Professor Nikica Mojsoska-Blazevski is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Macedonia2025. Nikica’s prior experience was in academia, where she served two terms as Dean of the Business School at University American College-Skopje, as well as in the public administration where she worked as a Head of the Macroeconomic Policy Department at the Ministry of Finance of Republic of Macedonia. Nikica has an extensive experience of over 15 years in research, consultancy and advisory in economic policies, social systems and policy, labour markets, and education in Macedonia, as well as the Western Balkan region. She has been so far working with major international economic organisations and institutions, such as the World Bank, ILO, RCC, UNDP, UN Women and the European Commission. Mojsoska-Blazevski is author of many journal articles and several book chapters, mainly in the area of social policy, labour markets, education, gender issues, youth, etc. Nikica has served as an advisor to the government institutions in Macedonia and the Western Balkan region on economic, employment and social policy issues. Nikica is a member of several professional organizations in Macedonia, as well as of well-renowned international scientific organizations.

Michael Cklamovski serves as Managing Director and Market Leader with CIBC Bank USA in San Francisco. Cklamovski works closely with business principals, leading a team built to provide tailored banking solutions to strategic clients. He is attuned to client’s personal and professional interests and helps business owners, entrepreneurs, senior executives, and multigenerational families navigate significant crossroads in their financial lives, providing them with the resources and counsel required to make sound decisions. Prior to joining CIBC, Michael held roles of increasing responsibility at Bank of America in Chicago. Before his career in finance, Cklamovski was a litigation attorney focused on tax and real estate issues appearing in both state and federal court. Michael earned a B.A. with dual majors in Political Science and Communication from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as well as a Juris Doctor with Honors from the Northern Illinois University College of Law. Cklamovski served as Vice-Chair of the Macedonia2025 Board of Directors since 2019.

Vera Stavroff is the President & CEO of HerbalScience, AlkaloidUSA, and co-founder of GreenBeauty. Vera works with Tikveš Winery on a joint venture to penetrate the US market under the brand Vergina wines. Vera was born in Bitola, Macedonia. Her family emigrated to Ohio’s heartland, where she attended The Ohio State University and received her degree in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. She worked in the pharmaceutical industry (Abbott Laboratories) for 13 years. Vera joined Limited Brands as a member of the Executive Committee and head of Research & Development, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs for the Bath & Body Works division. Vera is the recipient of two U.S. and international patents. She resides in Columbus Ohio with her husband Frank and they have two children, Jacquilyn and Jeffrey.

Mike Zafirovski is the Founder, Chairman, and President of The Zaf Group, a family office engaged in operating, investment, and advisory activities. The operating activities include acquiring well-run family businesses with the intention of owning in perpetuity. Currently, the two platform companies are ACP CreativIT, an IT solutions provider and ABCO Systems, a material handling systems integrator for warehouses and distribution centers. Mike is the chairman of both companies, and Mike’s wife Robin is the co-chair of The Zaf Group.

Formerly, Mike was an executive advisor to The Blackstone Group (2011-2021) and served on the board of directors of Boeing (2004-2020), Stericycle (2012-2022), Apria Healthcare (2011-2022), Nortel (2006-2009), Motorola (2002-2005), several Blackstone portfolio and other private companies.

During his corporate career, Mike served as President/CEO at Nortel, Motorola, and five GE businesses. In 21 years of direct P&L responsibility, revenue growth exceeded 8% per year, annual productivity averaged over 6%, and EBITDA margin increases averaged 350bps per year.

From 2006 to 2010, Mr. Zafirovski was appointed by the President of the United States to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC), providing recommendations to the President on a wide range of policy issues related to telecommunications, IT, cybersecurity, and other national security concerns.

The Zafirovski Family Foundation (established in 2005) activities focus on education, healthcare, faith-based ministries, and economic development. A native of Macedonia, Mike is co-founder and director of Macedonia 2025 (www.macedonia2025.com), an organization dedicated to enhancing the country’s economic and democratic development. One of the programs (Zafirovski Executive Development), in partnership with the Kellogg School of Management, is accelerating the development of 100 future CEOs and CXOs in the country.

Mike is on Board of Directors of the Special Olympics (www.SpecialOlympics.org). His other philanthropic and civic involvements include: Council of Chief Executives (member, former Chairman), The CEO Forum (member, https://theceoforum.org/Home), American Enterprise Institute (member of National Council), The Halftime Institute (http://halftimeinstitute.org/, completed the Fellows Program in 2017), The Economic Club of Chicago (member, former director), and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs (member). Mike is co-founder of the Faith at Work ministry at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest, Il. Mike is the former Chairman of AUSL (www.ausl-chicago.org), an organization that drove education equity at some of the most challenged public schools in Chicago.

Mike holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania, where he captained the soccer and swimming teams. In 2002, Edinboro University awarded him an honorary doctorate degree in public service. He is a visiting lecturer at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He and his wife Robin are former national chairs of Duke University’s Parents’ Committee.

He has received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2004); the Distinguished Leadership Award from the NY Hall of Science (2008); the Medal of Honor from the President of Macedonia (2013); and the inagural John L. Bitove Philanthropy Award (2017). In 2018, the Navy Seal Foundation bestowed on Mike and his wife Robin the “Patriot Award,” in recognition of their extensive philanthropic contributions to society, commitment to the Navy Seal community, and spirit and example of patriotism. In 2021, AUSL recognized Mike and Robin for their leadership impact in education.

Mike and Robin, married for 39 years, have three married sons and seven grandchildren. All three sons are involved in The Zaf Group. Mike’s hobbies include anything with family, mentoring, friends, travel, and sports (he completed the Kona Ironman Triathlon in 2018, the NYC marathon in 2021, and is beginning to take golf seriously).

KETEVAN (KETI) BOCHORISHVILI

Former Vice-Minister of Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

Counting 24 years of management experience including 7 years of her dedication to Georgia’s public sector as a senior executive, Ketevan has successfully served as vice minister of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, under four consecutive leaderships of two democratically elected governments. Her area of work included Economic Policy, FDI Attraction, SME Sector Development, Export Promotion and Development, Tourism Development, R&D, and National and International Promotion Campaigns. Kevin has an impressive record of cooperation with all leading International Financial Institutions and International Organizations through the development and implementation of multimillion-dollar economic development programs. Bochorishvili is recognized as a leading business environment reformer, a fighter against corruption, and an innovator in terms of the provision of government services. Bochorishvili has contributed to several successful reforms and state projects targeting private sector development, simplifying bureaucracy, and economic diversification. Her achievements were awarded the Forbes Woman title in 2017. She has been also chosen as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2019.

Ms. Bochorishvili then became one of the first woman executives to take responsibility for managing a city-scale special economic zone, next to the deep-sea port, encompassing such economic clusters as logistics, light manufacturing, tourism, hospitality, financial and business, and other services. Currently, Ms. Bochorishvili is the Managing Partner of “Business Georgia” and advises large International and local companies in Georgia in diverse sectors, including renewable energy, Tourism & Real Estate Development, Education, Transport & Logistics, Film Production, and Media. She also works for Tony Blaire Institute as an advisor.

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Ms. Bochorishvili holds an MA degree in International Public Management from SDA Bocconi School of Management (Milan, Italy) and BA/MA degree in International Conflict Resolution from Georgian Technical University. She has accumulated several intercultural experiences and developed entrepreneurial skills through participating in executive programs at Stanford University (USA), Georgetown University (USA), the Iacocca Institute (USA), and Charles University (Czech Republic). She has recently completed Global Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education at Harvard Kennedy School (USA) and Leadership Module at Cambridge Judge School (UK).

Since year 2006, Mukaetov is heading the biggest Macedonian pharmaceutical industry, “Alkaloid AD Skopje”.

Founded in 1936, “Alkaloid” brand is recognizable and well-established, just like its motto- “Health above all”…slogan of one of the key drivers of the Macedonian economy and one of the leading pharmaceutical industries in Southeastern Europe. Headquartered in Skopje, “Alkaloid” places its products in over 40 countries worldwide through its 20 subsidiaries abroad.

For his extraordinary endeavors in the sphere of culture, sports, business and corporate social responsibility, Mukaetov was awarded various national and international acknowledgments. He was decorated with two orders: “Order of the Danish Flag” on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark for valuable services as Consul General of the Kingdom of Denmark (a function he’s performing since 2007) and the “Order of Merit” by the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, H.E. Mr. Stevo Pendarovski for impeccable professional standards in the modern corporate management in the pharmaceutical industry, investments in new technology, education as well as philanthropic culture and broad social responsibility.

Mukaetov is a member of the management boards of various economically important institutions in his country, such as vice-president of the “Chamber of Commerce”. Since 2013, he is President of the “Macedonian Handball Federation” presently running his third mandate and besides being a patron of the Chess Club “Alkaloid”, in 2021 he founded the Handball Club “Alkaloid” aimed at supporting young Macedonian handball talents.

In 2014, Mukaetov joined the prestigious organization “Forum of Young Global Leaders”. Under their auspices, he attended trainings at the prestigious American “University of Yale” in New Haven, CT the “Harvard Kennedy School” in Cambridge, MA and the United Kingdom’s “Saїd Business School” in Oxford.

Since 2007, Mukaetov is presiding the Foundation “Trajche Mukaetov” aimed at supporting young and talented students and professionals who devoted their careers to medicine and pharmacy. Up to date, this Foundation donated EUR 1.9 million for scholarships and premiums to valedictorians.

Zhivko and his wife Emilija are devoted parents of four children.

Saša

Bilić,

CEO, APIS IT

Saša

Bilić

is the CEO of APIS IT, the leading Croatian public ICT service provider which

delivers tailor-made IT solutions for public administration bodies, supports digital

transformation of the public sector and operates two national TIER3 data centers in Croatia.

With a background in STEM and MBA skills, Saša

Bilić

has held various managing positions

in several multinational companies, focusing on ICT and telecommunications. Over the last 20

years, as a team manager he has led projects that ranged from cloud services development and

commercialization to digitalization of business processes and creating virtual platforms. Before

taking over as CEO of APIS IT in 2017, Saša

Bilić

has worked both with public and private

sector as a corporate sales director at a major telecom company, responsible for development

of sales and marking strategy and creating vertical industrial solutions.

Saša

Bilić

is an active member of Croatian ICT community and Vice-President of European

Association of Public IT Service Providers (EURITAS).

Beatriz Orrantia

ESG/Sustainability expert, certified director

Beatriz Orrantia is an ESG/Sustainability expert focusing on decarbonization and Just Transition. She sits on the Boards of Fission Uranium Corporation (TSX, FSE) and Star Royalties Ltd. (TSXV). Previously, she was VP Special Projects at Barrick Gold, one of the largest gold producers in the world. Prior to Barrick, Ms. Orrantia was an M&A, securities and mining lawyer at leading law firms in Canada. She holds a law degree (Civil Law, full scholarship for academic excellence) from Universidad del Rosario in Colombia, and a law degree (Common Law) from Osgoode Hall Law School (York University) in Canada. She is pursuing her Master’s degree in Sustainability at Harvard University and holds a certificate in Sustainability and Innovation also from Harvard University. Ms. Orrantia is a corporate director certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors, the leading certification body in the United States.

Eliza Prendzov is a distinguished leader and innovator in finance. Eliza serves as Head of Partnerships and Director of Consulting at 17 Asset Management. She has over 15 years Wall Street and government experience. Eliza’s background includes asset management, finance, global financial product management, government, consulting and multilateral relations. She has worked at Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley (formerly Smith Barney), the United Nations, and on the Biden Presidential Campaign. Eliza  has a B.A. in English Language and Literature from Ss Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, has earned her Master in International Affairs (MIA), International Finance and Banking from SIPA, Columbia University, New York, and is a PhD in Economics candidate at American University College Skopje. Eliza’s interests span across geographies and industries, and include collaborative leadership, asset management, sustainable finance, and financial education. Eliza lives in New York City with her family.