etc.) in more than 15 countries around the world (including in Western Balkans, Caucasus, Africa and Asia).
As an entrepreneur himself, he is involved in various companies as co-founder, investor, board member or advisor. He is also President of the Partnership for Development Foundation (Albania), member of the Board of Directors of KGMA-Microcredit Fund (Kosovo) and member of the Advisory Board of Albanian Center for Economic Research (Albania). He graduated from CNEARC (France) in Agro-Engineering and holds a Master of Science degree in Agribusiness Economy from CIHEAM-IAMM (France) and a Doctorate degree in Economic Development Policies from AUT (Albania). For more than 15 years he has also served as visiting lecturer at various universities in Albania.
Bosse Rosenqvist
Green Business Mobilisation Expert
Bosse Rosenqvis
Green Business Mobilisation Expert
Bosse Rosenqvist is one of the producer pioneers of the Swedish Organic Farming Community in the beginning of 90´s. With a long farming experience and studies at the Swedish University he was an initiator to meet the growing consumer interest in organic produced products by establishing economical associations for the marketing and sales of organic goods like grain, meat and vegetables. Besides the own farming business, he has been open to share his organisational, financial and value chain experiences in several donor funded projects in among others the Baltics, Ukraine and Albania.
Flori Uka
Founder of Uka Wine
Co-Founder of Uka Farm
Flori Uka
Founder of Uka Wine and Co-Founder of Uka Farm
Born in 1985, Flori Uka is a passionate enologist., sommelier and winemaker, actively engaged in promoting the extraordinary Albanian wine heritage. Founder of Uka Wine and co-Founder of Uka Farm, he specialized in Enology in Italy at the University of Udine. He followed in his father’s footsteps, who is a wll-known professor of Agriculture. The ambition of Flori is to put Albania on the world wine map.
Rudrajeet Pal
Full Professor in Textile Value Chain
Swedish School of Textiles
Rudrajeet Pal
Full Professor in Textile Value Chain
Swedish School of Textiles, University of Borås
Rudrajeet Pal works as a Professor of Textile Value Chain at Swedish School of Textiles, University of Boras in Sweden. He has worked as textile and apparel industry expert in various multi-stakeholder projects for over 10 years, such as for The United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing (Textile ETP), Swedish National Platform for sustainable fashion and textiles.
In his academic career Rudrajeet has been an active investigator in several projects that have received funding from European Commission, European Education and Culture Executive Agency, Swedish Innovation Agency, on industrial sustainability in textiles and fashion value chains, in the areas of circular economy, traceability and digital production.
Rudrajeet holds a PhD in Engineering Science, Master’s in industrial economics and Bachelors in Textile Engineering from Finland, Sweden and India respectively, and has previously worked in both textile and IT sectors.
Ermira Shehi
Head of Textile and Fashion Department
PUT & National Expert, UNIDO
Ermira Shehi
Head of Textile and Fashion Department
Polytechnic University of Tirana & National Expert, UNIDO
Prof. Ermira Shehi graduated as a Textile Engineer with post university studies at RWTH Aachen, many trainings in Europe and USA, she has more than 28 years of experience in the Textile and Fashion Department with a high contribution in the academic field, research and scientific area, as well as in the garment and footwear sector by giving her contribution as an expert for the garment and footwear sector in Albania. Her field of expertise is Garment Technology, Manufacturing, Textile structure, process, and product optimization, industrial logistics. She has been member of many international development project teams for agencies, including USAID, GIZ, ILO and UNIDO. She is Head of the Council of Professors, Mechanical Engineering Faculty. She has more than 50 papers presented and published in various International Scientific Conferences and Journals.
Samir Memedov
Program officer for environment, climate change and resilience
WeEffect
Samir Memedov
Program Officer for Environment, Climate Change and Resilience
WeEffect
He is an environmental engineer with a Master’s in environmental economy. He worked in environmental Civil Society Organisations, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, UNDP programme associate, GIZ deputy fund manager in two projects, We Effect, international and national consultant and expert in environment and climate change.
Sabah Djaloshi
Executive Director
AgroPuka
Sabah Djaloshi
Executive Director
AgroPuka
Sabah Djaloshi is the executive director of Agropuka, an association of agriculture and livestock producers in Puka district (Northern Albania). As a farmers’ association contributes to the integrated development of the rural areas through encouraging and promoting rural economic development and initiatives and activities of community development in order to improve the lives of its members and rural communities.
Emir Adžović
Director Global Programmes, IDG
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Emir Adžović
Programme Analyst
UNDP Bosnia & Herzegovina
Emir Adžović has over 20 years of experience working with public and private sector reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. In the last five years, he focused his energy on promotion of the importance of the UN Agenda 2030 and the sustainable development goals in the private sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. With a committed team of colleagues, he stands behind the SDG Business Award in BIH that recognizes potent private companies that create decent jobs and reduce negative environmental impacts through their business models. He is also actively involved in design and implementation of the SDG Week in BIH. As part of the good governance sector within UNDP, Emir Adžović led the SDG Accelerator for SMEs in BiH as well as the Decarbonization Challenge for companies in BiH. Last but not least, Emir is a husband, father of two daughters and a passionate amateur runner.
Social media handles: @zamisli2030 and @undpbih
Dean Celaj
CEO
Akademi.al
Dean Celaj
CEO
Akademi.al
With a BSc from University College London and a Masters from Harvard University, Dean is a serial entrepreneur focusing his ventures on education technology. He has been recognized by world class organizations and institutions for his achievements in the field, specifically for his startup Akademi.al, the e-learning platform counting more than 500’000 users that aided the Albanian educational system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fabiola Duro
Founder and CEO
INNVEST| IMAA
Fabiola Duro
Founder and CEO
INNVEST|IMAA
Fabiola Duro was born on February 29th, 1984, in Tirana, Albania. Since the early years she has shown a specific interest in the business management & entrepreneurship. For this reason, in 2002 she chooses to study at the University of Tirana, Faculty of Economics. Her achievements include a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration which leads her to have management & communication skills and a Master Degree in Economic Diplomacy at the Mediterranean Academy of Malta. She has Excellent business language skills in English and Italian. She furthered her academic achievements by taking on the position of Assistant Professor of Business Communication & Entrepreneurship at the Management and Communication Department for SMEs at Economic Faculty of Tirana. Fabiola is Founder and CEO of Innovation Investment Fund (hereinafter INNVEST) and IMAA. INNVEST is a private entity that combines innovative research while bringing investors and new business ideas together for pressing economic challenges. Also in 2022, she also found Innovation Management Academy Albania (IMAA). Through IMAA as a unique educational format that incorporates lectures, training, and workshops, aiming to build the organization’s capability to manage innovation, build a sustainable business in the age of digital revolution and impact the ecosystem by empowering Albanian companies with actionable and sustainable practices and brining the importance of CSR’s.
Arben Shkodra
Secretary General
Albanian Manufacturers Union
Arben Shkodra
Secretary General
Albanian Manufacturers Union
Arben Shkodra is a highly accomplished professional with an extensive experience in various fields such as economics, finance, international relations, diplomacy, political studies, governance, and territorial development. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics/Finance from the University of Tirana and has completed several postgraduate courses in international relations and diplomacy, political studies, and governance.
Throughout his career, Mr. Shkodra has held diverse managerial roles across both public and private sectors. For over a decade, he made significant contributions as the Head of Human Resources, Finance, and Operations Department at the Prime Minister’s Office and is currently the Managing Partner at Daminani & Partners, Executive Director at Future Center, and Secretary General at the Albanian Manufacturing Union.
In addition to his primary roles, throughout his career Mr. Shkodra has taken on several parallel positions, including external advisor for the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Albania (UCCIAL), Head of Authority of the Council of Ministers in the High Inspectorate for Conflict of Interest and Asset Declarations, and Ad Interim General Director in the General Directorate of Patent and Trademarks.
Furthermore, Mr. Shkodra is also an active member of numerous chambers of commerce and national councils including the the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tirana (CCIT), Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Albania (UCCIAL), National Council of EU Integration, National Economic Council, and the Interministerial Working Group of S3.
Joana Kaçorri
Founder
Amargi
Joana Kaçorri
Founder
Amargi
I was born and raised in Rrëshen. I completed my studies in architecture at the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning at the Polytechnic University of Tirana. I have been living in Tirana for 10 years. I work as an architect at the Construction Institute in Tirana. I founded Amargi 4 years ago and have been the designer ever since.
Amargi is a business that at first sight looks like came into my life out of thin air, but when I think about it closely it is the thing I have always wanted to do. From a young age I had a special feeling on clothing – I didn’t think of it not only in terms of functionality, but went deeper – looking at the combination of colors, shapes and cuts. In the journey toward the beautiful, Amargi stays true to its roots. The word Amargi translates from ancient Sumerian as “return to mother”. Through the exploration of the Albanian ethnographic heritage, Amargi seeks to reawaken a national intellectual wealth that will evanesce with generation of our grandparents. At the core of our brand is our selection of artisan hand-loomed fabric, deliberately chosen in support of the local economy, the empowerment of women and the principles of sustainability.
The idea to establish a business was born on 28.12.2018. The business I would create would be a clothing brand inspired by traditional Albanian clothing.
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager, Sweden Global Compact
Sweden
Arjeta Puca
Founder
Timak
Arjeta Puca is the founder of “Timak”, a company that manufactures and sells construction machinery, parts accessories, and specialized public service vehicles, with branches in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria.
Currently, one out of every 2 Ambulances in Albania has the name of our company Timak. Recently , Timak exported its “Made in Albania” products to Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Libya, Chile. The vision of Arjeta is to build a strong Albanian business that will grow and become a dominant presence throughout Europe and later worldwide, a company that will affect the reputation of the Albanian industry by increasing the prestige of Albanian goods in these markets.
In 1991, when Arjeta was 4 years old, her family emigrated to Turkey in 1991. In 2006, the family opened a shop to repair superstructures. She was studying Computer Engineering at the university and working part-time in the family shop which became a company later. At university times she had different internships in Croatia and China. After graduation, Arjeta worked at the Research and Development department at Bosch Germany and Bosch Japan. 6 years ago, she decided to move to Albania and start completely from zero her company.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes, IDG
Sweden
Plejada Gugashi
Programme Manager
Olof Palme International Center
Ms. Plejada Gugashi commenced her tenure at the esteemed Swedish organisation, the Olof Palme International Center, in 2007, and has since held the position of Programme Manager for the Albania Programme. With more than 15 years of professional experience, her expertise lies in bolstering institutional and capacity development within civil society organizations, and, more recently, trade unions. She engages in supporting and ensuring respect for human rights, with a distinct focus on labour and socio-economic rights.
She is involved as expert in the International Labour Organization (ILO) programme SCORE- Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises, focusing on improving productivity and working conditions in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within the garment sector. Additionally, she is recognized as a specialist in gender equality within the world of work.
Ms. Gugashi holds her Master of Arts degree in Health and Social Care Policies from Middlesex University in London and was granted the prestigious Chevening scholarship by the United Kingdom Government. She actively participates in multiple inter-sectoral working groups within the country, addressing pressing matters related to labor rights, democracy, and gender equality.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Elira Karaja
Senior Sustainability Specialist
UN System, and / Fellow, C-RASC, and BBS
An Economist by training and International Development Practitioner. Former Senior Economist and Sustainability Specialist at the United Nations Industrial Development, HQ in New York, she has previously served as an Economist at the World Bank, DC, and the Insitute for New Economic Thinking in New York. An Alumni of Columbia University and UC Berkeley, she is also an Affiliate at the Center for Resilience Building, George Mason University, and Lecturer at the Bologna Business School.
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager, Sweden Global Compact
Sweden
Tina Molund
Co-worker Engagement
IKEA Social Entrepreneurship
An interest in how organisations play an active role in the society has taken her to be HR manager for complex and values-based organisation as Swedish Television and Säkerhetspolisen (Swedish Security Service) and IKEA where she has had the role as HR manager and change manager. Since 2018 she is working for IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, supporting social entrepreneurs scaling up their social impact
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes, IDG
Sweden
Elida Zhulati
Textile entrepreneur supported by Cultural Heritage without Borders
Elida Zhulati is an artisan with over 25 years of experience focused on traditional clothing and bringing them back to life, but what is most important to her is the preservation and conservation of tradition in its best form. With a desire to pass on her knowledge to the youth, she has decided to share her experience wherever possible, creating various projects like ZeArt or participating in workshops organized by CHwB Albania as part of Reinvent Tradition. She believes in the youth, she believes in heritage!
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Leona Hyseni
Textile entrepreneur supported by Cultural Heritage without Borders
Leona Hyseni is a 21-year-old who has been involved in fashion design and various styling for the past 4 years. She graduated as a designer and is currently pursuing her master’s studies in the same field. She spends her time working at a tailoring factory and simultaneously manages her online clothing business according to clients’ requests. She embraces everything new, innovative, and creative that helps her grow and move forward.
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager, Sweden Global Compact
Sweden
Dhurata Thanasi Daneri
Founder
Luga e Argjendte
Dhurata Thanasi Daneri is the founder of the well-known brand “Luga e Argjendte”. In 2012 Luga e Argjendte started as a blog to share the history and stories about Albanian recipes. In a short period of time, Luga e Argjendtë turned into one of the most popular blogs for Albanian food culture and the promotion of a long life, both inside and outside Albania (40 thousand followers). Then, Luga e Argjendtë expanded from a virtual platform, to the first store with 100% local products obtained directly from farmers and producers of all Albanians. Then Luga e Argjendtë transformed into a restaurant, located inside Tirana Castle and focused on increasing the supply chain of farmers and producer by receiving Albanian products directly from the source of production. Dhurata promotes the popular slow food movement and educates children in schools and kindergartens on cooking techniques and seasonal produce through Luga e Argjendte.
Dhurata Thanasi is a collector and promoter of ancient and autochthonous Albanian recipes and organizer of culinary events which focus on the promotion of the culinary culture of Albania. Dhurata Thanasi is well acquainted with the Balkan culture and has a long experience working in the Southeast Balkan region.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes, IDG
Sweden
Briseida Gjoza
CEO, Co-Founder
ConsciESG
Briseida is the co-founder & CEO of ConsciESG, a US and Albanian based ESG Fintech Startup. She has lived in three continents and speaks five languages. In her earlier career, she developed and implemented SDG-aligned projects for UNESCO World Heritage in Senegal, followed by several managerial, leadership and business development roles in multinational companies in SEE. She co-founded ConsciESG in 2022 with the vision to redefine ESG scoring and to help investors globally to deploy capital for impact with confidence. Having developed an innovative impact progress assessment framework & a proprietary AI technology that addresses data gaps in the supply chain, ConsciESG has received several international awards and has secured the partnership of global data giants such as Morningstar and Factset and is currently raising.
Aida Laković-Hošo
SDG Governance and Policy Portfolio Leader
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Elona Bejo
Co-Founder
Agritourism “Grand Albanik”
Vide Richter
Engagement Manager, Sweden Global Compact
Sweden
Dritan Mezini
Serial Enterpreneur
DM Consulting Services, duapune.com
Dritan Mezini is the founder and managing partner of DM Consulting Services (www.dm-consulting.biz) in Albania and Kosovo. In addition, he created the well-known online job portal, www.duapune.com.
With over 25 years of progressive experience, Mr. Mezini brings a wealth of expertise in digital transformation, ICT, innovation, entrepreneurship, IT consulting, business management, human resources, and more. He is an accomplished professional in various complex global industries, having led multiple multi-million-dollar business initiatives. He is deeply involved in numerous digital transformation, startup, entrepreneurship, and innovation initiatives in Albania, Kosovo, and the region. He has served as a juror and mentor for several startup events across the area.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes, IDG
Sweden
Egla Ballta
Principal banker
SME Finance and Developer (EBRD)
Egla has joined the EBRD as Associate Banker since 2015 in Tirana office as part of SME Finance & Development (SME F&D) group of the Bank. She is currently Principal Banker and Risk Sharing Framework (RSF) Coordinator for Western Balkan region at the Bank. During +8 years at the EBRD Egla has been working with all phases of the financing cycle for private sector companies in Albania as well as wider Western Balkan countries (incl. project origination, structuring, execution, implementation and monitoring).
Before joining the EBRD Egla was Head of the SME Department in one of the local banks in Albania, position which she held for over 7 years. She comes with previous working experience also in the USA (financial services and hedge funds).
Egla holds a MBA from the Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, Illinois, USA) and a Bachelor in Science through a double-major in Finance and MIS from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Illinois, USA). She has also completed a study programme in Business Sustainability Management from University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Åsa Jarskog
Director Global Programmes, IDG
Sweden
Edlira Muka
Chief Executive Officer
BALFIN Group
Edlira Muka holds the position of the Chief Executive Officer of BALFIN Group since 2016, after several years of top management positions within the Group. Previously, Edlira has been Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of the Group, whereas currently she is also Chairperson of its Management Board. Edlira joined Balfin Group in 2005, right after her graduation in Finance from the Faculty of Economy, University of Tirana. She has attended several courses in London Business School, and in INSEAD Business School. She is the Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Albania. During her time as Chief Executive Officer, BALFIN Group is applying a new philosophy in real estate,
upgrading the actual touristic offer of the country, improving the retail sector and strengthening the position of Tirana Bank. Internationally, the Group is increasing its new investments in countries of the
region and European Union as well. At the same time, BALFIN Group is playing its role to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals related to its fields of activity.
Two days of actionable & sustainable practices
“Business Partnerships and Solutions for SDGs” is the United Nations Joint Project, funded by the Embassy of Sweden, that provides the framework for the event. Its goal is to raise awareness among Albanian companies about the SDGs and to support businesses in becoming more sustainable by improving working conditions and processes.
Swedish companies such as TetraPak and LantMannen have already participated to events organised in the scope of the project in 2022 and we look forward to welcoming many more and creating opportunities for exchange and partnerships between Albanian and Swedish businesses.