Board and Staff
Board
Lulzim Peci
Board ChairMr. Lulzim Peci (1966) holds an M.A. in International Relations from the University Institute Ortega y Gasset in Madrid (Spain) and B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Prishtina (Kosovo). He is the principal founder and the Executive Director of the Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED), and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Kosovo American Education Fund (KAEF).
Mr. Peci in the past used to serve as Ambassador of Kosovo in Stockholm (2009-2013), as a Member of the Board of Directors of the American University in Kosovo (2007 – 2009), Visiting Lecturer at the Geneva Centre for Security Policies (GCSP), Lecturer of National and International Security at the University of Prizren (2007- 2008), Executive Director of the Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (1999-2003), and as a Researcher at the Kosovo Center for International Studies (KCIS) / Foreign Policy Team of the late Kosovo’s President, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova (1995-1998).
Mr. Peci’s research interests are focused on foreign and security policies, inter-ethnic relations and political parties. He has published more than 60 policy and scientific papers and articles in Kosovo, Great Britain, Netherlands, Greece, Switzerland, Singapore, Austria and Germany.
Jelena Djokic
Board MemberJelena Djokic is a Professor of Environmental engineering and management at the University of Mitrovica, and International Business School Mitrovica. In her 30 years career, she was working in private, public and civil sector in production, management and research and development areas. Beginning in 1990, she has worked in Trepca zinc production plant, as production manager, and in 1995 , became assistant professor at the Faculty of mining and metallurgy. She has dedicated her efforts to the science, technology, engineering and environment, so she has published numerous scientific papers with some 35 of them in the most appreciated science journals in the world. As researcher she has participated in many international science projects, with special emphasize on global climate change impacts to the environment and sustainable development. She was very active in education development, and she was one of the pioneers of the opening the University of Mitrovica to the international projects. She was awarded Higher Education Reform Expert by EACEA. At the moment she is active in two Erasmus + projects as a project management board member in the field of Natural Disasters Risk Management in Western Balkans and centers of excellence in sustainable development.
After the local elections in 2013, as an expert, she was actively engaged as Advisor to the Mayor of Zvecan, in order to make the new system operational and functional. In this capacity she has been engaged in the implementation of the large infrastructure projects, funded by EU, such as Regional water supply, sewerage and waste management systems. She has also drafted submitted and being granted on behalf of the northern municipalities, with numerous projects in the field of increasing transparency of the local authorities, citizens participation in the decision making process, gender based domestic violence, youth and women employment, sport and culture organizations, and many others in the north of Kosovo.
Ms. Djokic completed her engineering studies at the University of Prishtina, and the master’s program in technology at the University of Belgrade. She completed her PhD studies at the University of Mitrovica.
Vjosa Dobruna
Board MemberDr. Vjosa Dobruna was an Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the Kingdom of the Netherlands (2013-2018) and is a pediatrician and Human Rights activist and practitioner. Dr.Dobruna is founder of the Center for the Protection of Women and Children in Prishtina, Women Center in Tetova, North Macedonia and the Safe House for women in Gjakova. She is recipient of numerous awards; Jonathan Mann Award for Health and Human Rights, Edward Barski Award for Courageous Physician, several International Women of the Year awards, the last one awarded to her in Italy in 2014 .
Erëza Vela
Board MemberErëza is the co-founder of RedMill Agency, a high-end integrated marketing agency founded in 2012 focusing on PR, Communications, CSR consultancy, and Event Management. With expertise working with USAID, EU, and government projects, Erëza started the company at a time when there were few women business owners in Kosovo.
In 2015, Erëza partnered with an expert in marketing, production and social media management to become a fully integrated marketing agency. RedMill is now one of the biggest creative companies in Kosovo with 20 employees, mostly women.
Erëza is well known in Kosovo as an entrepreneur, expert in communications and public relations, philanthropist and passionate advocate for women’s economic empowerment. In 2014, she served as executive producer and anchor of “Ekonomia me Erëzën” a prime-time television program about the economy. It soon became a leading program, hosting ministers, prime ministers, and leaders of international organizations and business.
In 2017, Erëza was awarded the Chevening Scholarship, fully funded by the UK government, and moved to London for postgraduate studies in political communications. She received a master of arts with merit degree in 2018, the same year she became a mother to her daughter, Vivienne.
Erëza is currently back at RedMill and working on the new season of “Ekonomia me Erëzën,” which will air February 2020.
Donika Emini
Board MemberMs. Donika Emini is a PhD candidate in Politics and International Relations at the University of Westminster in London. She is a scholarship holder of the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF). She also holds a Masters in Public Policy with specialization on Public and Non-Profit Management and International Relations. The fully funded scholarship was granted by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).
Currently, Ms. Emini is leading the CiviKos Platform. CiviKos is a CSO Secretariat gathering 250 member organizations. CiviKos works actively to bridge cooperation between Civil Society sector and Government of Kosovo. In this framework she is actively engaged in establishing the Civil Society – Government cooperation platform for EU integration process of Kosovo.
Upon her return from Germany to Kosovo, Ms. Emini was recipient of the OSI - Think Tank Young Professional Development Program as part of the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies where she worked from 2013 - 2016. Furthermore, she is Research Fellow at the EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) Paris Office HQ - European Fund for the Balkans fellowship.
Previously, Ms. Emini worked with Transparency International Secretariat in Berlin, Balkan Policy Institute (IPOL), and the General Consulate of the Republic of Kosovo in New York.
Ms. Emini is a member of the Balkans in Europe Policy Advocacy Group (BiEPAG), and member of the SEEThinkNet platform which converse the Berlin Process of the Western Balkans.
Ms. Emini is also author of many book chapters, reports and policy briefs focusing on the EU integration process of the Western Balkans, security cooperation in the region, dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. In addition, she is regular contributor for European Western Balkans and Prishtina Insight.
Staff
Lura Limani
Executive DirectorLura Limani is the executive director at the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society. With an extensive background in journalism and research, Limani previously worked as the editor-in-chief of Prishtina Insight, an online magazine produced by BIRN Kosovo. She holds an MA in cultural studies from University of Freiburg (Germany) and studied sociology and philosophy during her Bachelor studies at University of Prishtina and New York University. Previously, she was a fellow at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University in New York. Limani’s work has been published in Prishtina Insight, Balkan Insight, Osservatorio Balcani i Caucaso, Fabrikzeitung, etc. Limani is one of the founders of the Kosovo Oral History Initiative, an archive of life stories of people of Kosovo.
Dukagjin Hyseni
Administrative and Finance DirectorDukagjin Hyseni is an Administrative & Finance Director of Kosovo Foundation for Open Society. During his 21-year tenure, Dukagjin oversaw administrative, financial and office operations. Before this role, Dukagjin was partner in private company. Dukagjin holds a University degree in management and accounting.
Denion Galimuna
Program managerDenion Galimuna is the manager of the Transparency and Accountability program in the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society. He has graduated from the Central European University in Budapest and earned an MA degree in Economic Policy in Global Markets. In the past, Denion was part of the Minister’s cabinet in the Ministry of Economic Development; he has also briefly worked in the business sector and for over ten years in international organizations.