Faktoje’s Board is composed by five members coming from different areas. They are not affiliated with any political party. One of the main board’s responsibilities is to safeguard the independence of Faktoje from external interference and guarantee its transparency.
Erjon Tase-Academia- Chair
Erjon Tase is in position as Executive Director of the “Academy of Political Studies” from May 2012. The Academy of Political Studies (APS) is a nongovernmental organization founded in 2009, under the auspices of the Council of Europe, aiming to encourage the emergence of a new generation of young political and civic leaders dedicated to implement best democratic models of governance and development. Erjon graduated in Journalism and Public Relations in 2000 at the University of Tirana and has worked as an editor and editor in chief for more than 10 years in the most prominent printed media in Albania. In charge of strategic management of APS, Mr. Tase has further improved his experience on strategic planning, team leading, fundraising etc. Since 2007 he is member of founding and steering board of the “Union of Albanian Journalists”.
Llazar Semini- AP correspondent/Journalist
From 2002, Llazar is working for the Associated Press News Agency Office in Tirana, Albania, covering country’s efforts to become a member of European Union and NATO. Since 2015 he is also covering Kosovo, its war toward international recognition, insight political game and more. Llazar started his career in 1987 working as a Bureau Chief at the Albanian News Agency (ATA), in the international department covering the communist collapse in Central and Eastern Europe, including Albania. In 1999, he worked as a Program Manager with international US-Based Christian Children Fund Agency, helping the deported Kosovo refugee children in Albania. During this year he started working as a correspondent for Reuters International News Agency.
Elizabeth Gowing-International Expert
Elizabeth Gowing is the author of 5 books of which four are about the Balkans, and her writing about the region won the Bradt/ Independent on Sunday travel writing award in 2014. Her translations from Albanian of the biographies of Yugoslavia’s longest-held political prisoner, Adem Demaci, and Albanian patriot, Hasan Prishtina, were published in 2010 by Rrokullia press in Prishtina. She is a frequent contributor to BBC Radio 4’s From Our Own Correspondent programme.
She is co-founder of The Ideas Partnership NGO which works in Kosovo, and in 2016 was awarded the Mother Teresa Medal for humanitarian work by the President of Kosovo, and in 2017 was named by the British Prime Minister as a Point of Light for volunteering around the world. In 2018 the new President of Kosovo gave her Kosovan citizenship by decree.
For the last thirteen years she has divided her time between Albania, Kosovo and the UK.
Estela Koçi – Expert in economy
Estela Koçi FCCA, EKR, has a professional experience of over 20 years in the field of auditing and finance. A member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) since 2009, as well as a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Albania (IEKA). Ms. Koçi commands knowledge in the field of international standards of financial reporting, internal auditing systems and business management. Ms. Koçi has worked in the field of external auditing of financial institutions, and has also led internal audits in a financial institution. Since 2012, Ms. Koçi serves as general administrator and a member of the administrative council for one of the country’s most well-known financial institutions
