Speakers and topics at the Wood Industry Convention - 6th Edition

Besnik Berisha

Besnik Berisha is the Managing Director of the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund. He will join us on November 30th at the Emerald Hotel to talk more about an innovation in export finance and what this means for the timber industry in Kosovo.
Mr. Berisha is a banking expert, has extensive experience with SMEs and the challenges these businesses face in the market. He has a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in Financial Management, has been part of the board in ProCredit Kosovo and Albania, and has been part of the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund since 2017.

Arbër Bakija

Arbër Bakija is the CEO of BBros, a software development and design company. Throughout Mr. Bakija's whole career, he has focused on developing and managing innovative project both locally and internationally. Lately, he has been involved in the digitalization of the wood industry and has developed a Production Execution System called MIKA. His vision of bringing the newest technologies and innovations into the wood industry is an inspiration for the younger generations looking for a career in this sector.
At the Sixth Wood Industry Convention, Mr. Bakija will talk about the presentation of the wood industry through digitalization of processes.

Arieta Pozhegu

Arieta Pozhegu is the Executive Director of SHPDK ever since 2005.
With an astounding track record in project management, she has led SHPDK to new heights. Increased membership, participation in regional and international events, and organization of trade fairs and B2B events are only some of the amazing things she has achieved during her 18 years. Mrs. Pozhegu's collaboration with government institutions and donors has truly changed the future of the wood industry.

Shefik Bunjaku

Shefik Bunjaku has been a key part of the digitalization of KIT, founded 20 years ago to provide software solutions for businesses and government projects. On November 30, Mr. Bunjaku will join us at the Emerald Hotel to talk more about digitalization of processes in the wood industry.
Shefik Bunjaku, using his skills in identifying the needs of businesses, has given KIT the opportunity to work with clients from Kosovo, Albania, and beyond. Recently, he has taken the initiative to develop ERP for the needs of the local manufacturing industry, using the experience of the last 20 years. In this event, he will tell us more about how companies can be managed with the KIT Prod App, created in the age of digitalization.

Genoveva Christova-Murray

Genoveva Christova-Murray is a serial entrepreneur, co-owner and managing director of Ligna Group, president of Bulgarian Furniture Cluster and CreaTech Cluster Bulgaria. She will join us on November 30th at the Emerald Hotel to discuss global and European trends in the furniture industry.
Genoveva is one of the founders of MISSIA23 - the first creative hub in Bulgaria and received the Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2010 from the European Union Commission. Moreover, she was a co-producer of Eurovision in the 2020 and 2021 editions. You can find her in a number of formats such as TED Talks, Bulgaria Wants You, Drazkite, ABLE Acceleraor, and Women in Cluster, as a mentor and speaker.

Miftar Veseli

Miftar Veseli is a design and technology expert, with a focus on interior design. He has a keen understanding of digital tools and their use in revolutionizing the wood industry. He will join us on November 30 as a moderator, where he will lead the session on e-commerce and digitization of the wood industry called Guiding Digital Transformations in Wood Industry.

Shpëtim Shujaku

Shpëtim Shujaku is the Senior Project Manager of the Municipal Action for Reintegration and Diaspora (MARDI) Project at Caritas Switzerland in Kosovo. He will be joining us at the Hotel Emerald on November 30th to discuss more about donor activities in Kosovo and plans for 2023/2024.
Previously he has worked at Sustainability Leadership Kosova as a Project Manager for almost 2 years. He has a vast experience with Diaspora engagement given his experience at NGO Germin which lasted for four years between 2017-2020. Before his professional career in the non-governmental sector, he worked in the private sector as an accountant.

Besnik Haziri

Besnik Haziri has been part of ProCredit Bank since 2004, advancing through the years and becoming manager of the main Business branch in Prishtina. On November 30, he will join us at the Emerald Hotel to talk more about the wood industry, its potential, and exports.
He has been an integral part of the development of ProCredit Bank in Kosovo, and continues to be part of the training of young bankers. Throughout his career, he participated in courses and trainings to obtain the expertise that brought him to new levels. At the moment, Mr. Haziri teaches the subject of Society and Development at the training center of ProCredit Bank in Belgrade.

Sheqer Ukaj

Sheqer Ukaj is the executive director of ELNOR Furniture and is a very successful entrepreneur, having registered his first company at 24 years old. He will join us at the Convention of the Wood Industry in Kosovo as a moderator for the session “The Academy and Industry of Wood”.
By 2007, he founded another brand in Prishtina called Elnor Furniture, one of the largest wooden manufacturing companies in Kosovo. He has built his businesses through his passion for carving and building comfort and exclusive products out of wood. His mission was first to meet the demands of the local market by producing high quality products which offer elegance and conformity. Within a short period of time, he has managed to set up his business from a small company to one of the most successful in the industry.

Zenel Kelmendi

Zenel Kelmendi is one of the first entrepreneurs in the wood industry where he has been operating since 1990 and is the founder of the production company Fabrika Lumi SH.P.K. On November 30, he will join us at the Emerald Hotel for the opening ceremony of the Kosovo Wood Industry Convention.
Under his leadership, Fabrika Lumi has become one of the most successful companies in the wood industry. Thanks to the experience and success during all these years, Mr. Zeneli has been elected Chairman of the Board in the Association of Wood Processors, where he is giving his unconditional contribution to the development of the wood industry.

Blerim Sylejmani

Blerim Sylejmani has executive experience for more than 15 years, during which he was Regional Director of TELKOS, Operational Director of VIPRINT, and CEO of In Home, CANDEO, and Loni Dekor. On November 30, he will join us at the Emerald Hotel to discuss the wood industry, its potential, and exports.
Mr. Sylejmani is an expert in sales growth, production improvement, supply management, financial performance enhancement, and design innovation. He has made all the companies he has managed in rank higher in the sector, has focused on product development and innovation, and has offered clients advanced solutions.

Rexhep Ilazi

Rexhep Ilazi from the USAID Kosovo Compete Activity is an accomplished expert in the field of competitiveness, boasting a wealth of knowledge honed over two decades. His focus lies in private sector development, with a specialization in industries such as furniture, wood, apparel, and food processing. He will be joining us on November 30th at the Emerald Hotel to moderate the student design competition awards.
A seasoned team leader, Mr. Ilazi has successfully overseen both technical and administrative teams, effectively managing up to ten subordinates. His exceptional skills in crafting work plans, implementing performance monitoring strategies, and compiling reports. Mr. Ilazi has dedicated a significant portion of his career to working with more than 250 small and medium-sized businesses in the Balkans. His expertise has greatly improved their marketing, management, and sales systems, allowing them to access new markets.

Katarina Antesic

Katarina is qualified lawyer, running a Law pratice in capital of Croatia, Zagreb. She will be joining us on November 30th at the Hotel Emerald to talk more about the cooperation between associations in Kosovo.
She completed postgraduate studies in Corporate Finance Law at the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Law and she holds numerous international certificates in fields of corporate and commercial law. Katarina also serves as business developer for international enterprises engaged in real estate development.

Fisnik Bajrami

Fisnik Bajrami, currently leading the FEGO Project at Swisscontact as the Project Manager, has over 14 years of extensive experience in development, research, lecturing, and project management. He will be joining us on November 30th at the Emerald Hotel to elaborate on the transformative strategies of the FEGO project on the topic of donor activity.
In his role, Fisnik has utilized his extensive experience in Market Systems Development and monitoring to advance the FEGO project's objectives, notably job creation and income generation in private sector development within furniture, apparel, and rural tourism sectors in Kosovo. Before Swisscontact, Fisnik led and contributed to various research and development projects through his role as a researcher at Riinvest institute. Lately, Fisnik is a lecturer in Economics at Riinvest College and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. degree at Charles University.

Leonora Kusari

Leonora Kusari is the Principle Manager and Regional Coordinator of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). She will be joining us at the Emerald Hotel for the Convention of the Wood Industry in Kosovo on November 30th to talk more about EBRD’s support on the topic of donor activity and plans for 2023/24.
Leonora Kusari’s duties on her positions require her to ensure operational plan implementations, coordinate integrated and innovative products in Western Balkan, prepare and submit operational plans, monthly activities, and project and donor reports.

Azem Jakupi

Azem Jakupi lives and operates in Austria since 1991. He is the owner of Jabawood GMBH and the general representative of Pabst for South-Eastern and Western Europe. He will join us on November 30th at the Emerald Hotel to discuss the wood industry, its potential, and exports.
Mr. Jakupi started in the wood business in 2002 by supplying KFOR and continued expanding in Kosovo, South-Eastern and Western Europe. This year his firm Jabawood GMBH has expanded the distribution of wood products exclusively from Kosovar manufacturers to the Austrian market and the Western market, where they are known in the city of Judenburg as Jabawood Mobileria GMBH. He has been a collaborator with ShPDK since 2012.

Metë Gashi

Metë Gashi is the representative of the Mahagoni company in Switzerland. He will join us on November 30th at the Emerald Hotel to discuss more about the wood industry, its potential, and exports.
Mr. Gashi has been Mahagoni's representative since its creation in the spring of 2015. The company now has 2 sales points in Switzerland; in Winterthur and in Fribourg. In these two points, they have 15 workers, while in Peja, Kosovo, they have about 65.

Hashim Deshishku

Hashim Deshishku is one of the founders of SHPDK, now the vice chairman of the board. As a businessman, he has managed to create history in the field of production, construction, trade and industry. He will join us on November 30th at the Emerald Hotel to hand out the student design competition awards.
In 2001 he opened the first Kosovar-Slovenian bank "Kasabanka" which was transformed into NLB Banka and now Mr. Deshishku is a shareholder. In 2006, the activity of the insurance company "Sigkos" began. In 2008, he opened the banking financial institution "Lesna IF". These and many other achievements show that he is still in the process of fulfilling himself in the field of business.

Riad Durguti

Riad Durguti is a professional in the woodworking industry, boasting over ten years of extensive experience. He will be joining us on November 30th to discuss more about the Workforce Development and Sectoral Council.
He embarked on his career journey as a CNC programmer and his expertise and dedication propelled him to the role of Chief Operations Officer at Dekoriti LLC. As a visionary in the field, Riad co-founded the Dekoriti Training Center. This initiative reflects his commitment advancing workforce development in the woodworking industry. Under his guidance, the center has become a hub for fostering skills and knowledge.

Kreshnik Shehu

Kreshnik Shehu is founder and CEO of SHEHU Group of companies, SHEHU, SHEHU Academy , SI-MAC Kosova and Mikasoft. He will be joining us on November 30th at the Emerald Hotel to discuss more about the Workforce Development and the Sectoral Council.
Kreshnik is a dynamic and accomplished entrepreneur with a passion for innovation in the wood processing industry. With a keen eye for business opportunities, Kreshnik has successfully led his company to new heights, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques to create high-quality wood products.

Ilirjana Geci

Ilirjana Geci holds the position of Lecturer and serves as the Director of the Office for Project Development at AAB College. She will join us on November 30th to discuss about the Cooperation of Universities/Colleges with Industry (Design student competition and term papers).
Her professional journey has been marked by valuable experiences in project development and management, acquired through active engagement with various national and international organizations in Kosovo and the surrounding region, with a predominant focus on human rights. Ilirjana is recognized as a dedicated activist and advocate, particularly championing the rights of persons with disabilities in Kosovo.

Astrit Panxha

Astrit Panxha is the Executive Director and one of the founders of the Kosovo Producers Club - KPK. Before the creation of the KPK, he worked as a senior economist in the Department of Financial Stability and Economic Analysis in the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo. He will be joining us on November 30th to moderate one of the sessions at the Convention of the Wood Industry in Kosovo.
Astriti joined the FSEA Department in 2009 as an economic researcher (until 2013), where he worked on performance and risk assessment of the financial sector in general and the banking sector in particular. He was responsible for stress testing and credit studies in the banking sector. Also, he was actively involved in the design and implementation of the stress test, banking forecast and macroeconomic model. In 2012, Astriti worked at the German Federal Ministry of Finance in Berlin, as part of the team that was involved in the development of policies and the supervision of the fund that was responsible for rescuing banks.

Mentor Zekaj

Mentor Zekaj is the executive director of Mobile Dekor and an interior designer. He will join us on November 30 at the Emerald Hotel to talk more about the introduction of the wood industry through the digitization of processes.
He has about 20 years of experience in the production and assembly of home furnishings. Some of his responsibilities as director of Mobile Dekor are the digitization of the production line, the programming of CNC machines, and the planning of the marketing and sales strategy.