Mr. Tom Miraku has more than 40 years of experience of working in aquaculture, fishery and environmental issues. He is laureated in the Agricultural University of Tirana on Animal Production and has worked in the governmental institutions, Ministry of Agriculture but also on the private sector in Albania and abroad. He has been involved as an expert in several projects related to the monitoring and management of protected areas especially in the wetlands and marine protected areas.

He has been involved as senior expert in several technical assistance and development projects coming from different donors such as the World Bank, FAO, GEF/SGP etc. He has worked with civil society and also has served as executive director of the organization for more than 5 years.

He speaks fluently Italian and has a good knowledge of English.

Mr. Eqerem Kapedani has more than 50 years of experience of working in fishery and aquaculture issues. He is laureated in the University of Tirana as a biologist and later specialized in Ichthyology. He has worked in the governmental institutions as director of the Fishery Directorate but also in the academic world as the Director of the Fishery Research Institute and as a lecturer for the school of Fishermen.

He has worked on several projects related to the management of wetlands, monitoring the environmental parameters for the water quality and also for the regular monitoring and stock assessment of fish populations. He is an author of several scientific papers including contributing to the Albanian Ichthyology. In the last 5 years he has been also on the Senior Consultation Committee established by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

He has been involved as senior expert in several technical assistance and development projects coming from different donors such as the World Bank, FAO, GIZ etc. He has worked with civil society and also has been on the board of Hydra for more than 15 years.

He speaks fluently Serbo-Croatian and Russian and has a good knowledge of Italian.

Mr. Arian Palluqi has more than 40 years of experience of working in the fishery, aquaculture and environmental issues. He is laureated in the Agricultural University of Tirana and has a Master in Fishery and Aquaculture. He has worked in the governmental institutions as director of the Fishery Directorate and also as an Advisor for the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration and also for the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development.

He has been involved as senior expert and deputy Team Leader in several technical assistance and development projects coming from different donors such as the World Bank, FAO, GEF/SGP etc. He has worked with civil society and also has served as director of the organization for more than 10 years.

In the last 5 years he has been involved as a focal point for the Government of Albania with the Regional Fishery Management Organization such as the GFCM and ICCAT.

He speaks fluently English and Italian.

Mr. Rezart Kapedani has more than 20 years of experience of working in environmental issues. He is laureated in the University of Tirana as a biologist and has a Master in Aquaculture from the Tirana Agricultural university. He has worked both in the governmental institutions (Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration) and in International Organizations (REC, CIHEAM). He has worked on different projects dealing with knowledge on EU legislation on environment, agriculture, rural development and fishery, the approximation process and the transposition of the EU acquis into the national legislation, IPA funds, supporting the civil society and preparation of project fiches.

Also, he has worked as an expert or in managing role in several projects related to biodiversity issues, biodiversity inventory including transboundary ones. For more than 10 years he has been involved as a senior expert on civil society issues including national programs related to support to civil society, grant giving, their implementation & project evaluation. He has good knowledge also in relation to organization of conferences, seminars, and workshops.

He has working experience with working with different donors from the national ones to the international ones such as World Bank, UNDP, UNEP/MAP, Sida, FAO, GIZ etc.

He speaks fluently English and Italian.

Mr. Eduart Cani is a distinguished environmental expert with over 24 years of experience in the environmental sector and more than 15 years as a project manager and team leader. Over the past decade, he has specialized in internationally financed projects, serving as a key expert or consultant in areas such as waste management, biodiversity, climate change, water governance, and environmental governance and planning. Recognized as one of Albania’s foremost experts in environmental sector, Mr. Cani played a pivotal role in drafting key policy and planning documents for the country and led the implementation of IFI-financed waste management initiatives nationwide. As a key policy advisor to several the Ministers of Environment, he authored significant policy documents and legislation.

Mr. Cani has extensive experience working with international and national organizations, such as UNDP, UNEP/MAP, GEF, World Bank, Sida, SDC, AFD and GIZ, delivering high-level services both independently and in collaboration with international teams. He possesses a deep understanding of policy, strategic, and institutional dynamics in resource management and circular economy. His long-standing experience includes updating, revising, and advancing key strategies, plans, and policies. As a certified trainer he has developed and delivered training programs on biodiversity, water, waste and planning for environment.

Eduart Cani’s skills and expertise encompass project management, strategic planning, policy advisory, and training and capacity building. His proven track record in managing complex environmental projects and leading multidisciplinary teams, combined with his in-depth knowledge of the policy-making process and institutional frameworks, makes him an invaluable asset to any environmental project or initiative. He is fluent in English and Italian, enhancing his ability to engage with diverse stakeholders in the international arena.