Staff
Executive Director
Diana Mjeshtri, a graduate in Political Sciences and International Relations from the University of Tirana, serves as the Executive Director of the Albania Policy Center (APC). She is a conservative political analyst and advisor based in Albania, known for her active involvement in promoting conservative values and principles in the Balkan region. Diana also holds the position of Councilor at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, and contributes to several prominent publications such as Politico Europe, The National Interest, Kyiv Independent etc., in Europe and the United States. Dedicated to advancing conservative ideas and policies in Albania and the broader Western Balkans region, she focuses on strengthening principles of free enterprise, individual liberty, strong families and communities, and national interest. Diana’s ethos is deeply rooted in the age-long Albanian code of honor, “BESA,” symbolizing a profound dedication to honoring one’s word in all pursuits undertaken.
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Nikola Kedhi is currently a Board Member of the Albanian Policy Center. He is a contributor in various newspapers and magazines in Albania, in other countries in Europe and in the United States, with hundreds and thousands of readers. His work has been published at Fox News, Newsweek, Newsmax, the Daily Wire, the Mises Institute, Heritage Foundation’s Daily Signal, the American Conservative, The American Spectator, The Federalist, Real Clear Politics, in the United States, CapX and the Mallard in the UK, the European Conservative and Brussels Report in Europe, Contrepoints in France, El Español in Spain, Il Giornale and Atlantico Quotidiano in Italy and in many others.
He is often present in Albanian public life with his analyses and media appearances, in several of the country’s biggest media, contributing on the many challenges of our society.
Additionally, he has contributed as International Affairs Coordinator at the center – right Democratic Party of Albania and is one of the co-authors of the Constitution of Values and the Political Vision of the Democratic Party of Albania.
Furthermore, his work in consulting companies, at the Irish branch of the American firm Glass Lewis & Co and subsequently at Deloitte as Manager, the biggest of the Big 4, has given him a considerable insight at a wide range of industries and businesses.
He has obtained a bachelor’s degree in International, Economics, Management and Finance at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy and a master’s in Finance at Carlos III University in Madrid, Spain.
Board Member
Edith Harxhi is a diplomat, expert in international relations and former vice Minister of Foreign Affairs from December 2005 to September 2013. While serving in this post, Ms. Harxhi was responsible for overseeing Albania’s bilateral relations, multilateral diplomacy and its relationships with international organisations, as well as dealing with NATO and the EU integration process. She also dealt with Albania’s relations with South-East European countries, the Western Balkans and Albanians living in the region. Ms. Harxhi served for many years as a Special Envoy of the Albanian Government for the recognition of Kosovo’s Independence, visiting many world capitals and international organizations in order to lobby on Kosovo’s behalf. She led numerous Albanian delegations abroad and represented Albania at dozens of international events and high-level conferences. Ms. Harxhi has also worked extensively on energy issues and was in charge of the political negotiating team for the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. Prior to her appointment as the Principal Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Albania, Ms. Harxhi worked with the United Nations, and served as an advisor to the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo where she covered policing and justice issues as well as minorities and gender affairs. From 2003 to 2005 she worked as a UNDP international consultant, advising the Prime Minister of Kosovo on security affairs and the establishment of the Office of Public Safety. Ms. Harxhi received a Master’s Degree with Honours in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. She has been actively involved in the academic and political debate on the question of Kosovo and is specialised in politics and society in the Balkans. Ms. Harxhi is fluent in Albanian, English, Turkish, Italian and has an intermediate-level understanding of French.
Board Member
Endrit Reka is the Director of Security Policy at the Albania Policy Center. He previously served as the head of the National Security Department of the Albanian Democratic Party. His educational and research interests lie in the field of international security studies. Endrit is an alumnus of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.
Board Member
Ted Kopliku is a Board Member of the APC and is in charge of governance matters.
He has completed his studies in Construction Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Tirana. Subsequently, he graduated in History, International Relations and Social Sciences at Paul Valéry University. Recently, he completee the master’s in European and International Studies at the same university.
Ted has been engaged in the political and public life of the country, contributing with writings and analyses. Tedi is a well-known figure, present in the media, where he contributes with his analysis on the various problems the Albanian society faces.
Senior Fellow of the Decentralization and Territorial Department
Gent Kaprata holds a PhD in Applied Social Sciences from the European University of Tirana (UET). He also holds a Second Level Master’s Degree in Globalization and Development, Political Science, from UET, and a BA and MA in Architecture, with the Urbanist award, from the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Faculty of Civil Engineering.
He has authored several publications on urban and political issues and their interrelations in scientific journals both domestically and internationally. Gent has served as an Urban Planning Expert at the Institute of Urban Studies and Designs (IUSD) and as a member of the Technical-Research Council of IUSD from 2002 to 2010. He has also held positions as the General Director of Policies in Construction, Housing, and Territorial Planning, and as the Director of Urban Policies and Housing at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport from 2010 to 2013. Additionally, Gent has been a member of the Technical Secretariat of the Territorial Adjustment Council of the Republic of Albania.
He served as an external lecturer at UET from 2019 to 2021 and is currently a full-time lecturer at UET, Faculty of Engineering, IT, and Architecture. Gent has actively contributed to Albanian public life through his research papers, studies, and media appearances.