Highlights from the founder’s background:

  •  Profile
    • Experience in government, banking, international financial institutions, public policy, politics and academia.
    • Significant leadership positions, such as, Minister of Finance, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Minister of Defense, Minister of Economy and Vice-Governor of the Central Bank.
    • Economist with PhD from UK and completed international executive programs on leadership from top ranked universities in the world.
    • Profile oriented towards leadership and management driven by new ideas and challenging the status quo.
    • Believes that in the new era of changing and interconnected world – with complex social relations, technological progress and climate challenges – sustainable peace and shared prosperity can be achieved through creative leadership with new ideas and well-connected community based on values and knowledge.
    • Young Global Leader 2010, YGL Alumni, World Economic Forum.
  • Research and Consulting
    • Analytics (2020): Lead expert for the Policy Document – Socio-Economic Assessment of COVID19’s impact in North Macedonia: Policy Response, Economic Recovery and Growth”, Project of UNDP for the Government of R. North Macedonia.
    • Analytics (2019): Team leader for the Policy Document – European Pathway of the Republic of North Macedonia: Achieving Faster, more Inclusive and Sustainable Growth – Project of UNDP and Government of the R. North Macedonia.
    • Research (2017-2018): Policy paper about ‘The Role of EU Integration in Accelerating Structural Reforms in the Western Balkans: Evidence, Theory and Policy’, published research as Visiting Senior Fellow at London School of Economic and Political Science.
  • Academic teaching and research engagements
    • Full Professor, Program Economics and Business, South-East European University, Skopje, MK (Sep 2016 – present)
    • Visiting Senior Fellow, The London School of Economics and Political Science, European Institute, LSE European Institute – Research on South Eastern Europe (Sep 2016 – Sep 2017)
  • Government and Public Policy
    • Minister of Finance (2020-2024): SMART Finances, Reforms in Public Financial Management, Fiscal Rules, Fiscal Council, Tax System Reforms, Policy response during Polycrisis (COVID-19, Energy Crisis, Impact of Ukraine War Crisis and Inflation) with 9 anti-crisis packages. Debt reprogramming and financial arrangements with IMF (Precautionary and Liquidity Loan), World Bank (Development Policy Loan) and European Commission (Macro-Financial Assistance) and other development project based arrangements including EBRD, EIB (European Investment Bank),  CEB (Council of Europe Development Bank) and other IFIs. Also, changed the structure of the budget towards development components by increasing public investment as a share of GDP.
    • Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs (2013-2016): negotiations, coordinating reforms and preparation of the National Program for Adoption of Acquis. European Commission recommended opening negotiations for EU Accession. Also, NIPAC (National IPA Coordinator – EU funds) and donor coordination of more than billion Euro.
    • Minister of Defense (2011-2013): modernization of the army, reforms towards higher standards according to NATO, reconciliation, inclusiveness and diversity. Budged increased according to NATO requirements after period of downward trends.
    • Presidency with the Energy Community of the South Eastern Europe (2010): enhancing reforms and developing regional energy market, Ukraine joined Energy Community and Turkey become observer.
    • Minister of Economy (2004-2006; 2008-2011): joining CEFTA, international agreements, reforms on market liberalization, privatization, business environment, energy sustainability and investment projects worth more than billion Euro. EBRD Transition Report noted positive improvements in trade, energy, business environment and investments.
    • Government (2004-2016): hundreds of official and working visits in more than fifty countries, international institutions and signed tens of international agreements as representative of the government.
  • Banking and finance
    • Economist at the World Bank Office in Kosovo (Nov 2007 – Jul 2008): Supporting the Government of Kosovo for Public Finance Management during the period of Declaration of Independence (Feb 2008) and Coordination of International Donor Conference for the Reconstruction and Development of Kosovo (Brussels, Jul 2008)
    • Vice-Governor of the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia (2003-2004): monetary policy forecasting and coordination of monetary and fiscal policy through operational in money market and foreign exchange market.
  • Management
    • Director of the Public Enterprise for Airport Services (2002-2003): financial consolidation of the loss making company with over-employment through financial reprograming and reorganization based on corporate governance principles. Cash flow improved from negative to positive in the first year and the second year the company made profit.
  • Politics
    • Political negotiations (2015): Participating in the political negotiations of the four major political parties’ in order to end the political crisis in the country. Political agreement achieved – Przino Agreement.
    • Elections and Government Coalitions (2005-2019): coordinating the preparation of the political party’s platform/program and participating in government coalition negotiations with successful election results continuously and partner in the government coalitions.
    • Campaign manager with winning results in five election processes from 2017 to 2024 including local, parliamentarian and presidential elections in North Macedonia.
  • International lectures, publications and books
    • Public lectures and speeches (2011-2019) in the following institutions/countries: United States (Harvard University, Georgetown University, John Hopkins University, Vermont University, National Defense University), European Union (European Parliament), United Kingdom (London School of Economics and Political Science), Switzerland (Webster University), Ireland (Institute for International and European Affairs), Croatia (Military Academy), Albania (University of Tirana), Kosovo (Academy of Science and Arts).
    • Books: ‘Economy and Integration in Times of Polycrisis’ (2024),  ‘My Notes: Integration Beyond Rhetoric’ (2015) and ‘Monetary and Exchange Rate Policy in Macedonia: Accession to the EU’ (2009).
    • Co-author of other books; Published about hundred columns (op-ed) and journal articles.
    • Guest speaker and panelist as minister in hundreds of conferences, forums and other events.
  • International awards
    • Supreme National Award, ‘Order of the Star of Italy – Grand Officer’, Decision by the President of Italy for the contribution to the improvement of the friendly relations and the cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Italy in the European integration process, particularly during the Italian Presidency of the EU Council, (Jan 2015).
    • Honorary member of ‘Young Global Leaders for 2010’, World Economic Forum, selected in a group of 197 honourees out of 5,000 nominees worldwide, (Mar 2010).