Staff
Vladan JOKSIMOVIĆ – Head of Secretariat
Professional background
Mr. Joksimovic was selected as the Head of Secretariat at the 24th RAI Steering Group (SG) Meeting held in Belgrade, Serbia, on December 5th 2016.
Mr. Joksimovic graduated from Law Faculty, University of Belgrade and he also completed the Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade.
Prior to joining Regional Anti-corruption Initiative, Mr. Joksimovic worked at the Anti-corruption Agency of Serbia as a Deputy Director of the Agency for the last four years.
In the course of his professional career, Mr. Joksimovic shortly served as an Adviser to the Director of the Office for Human Rights and Minority Rights, Republic of Serbia; and as a Legal and Human Rights Adviser to the Council of Europe National Office in Belgrade. He also has years of experience as a legal expert in the civil sector and was a Member of the Steering Board of the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights from 2012 to 2015.
Mr. Joksimovic is an author of several anti-corruption and human rights documents and articles.
Responsibilities
According to the Terms of References for RAI Secretariat approved by the Steering Group, Head of Secretariat is responsible for the overall supervision and management of the Secretariat, in consultation with the Chairperson and Steering Group. The Head’s main role is to identify, develop and implement new and improved policies and ways of working to support achievements of the strategic objectives of the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative. Another essential role is establishing and maintaining relations with Regional Anti-corruption Initiative’s counterparts in regional states, other Regional Anti-corruption Initiative’s partner states, representatives of international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations.
Statement of Interest – Vladan Joksimovic
E-mail address: vjoksimovic@rai-see.org
Aneta ARNAUDOVSKA – Senior Anti-corruption Advisor
Professional background
Ms. Arnaudovska was selected as the Anti-Corruption Expert at the 29th RAI Steering Group (SG) Meeting held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on March 12th 2019.
Ms. Arnaudovska graduated from Law Faculty, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje in Skopje. Prior to joining Regional Anti-corruption Initiative, Ms. Arnaudovska worked as a criminal judge for ten years. She was a director of the Academy for judges and public prosecutors of Republic of North Macedonia since its establishment (2006-2018). She was a member of the GRECO and the CCJE Working group. She has a PhD in law at the same Law Faculty on the topic of legal argumentation and the quality of criminal decisions. She has an expertise in the field of international standards on independence and effective judiciary, prevention of judicial corruption and judicial integrity, comparative criminal substantive and procedural law.
Ms. Arnaudovska is an author of several anti-corruption, criminal justice system training materials, publications and articles.
Responsibilities
According to the Terms of References for RAI Secretariat approved by the Steering Group, Anti-corruption Expert has a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining relations with law enforcement, preventive, judicial and other anti-corruption bodies in member states, other RAI partner states, representatives of international organizations, and non-governmental organizations; Identifies, develops and implements new and improved policies and ways of working to support achievements of the strategic objectives of RAI, in coordination with Head of Secretariat. Furthermore, he/she participates, in close cooperation and coordination with the Program and Outreach Officer, in the development and drafting of project proposals, as well as in their implementation, and facilitates project monitoring and reporting. He/she is also responsible for technical advice and guidance on anti-corruption and related issues and for technical contributions to regional training programs conducted by RAI Secretariat. In the absence of Head of the Secretariat, assumes role of the Acting Head of Secretariat.
Statement of Interest – Aneta Arnaudovska
E-mail address: aarnaudovska@rai-see.org
Aida ZUKIC – Chief Finance and Operations Officer
Professional background
Ms. Aida Zukic joined RAI Secretariat on February 18, 2014 following its internal selection and interview procedures. Ms. Bulbul graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the International Burch University in Sarajevo and holds a degree of Master’s (MA) of Management.
Prior to joining RAI Secretariat, Ms. Zukic worked at a USAID Partnership for Advancing Reforms in the Economy (PARE) project implemented by the Chemonics International Inc. She did her internship at PostBank BH, Sarajevo and Alfa Group Istanbul. Through working on different donor-funded technical assistance projects within the RAI Secretariat, including the European Commission, Austrian Development Agency, British Government, and Central European Initiative, Ms. Zukic gained an extensive experience in finance and accounting as well as human resource and office management.
Responsibilities
According to the Terms of References for RAI Secretariat approved by the Steering Group, the Chief Finance and Operations Officer is in charge of planning and executing all financial activities in the Secretariat in accordance with relevant laws, internal and donors’ financial policies and procedures. Also, she oversees the execution of Regional Anti-corruption Initiative’s budgets and all projects’ related budgets, facilitates recruitment processes and oversees activities of project staff. She also provides general support to the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative Chairperson and the Steering Group, as coordinated by the Head of Secretariat.
Statement of Interest – Aida Zukic
E-mail address: abulbul@rai-see.org
Dejana GRBIC-VELAGIC – Chief Programme and Communication Officer
Professional background
Ms. Dejana Grbic-Velagic joined RAI Secretariat on February 3, 2020 following its internal selection and interview procedures. Ms. Grbic-Velagic graduated from Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Sarajevo University and she also holds a Master Degree in State and Non-governmental Organisations Management from Sarajevo University. Prior to joining RAI Secretariat, Ms. Grbic-Velagic worked at the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the course of her professional career, Ms. Grbic-Velagic worked with civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as international organisations.
Responsibilities
According to the Terms of References for RAI Secretariat approved by the Steering Group, Chief Programme and Communications Officer is in charge of all the programming aspects of the Secretariat strengthening relationships with donors and fostering partnerships with other entities by pursuing a strategic and policy dialogue. He/she is responsible for development and monitoring of all projects and programmes under the Secretariat’s portfolio. Further on, Chief Programme and Communications Officer is responsible for devising communication strategies that emphasize RAI’s impact on curbing corruption at the regional and national level. Chief Programme and Communications Officer is a Gender Focal Point for RAI Secretariat.
Statement of Interest – Dejana Grbic-Velagic
E-mail address: dgrbic@rai-see.org
Desislava GOTSKOVA – Anti-Corruption Expert – Project Manager
Professional background
Ms. Desislava Gotskova joined RAI Secretariat on February 4, 2019 following its internal selection and interview procedures. Ms. Gotskova graduated from Law Faculty, Sofia University and she also holds a Master Degree in International and European Law, University of Amsterdam.
Prior to joining RAI Secretariat, Ms. Gotskova worked at the Ministry of Justice and the Criminal Asset Commission in Bulgaria. During the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, she chaired the Working Party on the Regulation the mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders. Ms. Gotskova is a lecturer on mutual recognition instruments in the field of asset recovery at the National Institute for Justice in Bulgaria. In the course of her professional career, Ms. Gotskova has been involved as a project manager and an expert in various projects in the Western Balkans in the area of asset recovery, human rights protection and promotion.
Responsibilities
According to the Terms of Reference for the project manager position, Ms. Gotskova is responsible for the overall implementation of a 2-year regional project “Strengthening anti-corruption work in the Southeast Europe through improving asset seizure measures” (Regional Anti-corruption Project). The project is funded by the British Government.
Statement of Interest – Desislava Gotskova
E-mail address: dgotskova@rai-see.org
Elmerina AHMETAJ HRELJA – Anti-Corruption Expert – Project Manager
Professional background
Ms. Elmerina Ahmetaj Hrelja joined RAI Secretariat on April 1, 2020 following its internal selection and interview procedures. Ms. Ahmetaj Hrelja earned her Law Degree from the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and subsequently a degree of Master of Studies in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford, UK.
Ms. Ahmetaj Hrelja possesses more than 20 years of work experience in good governance reforms with a particular focus on rule of law and human rights protection; 15 years of work experience in project management on international technical assistance programs; and work experience in teaching international law and human rights. Ms. Ahmetaj Hrelja participated in significant anti-corruption reforms aimed at strengthening the public integrity of the judiciary and its capacity to combat corruption, such as policy, legislative and institutional changes relevant to the prevention of conflict of interest (including asset declarations) and violations of professional ethics, as well as discipline. Ms. Ahmetaj Hrelja also participated in legislative and regulatory reforms relevant to the fight against corruption, such as the harmonization of BiH criminal codes and procedure with international standards, as set out in the UN Convention Against Corruption and UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
Responsibilities
According to the Terms of Reference for the project manager position, Ms. Ahmetaj Hrelja is responsible for the overall management and implementation of a 3-year regional project “Breaking the Silence: Enhancing Whistleblowing Policies and Culture in Western Balkans and Moldova”. The project is funded by the European Union.
Statement of Interest – Elmerina Ahmetaj Hrelja
E-mail address: ehrelja@rai-see.org
Amra SOFTIC – Project Officer
Professional background
Ms. Amra Softić joined RAI Secretariat on May 11, 2020 following its internal selection and interview procedures. Ms. Softić earned her BA Degree in English Language and Literature and Arabic Language and Literature from the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
Ms. Amra Softić possesses an extensive experience for over 25 years in both local and international-tested exercises in anti-corruption reforms, youth reconciliation, economic reforms, and participant training in a range of roles that include program management and implementation, analysis, negotiation, budget oversight, capacity building, communication, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of programs. Prior to this assignment, Ms. Softić’s work experience in anti-corruption interventions has primarily focused on advocacy exercises aimed at strengthening the role and civic position of whistleblowers, through improved whistleblowing legislation concepts, increased civil society participation, and public awareness campaigns. In 2017, Ms. Softić participated as a presenter during the UNCAC’s Review Mechanism on the progress in the implementation of the national anti-corruption program. In 2019, Ms. Softić moderated the Whistleblowing Panel, which Deloitte organized to mark the Fraud Awareness Week, the first of this kind in BiH.
Responsibilities
According to the Terms of Reference for the project officer position, Ms. Amra Softić is responsible for communication and training of a 3-year regional project “Breaking the Silence: Enhancing Whistleblowing Policies and Culture in Western Balkans and Moldova”. The project is funded by the European Union.
Statement of Interest – Amra Softic
E-mail address: asoftic@rai-see.org
Meliha CAPLJIC – Finance and Administration Assistant
Professional background
Ms. Meliha Capljic joined RAI Secretariat on July 01, 2020 following its internal selection and interview procedures. Ms. Capljic graduated from the University of Sarajevo, School of Economics and Business and holds a BA degree of Management. Prior to joining RAI Secretariat, Ms. Capljic worked in non-governmental organization Foundation INFOHOUSE on financial and administrative implementation of anti-corruption projects, youth reconciliation and social inclusion projects funded by various international donors.
Responsibilities
According to the Terms of Reference for the Finance and Administration Assistant position, Ms. Meliha Capljic is responsible for providing support to the implementation of the 3-year regional project “Breaking the Silence: Enhancing Whistleblowing Policies and Culture in Western Balkans and Moldova” funded by the European Union, budget implementation and accounting as coordinated by the Chief Finance and Operation Officer.
Statement of Interest_- Meliha Capljic
E-mail address: mcapljic@rai-see.org