Invited Speakers
Next Stop Europe: Shaping the Future of Agriculture and Life Sciences Education
11-13 May, Tiranë
Albania
Andrea Ferrero
Head of Section Sustainable Economic and Social Development, Delegation to the EU in Albania
Andrea Ferrero holds a degree in Economics from the University of Turin and a M.Sc. in Sustainable Development from Imperial College/University of London.
After some years in the construction and banking sector, he started his career as development specialist, mainly in Africa.
Since 2010 he works for the European Commission, in the Delegations in Uganda, Kenya, Central African Republic and now Albania, where he leads the Sustainable Economic and Social Development Section.
Hubert Hasenauer
BOKU University Vienna, Austria
Hubert Hasenauer, born in 1962, is Professor for Ecosystem Management and Head of the Institute of Silviculture at BOKU University. He worked 5 years as forest manager for the federal forest company, finished his Master and PhD both in Forestry, and then spent three years in the USA and Finland as a Fullbright and Schrödinger Scholar, before he was appointed as Professor and head of the Institute of Silviculture.
His scientific interests are forest management, ecosystem modeling, and the role of forests in the global carbon cycle. He published more than 300 scientific papers, mainly in peer-reviewed journals. He was the chairman of the scientific advisory board of the European Forest Institute, the chief-editor of Forest Ecology & Management, the associate editor of the Canadian Journal of Forest Science, and is the editor of the Austrian Journal of Forest Science. He holds an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Eastern Finland and the Life Science University of Poznan, Poland.
Besides his academic career, he chaired the academic BOKU Senat for 7 years, was the vice-president of ICA, a network of the 60 European Life Science Universities, and currently acts as President of the Austrian-Africa UniNet, an organization with about 80 Universities in Austria as well as Africa. From February 2018 to January 2022 he served as Rector of BOKU University.
Fatbardh Sallaku
Rector of Agricultural University of Tirana
Prof. Fatbardh Sallaku is a professor of management and administration of natural resources at the Agricultural University of Tirana, holding the title of "Professor" since 2010. His research focuses on environmental issues related to land and water, rural development, and agro-environmental policies.
After studying agronomy at the Agricultural University of Tirana, he completed his PhD in 1996. He served as head of the Department of Agriculture and Ecology (2008-2016) and Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment (2016-2020). Since 2020, he has been the Rector of the Agricultural University of Tirana.
Prof. Sallaku has conducted research and specializations at various European universities and has published over 90 scientific papers, including 30 indexed in journals like "Geoderma" and "Environmental Modeling & Assessment."
He has participated in and organized international scientific conferences and has collaborated on numerous national and international projects (e.g., TEMPUS, USAID, FAO). He has also provided expertise in agricultural policy, environmental protection, and rural development in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.
In 2021, he became a member of the Albanian Academy of Sciences and is a visiting professor at Michigan State University (USA), focusing on International Development.
Mirta Novak
Expert in EU Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, EU GoAL
Mirta Novak is an expert in EU Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy with over 20 years of experience in fisheries policy development, EU acquis alignment, and institutional capacity building. Mirta currently serves as Head of Service for Market Organization and Statistics in Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Croatia, and has extensive first-hand experience in the EU accession process in the fisheries sector, having been a member of Croatia's Working Group for Chapter 13 (Fisheries) negotiations with the European Commission.
Hans Kordik
Team Leader, German Moldovan Agric. Policy Dialogue (APD)
Hans Kordik is a seasoned agriculture economist with decades of policy and advisory experience in agriculture, rural development, and sustainable resource management. He has working experience in 36 low, middle, and high-income economies across Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, and USA. More than 30 years of experience on the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and supporting Candidate Countries converge with the EU Policy. Before becoming an independent consultant, his professional milestones include Head of Agriculture Subsidy Department at the Austrian Paying Agency, Agricultural Attaché at the Austrian Permanent Representation to the EU, Member of the Cabinet of the Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Head of the EU Coordination Department at the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Counsellor for Agriculture and Environment at the Austrian Embassy in Washington, DC, and as a Senior Agriculture Economist at the World Bank. Hans Kordik holds a MSc degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria, and a MBA degree from the University of Maryland, USA.
Fatmir Guri
Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Albania
Prof. Assoc. Dr. Fatmir Guri is the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development since October 2025a and negotiator for the Chapter 11 Agriculture and Rural Development and Chapter 13 Fisheries and Aquaculture. Associate Professor with 23+ years of experience. He completed his postgraduate studies in France, earning a PhD in agricultural economics from SupAgro Montpellier (2008). His work includes experience at the European Commission, leadership in research and EU-funded projects, and teaching in agri-food and environmental economics. His research focuses on land economics and agricultural systems in Albania.
Debora Bonucci
EU4Rivers: Shaping Albania’s Water Sector on the Path to EU Integration
An experienced senior leader and advisor with a proven track record of leading and advising on international complex water resources management programs. Holding an M.Sc. in Water Management, and is proficient in multiple languages.
The expertise encompasses Integrated Water Resources Management IWRM, EU water policy (including WFD and MSFD), water governance, climate resilience, nature-based solutions, and innovative approaches, underpinned by strong skills in stakeholder engagement across diverse international contexts.
Currently leading a multi-million EU4Rivers project focused on aligning water management with the EU Water Framework and Marine Strategic Framework Directives.
Their career includes significant contributions at organisations such as the British Red Cross, WaterAid, and UNICEF, where they consistently led multi-country programs, drove business development, and mobilised resources. With strong skills in stakeholder engagement, team leadership, and a commitment to sustainability, Debora Bonucci is a dynamic professional dedicated to transforming water management and improving lives across diverse international contexts.
Guido Zolezzi
EU4Rivers: Shaping Albania’s Water Sector on the Path to EU Integration
Guido Zolezzi is professor of hydraulics at the University of Trento. He is Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in “Engineering for Sustainable Human Development”, awarded to the University of Trento in 2011 by UNESCO for innovative activities in environmental engineering education and research, oriented to environmental engineering and development cooperation.
His research started from methods and approaches of environmental fluid mechanics, and further evolved to interdisciplinary areas at the interface with river ecology and fluvial geomorphology, also in collaboration with historical cartography, geo-archaeology and social sciences. Presently he develops basic and applied research in eco-hydraulics and sediment transport, relevant for water and sediment management in river basins, aiming to harmonize both human and environmental needs. Case studies range from the European Alps, to the Western Balkans and other geographical areas
He participates in committees at local and national level for experimental tests on new regulations related to ecological flows in the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (2000/60), an area in which he carries out knowledge-sharing activities with public and private entities. He is the Rectors's delegate for Development Cooperation since 2021. Since 2020, he has been coordinating the Italian University Network for Development Cooperation (CUCS)
