Milena Lazarevic is one of the founders and Programme Director at the European Policy Centre (CEP), independent, non-profit think tank based in Belgrade, Serbia. Milena is a proven expert in the field of public administration reform, in Serbia and in the Western Balkan region. Between May 2014 and March 2015, she acted as the Special Adviser to the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister in charge of public administration reform.

As a consultant, she has worked for SIGMA/OECD, Regional School for Public Administration (ReSPA), the World Bank and several major international consultancy companies. Before co-founding CEP, Lazarevic worked for almost six years as a civil servant in the Serbian administration, first in the EU Integration Office of the Serbian Government (SEIO) and later in the Ministry of Public Administration. She is a Soros scholar and has an MA degree in European studies from the College of Europe and an MA in European Administrative Law from Belgrade University.

Dr. Arbëresha Loxha is the Executive Director and a Senior Research Fellow at GLPS. Dr. Loxha holds both a Masters and a PhD in Economics from the University of Staffordshire, United Kingdom. Arbëresha is among the first research fellows at GLPS, who has unequivocally contributed to GLPS’s growth and professionalism. At GLPS, Arbëresha served in many positions and primarily covered the research in economic, good governance and public administration areas. In addition, Arbëresha led dozens of research projects in Kosovo and abroad, and was an active member of economic research initiatives. She was a leading expert to take part in testimonies for numerous institutions and government bodies in Kosovo and international organization based in Kosovo, in which she shared her expertise on a range of social and economic issues.

Over the last two years, Arbëresha was a professor covering management courses at both bachelor and master level of studies. Dr. Loxha rich background of academic research and publications are yet another confirmation of her standing as an expert, leader and powerful women. In this new position, Dr. Loxha aspires to lead GLPS further growth and impact, diversify its portfolio, expand its European network and help Kosovo democratize.

Stevo Muk graduated at the Law Faculty (University of Montenegro) in 1998. He completed postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Political Sciences. His previous work experiences entail Center for Development of Non-governmental organizations CRNVO (executive director 1999-2007), Open Society Foundation Montenegro (program officer for Civil society, Media and Roma (2001). He served as member of Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD) Advisory Board. He was member of Ministry of Justice Advisory Council for Public administration reform (2003 -2006). He worked with Swedish Institute for Public Administration (SIPU) in regional TACSO project.

Apart from work in the Institute Alternative, he has authored or co-authored “Nations in Transit“ – Report on Montenegro for 2010 and 2011, Freedom House, 2011; article on “Freedom of association, European and domestic legislation and praxis” in “Human Rights and Culture of Human Rights”, Centre for Civic Education, 2007; “Weak tradition, Uncertain future”- Civicus Civil Society Index for Montenegro, Centre for Development of NGOs, Podgorica, 2007; articles on “European Economic and Social Committee” and “Civil Society in Europe” in “Learn about EU”, Monitoring Centre – CEMI). He is one of the founders of Institute alternative, and has been the president of IA’s managing board since 2007.

Gjergji Vurmo is IDM’s Programme Director and a senior researcher on good governance, civil society, security and western Balkan’s EU accession. His work focuses on governance, the European Union, and a number of security-related issues, including radicalism and violent extremism. He is author of several IDM studies and reports related to civil society development, governance and anti-corruption, EU accession process, radicalism and violent extremism.

Mr. Vurmo has served as Steering Board member of various networks of research institutes in the SEE region (PASOS, BCSDN) and is a contributor on the WB region for various EU think tanks. He has monitored and reported on Albania for well-known global reports such as the Open Government partnership (2013-2018), USAID CSO’s Sustainability Index (2010-2013), Open Parliaments 2012 report, and starting from November 2018 also the Freedom House’s Nations in Transit global report. Before working with IDM, Mr. Vurmo has been engaged with various think tanks in the WB region for over seven years.

Gjergji studied law at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje and obtained his MA degree on European studies at the University of Bologna, Italy. Languages: Albanian (native); English and Macedonian (C2, fluent); French and Italian (B2); Serbian & Croatian (B1).

Dr. Simonida Kacarska
EPI Skopje

Dr. Simonida Kacarska is a Director of  the European Policy Institute in Skopje, Macedonia. She holds a PhD in Politics and International Studies from the University of Leeds (United Kingdom) and a MA in European Politics from the Sussex European Institute (United Kingdom).

Simonida is one EPI’s founders and works in the Institute since 2011. In the period between 2005 and 2011, Simonida has worked in the Secretariat for European Affairs in the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, in the Unit for Justice, Freedom and Security, Sector for Integration.

She was a research fellow at the Central European University, University of Oxford, the College of Europe and the European Research Council project The Europeanisation of Citizenship in the Successor States of the Former Yugoslavia based at the University of Edinburgh School of Law. Simonida provided expert and consultancy services to international organisations (CoE and OSCE). She has both practitioner and research experience related to the political transformation and European integration of the Balkans with a focus on national minority policies.

She is a director of EPI since February 2017.

Haris Ćutahija
FPI BH Sarajevo