FIAA’s membership gathered on March 12 on occasion of its Annual Meeting to welcome a report by the FIAA Board and the Executive team on the activities of the past year, learn about the plans for the year ahead, and elect two new board members.
The President of FIAA, Mr. Balazs Revesz opened the event with a remarkable overview of FIAA’s work in the past year and his first year at the head of the board, by highlighting some of the activities of the organization in the lobbying and networking field and some of the plans for 2025.
The Director of FIAA, Mrs. Marinela Jazoj proceeded with a more detailed presentation on FIAA’s engagement in 2024 for the improvement of the business climate, which remains at the core of its objectives: the lobbying activities, actions and events, the efforts to enhance the effectiveness of its relations to Albania’s governmental institutions and to the foreign diplomatic corps present in the country. The approach and the key events for the 25th jubilee of FIAA promise to provide further opportunities for the sustainable growth of the organization and an even more solid and impactful representation of the foreign investors’ community.
The election process of two new board members concluded the official part of the meeting. The three candidates presented themselves and their vision for FIAA in front of the audience. The winning candidates, Mrs. Ekaterina Solovova and Mrs. Pranvera Papamihali bring high level knowledge in their field of expertise and a genuine interest in FIAA, and in the foreign investors’ community and of Albania.
Mrs. Ekaterina Solovova is Head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Albania. She has been leading the Bank’s operations and the team in Tirana resident office since July 2021. Under her leadership, the EBRD has scaled up its support of the key sectors of the Albanian economy, including renewable energy, tourism, mining, agribusiness, and financial services. Ekaterina has over 20 years of experience in development finance and investment. Prior to her appointment in Tirana, she has held senior roles at EBRD, such as Adviser to the President, Head of Resident Office, and senior member of the Equity team, leading investments and representing the Bank on corporate boards. Before joining EBRD, she worked in private equity in the US and UK. Her diverse background and leadership roles underscore her expertise and commitment to advancing development finance and investment initiatives globally.
Mrs. Pranvera Papamihali brings 18+ years of international Executive Search and Leadership Consulting experience, having led and executed 150+ top level assignments across Southeast Europe for local and multinational organizations, publicly listed, privately held and PE backed. Her area of involvement covers Banking and FinTech, Telecommunications, Energy, Consumer and Retail, as well as Healthcare industries. A senior consultant and a mature leader, Mrs. Papamihali was the Head of Corporate Affairs at Telekom Albania and Head of International Relations at ALSAT Television, prior to joining Pedersen & Partners. Before acquiring business and leadership experience, Mrs. Papamihali was a diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Albania, and has lived for several years in Germany, where she has worked in George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies. Throughout nearly two decades of active involvement with FIAA in various sectoral Committees and Councils, Mrs. Papamihali has played an essential role in addressing the human capital and leadership challenges faced by businesses in Albania.
The new board members are stepping for the two board members whose mandate finished recently. FIAA extends its high gratitude and recognition to the departing board members, two other powerful female voices in Albania’s business sector, Mrs. Rigela Gegprifti and Mrs. Stela Dhami for their continuous, constructive, and highly appreciated contribution to FIAA’s achievements of the past years and wishes them best of success in their upcoming engagements.
A delightful networking event followed the official part of the meeting, where the newly elected board members were warmly welcomed and greeted, and all the members were able to exchange with each other on ongoing and upcoming initiatives.