Paul Papadimitriou is a global keynote speaker, futurist, and seasoned emcee who helps audiences make sense of the forces reshaping business, culture, and human connection. He explores the impact of tech, AI, and globalisation on how we live, work, and travel — with a sharp focus on the human experience and the future of customer experience. As an adviser, he works with a wide variety of clients, from startups to government agencies and multinational corporations. He bridges emerging technologies with real-world human behaviour, offering leaders clarity in an age of constant change. Known for his dynamic storytelling, Paul has hosted and emceed some of the world’s largest conferences, bringing energy and clarity to stages from New York to Singapore, Dubai to São Paulo, Paris to Hong Kong, and even on an Airbus A380. Beyond the stage, he is the creator of the #1 global air travel podcast and an accomplished photographer. Paul has called Tokyo, Manila, or Geneva home, and now resides in London.

Andy Poole is a leader at the intersection of technology, education, and business. As Partnerships Director for Coursera for Campus, he partners with universities, colleges and Ministries of Education across Europe to drive digital transformation, leveraging technology like GenAI to enhance student employability and modernise learning. Before joining Coursera, he led recruitment and admissions at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School and developed new programs, including a Postgraduate Diploma in AI for Business. His career is also rooted in the region, having spent nearly a decade at Macmillan Education, where he was Director for Central and Eastern Europe. Andy is passionate about harnessing technology to expand access to world-class education and create new pathways to opportunity.

Krenar Komoni is an entrepreneur that has developed breakthrough ideas in transportation, logistics, wireless electronics, and data analytics for nearly a decade. As an innovator and market leader, Krenar has successfully developed and led cross-functional teams while enhancing business performance in sales, finance, product, supply chain, operations, distribution, and manufacturing.  Most recently, Krenar founded the global supply chain visibility company, Tive, headquartered in Boston, that provides a cloud-based platform and IoT sensors to capture critical real-time ground-truth data of shipments throughout the globe. Krenar embodies the leadership, management, and vision necessary to deliver market innovation, drive growth, and unlock hidden potential.  Previously, Krenar worked at BitWave Semiconductor, developing the world’s first software-defined radio (SDR), Eta Devices, an MIT-based startup developing highly efficient cellular base stations, and has provided consulting services for various Fortune 500 companies on chip and system-level wireless design.

Dr. Klaudia Dussa-Zieger is the team leader responsible for consulting at imbus. She is particularly interested in test management, the continuous improvement of the test process and the professiona training and further education of testers. For more than 20 years, she has been active as a trainer for the ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation and Advanced Level and also as a lecturer for software testing at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. Since March 2009, Klaudia Dussa-Zieger has been chairwoman of the DIN working committee “System and Software Engineering” and is actively involved in the creation of standards at international level. For more than 10 years she is member of the German Testing Board (GTB). Currently, she is the President of the ISTQB, where she heads the AI Taskforce.

A useful person to have at hand, Rachel is a People Strategist with more than two decades of experience, specializing in crafting and implementing impactful people strategies that drive business results. Hands-on leadership roles in global companies such as Citrix, Google, Vodafone, and Snow Software, provided Rachel with the practical skills required to drive performance, change, and growth. As Principal People Strategist @ RMM People, she has helped organisations – and individuals – to make the “breakthrough” needed by offering fresh perspective, practical options and leadership coaching. In addition to being the founder and principal of her consulting company, RMM People, Rachel is a Growth Partner with a substantial and successful UK based VC, Rachel works with investors, founders and leaders of start-ups and scale-ups to amplify the people and organisational impact on business results. Rachel’s academic foundation includes a BA in Psychology, an MBA, and an MSc in Applied Neuroscience.  She also holds a number of executive coaching qualifications.

Paolo Palumbo is a recognised leader in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, with deep expertise in threat research, AI, machine learning, and emerging technologies. His work has driven major advancements in the European cybersecurity landscape, where his innovative approaches to digital defence have shaped new standards for threat detection and prevention. Paolo holds numerous patents and has published widely, contributing thought leadership that influences both industry and academia. A passionate communicator, he frequently shares his insights at major global conferences, including RSA and Mobile World Congress. Currently, Paolo serves as Vice President of WithSecure Intelligence and is a member of ENISA’s Advisory Group.

Bob Garcia is the former CEO of Resonate Consultancy, a firm he founded and led for over a decade, growing and ultimately selling in 2024. Originally from the USA, Bob moved to Europe early in his career, focusing on leading large implementations across the European telecoms market. Bob’s experiences as the leader of Resonate span from building and scaling a startup company, building and leading sales functions, leading and maturing business operations, and ultimately leading the sale and integration of the company into the buyer’s environment. After successfully selling his company, Bob has transitioned into a new chapter focused on advisory work, public speaking, and mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs and helping companies to prepare for sale. His talks provide practical wisdom drawn from his experiences. Bob is passionate about the responsibilities of leadership, pragmatic decision-making, and creating environments where teams are empowered and where employees can thrive.

Andreas Wesselmann has been Chief Executive Officer of NFON AG since October 2025. He previously held the role of CTO driving the company’s transformation into the leader of AI-powered business communication. With a deep background in mathematics and information technology, he launched his career at SAP, Germany’s largest software company, where he rose to the SAP Global Leadership Team as Senior Vice President for SAP HANA Database & Analytics. Bringing more than two decades of international leadership experience, Andreas is known for turning cutting-edge innovations into scalable business models and evolving cloud solutions into future-ready platforms. At NFON, he plays a key role in shaping the company’s vision: rethinking how organisations connect, collaborate, and thrive in an era of intelligent, AI-driven communication.

Mergim Cahani is the Founder and CEO of Gjirafa, Inc., one of Central Europe’s fastest-growing tech companies, ranked #11 in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 Central Europe in 2021. Gjirafa aims to build the Internet economy in the Balkans through services like e-commerce, video streaming, and media tech SaaS. With over 15 years of experience in technology and management, Mergim worked for Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR), an Adjunct Assistant Professor at St. John’s University, an executive management consulting program at Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS). He also served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at St. John’s University. Mergim has been President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo and is a board member of the ATOM Institute, the GAP Institute, and several startups and funds. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science and an MBA in Management from St. John’s University and New York University.

An entrepreneur and co-founder of jCoders Academy and Labbox, two ventures created to empower young people to learn technology as creators. Since 2015, jCoders has grown into a leading after-school program in Kosovo, teaching thousands of students aged 8–18 coding, electronics, and robotics. Building on this foundation, Arta launched Labbox, a modular electronics system and curriculum platform that enables children worldwide to explore STEM through hands-on kits, classroom programs, and educational games. Labbox has since expanded internationally by partnering with Hape, one of the world’s leading educational toy makers. With a proven track record in building scalable education models, Arta is driving Labbox’s growth through strategic partnerships, distribution channels, and direct-to-consumer strategies, aiming to establish it as a global leader in hands-on STEM education.

Driton Hapçiu is a Kosovo-born entrepreneur, investor, and digital transformation executive with a career spanning IT, telecom, consulting, media, and international development. He is a founding partner of the CACTTUS group of ICT companies and of RECURA, a financial advisory and strategic services firm. A builder of institutions, he co-founded the Kosovo ICT Association (STIKK) and the Innovation Centre Kosovo (ICK) and actively mentors startups. Hapçiu’s current portfolio includes leading initiatives such as CACTTUS Education, RECURA Investment Holding, HARRISIA, CACTTUS Business Solutions, and CONCEPTICON, where he focuses on business development, problem-solving, strategic management, and digital transformation. His governance experience includes service on the boards of the LUMBARDHI Foundation and the German Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo, with prior board roles at STIKK, ICK, TOKA, the Prishtina Girls’ Football Team, and the IPKO Institute of Information Technology. Across ventures and civic work, Hapçiu blends strategy and execution to scale organizations, strengthen ecosystems, and enable technology-driven growth.

Arber Kadia is a community-driven entrepreneur, CEO and Co-founder of Patoko, Albania’s first super app. With a career spanning government, oil& gas, sports, sales, media, and startups, he brings a unique mix of grit and vision to building technology that improves everyday life. Arber is passionate about showing how innovation from the Balkans can inspire global change.

Jeta Zagragja is a tech entrepreneur, investor, and mentor focused on innovation-driven growth. With 15+ years across technology, finance, and non-profits, she builds efficient, high-performing teams and scalable companies. As Founder & CEO of AnchorzUp, she delivers digital and technology solutions for clients in the U.S., Switzerland, and Australia. Previously she co-founded UCX, leading sales, marketing, and operations through a successful 2021 exit. Her executive track includes business development leadership at Cacttus JSC and Gjirafa JSC, where she forged strategic partnerships and expansion. Jeta’s leadership blends operational rigor with “friendly professionalism,” yielding strong client satisfaction and standout talent retention. She holds a B.A. in Applied Sciences from the Rochester Institute of Technology (New York) and an MBA in Strategic Management from Roosevelt University (Chicago). Committed to ecosystem growth, Jeta co-chairs the Kosovo American Education Fund board; has served as Secretary General of AmCham Kosovo; and sits on or has held board roles with Swinto and CryptoKos Inframain J.S.C. She mentors founders through the Innovation Center Kosovo, ITP, and Uplift Albania.

Arben has over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, a bachelor’s degree in business management & Entrepreneurship, and a strong background in IT project management. He started managing projects in 2008 and, in 2018 specialized in building, scaling, and managing Software teams. In February 2025, he joined NFON as Managing Director for the NFON Hub Kosovo, bringing his expertise and passion for optimizing processes and driving innovation, he focuses on leading teams, fostering growth, and ensuring operational excellence.

Bersant Disha is Managing Partner at Recura Financials and a senior consultant with 17+ years’ experience, including 12 in management, finance, and business. He has led multidisciplinary advisory teams and worked with 400+ companies—from micro and family-owned firms to large corporates and investment projects—in Kosovo and internationally. His advisory spans strategic business development, financial structuring, corporate finance, market access, and strategic partnerships. An expert in corporate finance, governance, financial modeling, and the design of financial instruments, he specializes in structuring complex transactions across growth stages. He has led transaction advisory teams on sell- and buy-side mandates in Kosovo, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States, supporting deals totaling over €400 million. Bersant holds an MSc in Finance from the University of Warwick and a BSc in Business from the London School of Economics, and is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) accredited by ICMCI. He serves as Supervisory Board Director at Recycling Holding Volendam (Netherlands), Board Member at Ujë Rugove (Kosovo), Independent Board Advisor to InstaBuilt (US–Kosovo), and Trustee of the American University in Kosovo – RITK, where he is Vice Chair of the Finance Committee.

Çelik is an entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience in the technology industry. As Cofounder and CEO of Frakton, he built the company from the ground up, expanded it internationally, and led it through multiple acquisitions by Melon, Kin + Carta, and ultimately Valtech, a leading global digital consultancy. He has a proven track record of building high-performing teams, driving sales engines, and taking businesses from local to global markets. Çelik is also an investor (most recent IPO, Klarna) and, beyond building and scaling companies, has dedicated several years to supporting the early development of the startup ecosystems in Kosovo, Albania, and Macedonia.

As Head of Sales at PI Labs, a subsidiary of the Pixida Group, Alexander drives business development and strategic partnerships for connected mobility. Representing both PI Labs and the global Pixida Group, he brings extensive business, technical, and international experience from previous roles as project manager, software architect, developer, and managing director of an international subsidiary.

Fidan is the founder of Electric Mobility LLC, the company behind ETAXI, the first fully electric taxi service in Kosovo, and ECHARGE, a growing nationwide EV charging network. With a strong focus on sustainable transport and innovative mobility solutions, he has been driving initiatives that make e-mobility accessible, reliable, and future-ready in the region. His work bridges entrepreneurship, technology, and energy, contributing to the broader transition toward cleaner transportation.

Luftar Braha is a digitalisation expert at the Municipality of Prishtina, where he leads data-driven smart-city initiatives spanning traffic management, public transport, and telecom systems. He has been the municipality’s go-to expert voice on measures such as 24/7 traffic monitoring, GPS-equipped buses, and mobility policies to ease congestion and improve safety. Beyond city hall, Braha contributes to Kosovo’s broader digital ecosystem as a certified lecturer with the Business Consultants Council and a board member, advancing professional upskilling in digital transformation. He has also partnered in the DIG-4K European Digital Innovation Hub consortium via ALT, supporting industry adoption of advanced digital solutions.

Louise Skärvall leads BOOST, UNDP’s business accelerator for Europe and Central Asia. Louise has supported over 150 ventures and civil society organizations worldwide to scale solutions through innovation, partnership building, and impact investment. Her current focus is on strengthening innovation ecosystems and linking cities with green tech solutions to tackle urgent development challenges.

Grant, a leader and statesman in the angel investing world, including having Chaired the prestigious TCA Venture Group (Tech Coast Angels), has a stake in 118 startups. He serves as a formal advisor or board member of many of those, often as Chairman.  He is Managing Partner of Hangar 75 Ventures, and active member of Keiretsu SEE and Entrelliance, and President of the AmCham Albania. He does real estate development and infrastructure projects in Eastern Europe, and clean-tech, fin-tech, and ed-tech ventures in the Balkans and MENA region. He studied business at the Wharton/UPenn and Intercultural Communication at Fuller, followed by 19 years living in Europe. After a decade in the US, he now spends two-thirds of his time away from California, traveling often from his base in Albania.

Kamen is a founding partner at Planet 9 Ventures, an early-stage VC fund set to launch in early 2026. He brings over a decade of experience in startups and venture capital, having led 100+ investments totaling more than €25 million. Kamen has worked with 350+ startups as a mentor and speaker across leading accelerators, training programs, and tech events in the CEE region.

Stevica Kuharski is a Partner at Fil Rouge Capital (FRC), an early-stage venture firm investing across three funds with nearly 100M AUM and 160+ investments. With deep expertise in business and software development, he brings a builder’s mindset to sourcing and backing high-potential founders, leading deals from first check through follow-on, and sharpening product, go-to-market, and fundraising. An entrepreneur-turned-investor, he founded his first company in 2003 and has had several exits—the most notable being Locodels, acquired by Croatian Post in 2019. At FRC he partners closely with teams to turn early traction into durable, scalable growth.

Ardian is an entrepreneur, investor, and influential keynote speaker with over two decades of experience spanning industries such as telecommunications, jewelry, education, and healthy food. He has successfully built and led major ventures, including the American School of Kosova, Duplex Club, Albafone, SushiCo, Coders Lab Kosova, and Glam Radio. His standout brand, Green and Protein, is on a mission to revolutionize healthy eating, rapidly expanding across Southeast Europe, Western Europe, and beyond. As the founder and Chapter President of Keiretsu Forum Southeast Europe, Ardian is a leading force in nurturing startup ecosystems and driving innovation across the region. His leadership has helped bridge investors with entrepreneurs, fueling growth and advancing the future of business in the Balkans and beyond. With an Executive MBA from IEDC – Bled School of Management and a portfolio of prestigious awards, Ardian’s influence extends to multiple boards and key business networks. His visionary approach continues to shape the landscape of business, innovation, and healthy living across Europe.

Drin Mulliqi is a hands-on startup investor and mentor backing early teams that use AI and automation to solve real problems. Founders lean on him for product–market fit, sales motion, and crisp, trackable metrics. As a festival juror, he gravitates to simple stories, strong signals, and active users. Beyond investing, he builds. Mulliqi is Co-founder & CEO of Red Mill Agency, a growth marketing and software firm that has delivered 300+ projects for 100+ clients over 18+ years. He also co-founded Mounter.io, assembling agile development teams for global clients—capacity he often opens to portfolio founders. On stage, he speaks about the future of work, AI in marketing and product, and scaling with fewer resources, including talks at Web Summit (twice) and Dublin Tech Summit. Earlier, he helped launch Kosovo’s first multi-vendor e-commerce platform (fafi-ks.com), which captured ~25% of national internet traffic on day one. His ecosystem roles include Chairman for Technology & Innovation at AmCham (2018) and Senior Adviser to the Minister of Economic Development (2014). His current thesis: AI-powered outsourcing that accelerates time-to-market through hybrid models blending R&D, in-house skill, and scalable external execution. Winning brands live where art meets analytics.

Dr. Arta Istrefi is a long-time advocate for women’s empowerment in business and ICT, with over a decade of experience mentoring entrepreneurs and building bridges to global opportunities. She has mentored through UN Women Europe and Central Asia and is a member of the Leaders Circle at The Female Factor, a global women’s leadership network. Currently, Arta serves as Country Program Officer for the Swiss Entrepreneurship Program, where she supports the growth of entrepreneurial ecosystems and facilitates access to investment and international networks. She is also Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Heimerer College, where she equips the next generation of founders with the skills to innovate and scale. Arta holds a PhD in Business Administration and an MSc in Economic Development from the University of Nottingham, which honored her with an Alumni Award for her impact on women entrepreneurs in Southeastern Europe. Her research and professional focus lie at the intersection of entrepreneurship, digital transformation, innovation, and investment readiness.

Bejtë Cakaj is Deputy Chief Executive Officer and a Member of the Management Board at ProCredit Bank Kosovo, where he helps steer the country’s leading MSME-focused bank toward sustainable, digitally driven growth. Appointed Deputy CEO in July 2024 and to the Management Board in May 2019, he brings long-standing institutional experience and a hands-on grasp of banking transformation. Since joining ProCredit in 2009, Cakaj has advanced through key risk and operations roles—including Credit Risk Assessment coordination and a professional exchange with ProCredit Holding in Frankfurt—building a reputation for prudent risk management and scalable processes. Today, his remit spans core engine rooms of the bank: credit risk, digital channels and IT, finance, payments, and internal services. Cakaj’s leadership reflects ProCredit’s strategic priorities: financing the real economy, digitizing client experience, and elevating green and sustainable finance—positions he has articulated alongside the bank’s CEO in outreach to international business communities. He holds a degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology, pairing analytical rigor with a pragmatic, execution-oriented style. Across fifteen years at ProCredit, Cakaj has become a key architect of the bank’s resilience and modernization—bridging risk discipline with product, technology, and operational excellence to support Kosovo’s fast-growing private sector.

Ryan Riegg is an international technology lawyer with nearly 20 years of experience helping companies navigate global regulations, product launches, and complex commercial deals. He has worked in more than 70 countries and advises on technology development and licensing, data privacy, and international business strategy. A former startup founder, Ryan holds a J.D. from UCLA Law and a B.A. from USC. He has written on law, technology, and global policy for Newsweek, The Hill, Texas Lawbook, and Vice, as well as law journals at Cornell, UCLA, and the University of Denver. In his spare time, Ryan serves as an Innovation Fellow at Columbia Business School and as an advisor in UCLA Anderson’s Business Creation Option Program.

Visar Dobroshi is Managing Partner at RECURA, leading the Corporate Governance Unit and overseeing HR and Sales. A civil engineer with an MSc in Water & Sanitation Engineering, he brings 20+ years of experience across infrastructure project management, SME advisory, and strategy consulting. He has held executive and board roles and delivers governance solutions tailored to micro, small, and medium enterprises. Visar is an EBRD-approved business and management consultant and an IFC-approved Senior Corporate Governance Consultant. As an experienced trainer and trainer-of-trainers, he works extensively with IFC on corporate governance for SMEs and family businesses, and on private-sector advisory spanning sales and marketing, customer care, business ethics, and business development. He has supported 300+ companies in Kosovo and internationally, helping design and implement governance frameworks that strengthen strategy execution, develop leadership talent, build financial resilience, enhance enterprise value, and ensure compliance—covering areas such as corporate strategy, executive compensation, and regulatory alignment. Earlier, Visar served as CEO and Board Member of Primo Telecommunications (a Telekom Slovenia subsidiary in Albania), Head of Infrastructure at IPKO in Kosovo, and Program Manager with the European Commission Humanitarian Office. He co-founded STIKK and has held board roles with the Kosovo-German Chamber, AmCham Kosovo, the Business Consultants Council (Chair), and Kosovo’s CSR network.

Robert Shala is a cybersecurity professional and AI red teamer with experience spanning Fortune 500, FAANG, and defense sectors. As Co-Founder and VP at Sentry Cybersecurity, he has led over 800 international security projects, earning recognition for public contributions. He also serves as an External AI Red Teamer with OpenAI, assessing the safety of advanced AI systems, and has advised governments and institutions on topics of security and strategy. He has spoken at DEF CON, BSides, Wargaming Conferences, and Universities across the world. Robert holds a Masters in Security Studies from Georgetown University.

Peter Ringstad, CEO Ligna Energy has 30 years of experience in project leadership and management with a strong engineering and innovation background. Peter holds a Lic Eng in mechanical engineering and has worked for leading global companies in management positions such as ABB and Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery. Shifted from the large corporation perspective to the impact start-up space in 2018 – an exciting journey:)

Luca is a mathematics major who has worked at Ericsson Nikola Tesla since 2017. Over her time at the company, she has held a wide range of roles, including software maintenance and feature development, coordination of maintenance and release activities, and program management. Since April 2025 she is OPO for a team focused on security-related features. She is particularly interested in exploring applications of AI to improve software quality, maintainability, and long-term code health.

Roni Kasemi is a skilled mechatronics engineer, researcher, and educator, currently serving as Head of Mechatronics at ISA Robotics. With deep expertise in embedded systems, automation, and AI-based solutions, he leads the development of advanced robotic platforms with a focus on precision, adaptability, and real-world application. His background spans academic leadership, hands-on system design, and technical project management. Coupled with a foundation in entrepreneurship, Roni brings a strategic mindset and innovative drive to the robotics domain, bridging research and industry to enable next-generation mechatronic systems.

Astrit Dibrani is the Founder & CEO of CloudAstro. A product-minded engineer turned entrepreneur, he helps teams turn cloud platforms into measurable business impact—shipping reliable, secure, and cost-savvy systems at scale. At CloudAstro, Astrit blends hands-on architecture with pragmatic leadership to modernize workloads and accelerate data/AI initiatives. At KOSICT, he shares real-world lessons on what actually works in cloud transformation, how to align stakeholders, and how to translate technical choices into lasting product velocity.

Jessica Lehdonvirta is a Programme Officer at Finnpartnership, a business partnership programme under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Finnpartnership supports Finnish private sector internationalization and sustainable long-term business partnerships between companies from Finland and emerging markets. At Finnpartnership, she advances Finland’s efforts in digital innovation, technology-driven collaboration, and knowledge exchange that deliver impact across markets.

WEIVI’s CEO and founder, Alia Dannenberg, has a PhD in theoretical physics, and in the academic world, she has done pioneering work in developing computer-assisted physics via scientific computing and mathematical modelling. Although her subject field was quantum physics, she has solved numerous previously unsolvable problems in various fields of science, e.g., in economics. Optimisation method for train traffic in disruptions is her latest innovation, and WEIVI develops it into a software tool for train traffic management.

Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a strong track record in financial services, venture capital, and strategic growth. Passionate about entrepreneurship, investment innovation, and B2B leadership. Skilled in business development, investment strategies, and building high-performance teams. Co-Founder of three innovative Nordic companies: Springvest Oyj,  Vauraus Oyj and ScanwAi 

Mika Skarp is a telecom technologist, entrepreneur, and executive, currently Senior Business Development Manager at Cumucore. Across two decades at the edge of network innovation, he led engineering at Nokia in Finland and Silicon Valley and served as the founding president of the WiMAX Forum. At Nokia he helped design the GSMA-recognized Village Connection program. He later founded Cloudstreet, the first commercial network-slicing platform—used in Finland for live TV productions—to show how dynamic QoS unlocks new media workflows. At Cumucore, Mika advances private mobile networks with a focus on Layer-2 communication for Industry 4.0 and media, translating cutting-edge architectures into practical deployments. Holder of patented innovations, he is also a writer, commentator, and mentor whose work on digital transformation champions net neutrality and an open internet. A frequent speaker at industry forums, including IBC, he brings clear, real-world perspective on 4G/5G, slicing, and enterprise mobility—and a consistent track record of turning new radio capabilities into business value.

Marin has been working at Ericsson Nikola Tesla as a software developer since 2019. In the past 6 year,s he has been a part of the integration and verification of multiple Ericsson Radio and Digital Units, as a member of the study group and as a developer. In his latest projects, he’s been involved in security features in compliance with the ORAN standard. He is also an AI enthusiast who tries to incorporate all the upcoming innovations into his daily work.

Njomza Ismaili is a Cloud and DevOps Engineer specializing in Kubernetes, CI/CD automation, and Helm-based application management. She focuses on deploying cloud applications reliably while delivering value to clients and growing her technical expertise

Abdelfadeel Farag (Abdo) is working as DevOps Team Lead and Cloud Architect, bringing extensive expertise in multi-cloud environments and enterprise-scale automation. He specializes in designing and implementing robust microservices architectures, leveraging Infrastructure as Code through Terraform, and driving organizational transformation through GitOps methodologies. Abdo leads high-performing DevOps teams in delivering scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud solutions across diverse technology stacks. His expertise spans cloud-native technologies, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, and modern software delivery practices that enable businesses to achieve rapid, reliable deployments.

Mr. Schmid is a senior researcher at IBW Austria with over 25 years of comparative research in vocational education and training (VET). His work spans qualification research, educational choice and transitions, school governance, education financing, continuous VET, and apprenticeships in international perspective. For more than a decade, he has served as an expert in know-how transfer projects to strengthen apprenticeships and work-based learning in Europe and beyond, including Slovakia, Hungary, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Benin, Egypt, and Côte d’Ivoire. He is Austria’s national expert in Cedefop’s Community of Apprenticeship Experts and serves the Donor Committee for Dual Vocational Education and Training (DC dVET), representing the development agencies of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. His engagement includes numerous short-term missions to foster dual VET in Armenia, Benin, Egypt, Georgia, Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Sudan, and Thailand. Schmid combines rigorous research with hands-on system support to advance effective, equitable VET worldwide.

Ralph Rothe is an experienced VET advisor specializing in sustainable development and international cooperation, with a strong background in environmental policy and climate change. He has worked extensively with GIZ and other global organizations, contributing to projects across Europe, Africa, and Asia. His expertise spans strategic planning, capacity building, and policy dialogue, particularly in the fields of VET and in particular Dual Education. Ralph holds advanced degrees in environmental sciences and brings over three decades of professional experience to his work. He is fluent in multiple languages and adept at navigating complex intercultural contexts.

Mr. Karl Mohr is the Director of the HTL for Information Technology “Peter Mahringer” in Shkodra, Albania. He studied Electrical Engineering at the Technical University of Graz and contributed to several academic and institutional initiatives, including the establishment of the University of Applied Sciences in Dornbirn. He gained extensive industrial experience working in process engineering (Kanzler Verfahrenstechnik) and electrical engineering (Pichlerwerke Weiz) companies before joining the education sector in 2004 as a teacher at HTL BULME Graz-Gösting, specializing in electrical engineering. From 2013, he served as Head of Department for College and Evening School programs at HTL BULME, where he was also involved in national curriculum development commissions for Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Since 2023, he has been leading the HTL for IT “Peter Mahringer” in Shkodra, focusing on advancing technical and vocational education in information technology.

Head of the Division for Vocational Education and Training Standards and Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) Ms. Fetiu-Mjeku leads the Division for Vocational Education and Training Standards and Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation in Kosovo. She has extensive experience in education policy, standards development, and the alignment of Kosovo’s vocational training system with European frameworks. Her work focuses on ensuring the quality and relevance of VET programs and on strengthening cooperation between educational institutions, public authorities, and the private sector to promote a modern, demand-driven VET system.

Rinor Hajdini is an entrepreneur and business leader based in Finland. He is the CEO of Finiks Oy, a company focused on building energy and trade bridges between Finland and the Western Balkans, and the founder of Pihan Kuningatar Oy in Finland and Venus Pools L.L.C. in Kosovo, both specializing in luxury swimming pools and outdoor solutions. He is also a Board Member at Gecilab Oy. In addition, Rinor serves as the Chairman of the Albanian Entrepreneurs Association Ry in Finland and is a long-standing committee member of the Turku Chamber of Commerce. He has also served in the Finnish Navy (2008–2009), representing Finland in international Navy exercises Loyal Mariner 2009 Portugal. Rinor holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Prishtina and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences in Finland.

Kushtrim Bajrami is a senior education and workforce development expert with over 17 years of experience in managing and advising donor-funded projects in Kosovo’s education and employment sectors. He currently leads VET governance reform within Swisscontact’s “Matching Skills to Jobs-MSJ” project, contributing to the new VET Law, VET school governance models, and stronger private sector engagement. Kushtrim has cooperated with institutions such as SDC, GIZ, the EU, and ETF, and is recognized for advancing skills development policies that better connect education with labour market needs.