Women on Boards Albania (WOB-AL) has announced the appointment of distinguished professionals to its Board of Directors and Advisory Board. These individuals bring a wealth of expertise and experience in governance, strategy, and leadership across diverse sectors. Their addition will further strengthen WOB-AL’s mission to advance the representation and influence of women on boards in Albania and beyond.
The appointment of these leaders underscores WOB-AL’s ongoing commitment to fostering gender diversity, inclusion, and leadership development within corporate and public sector boards. By expanding its Board of Directors and Advisory Board with highly accomplished professionals, WOB-AL is taking significant steps to amplify its impact and support women in achieving leadership positions across industries.
The new Board of Directors are:
Jingjin Liu – Chair of the Fundraising Committee
Jingjin Liu is a trailblazing entrepreneur dedicated to advancing women’s inclusion and social justice across Asia. As the Founder of ELEVATE, she leads a group of companies focused on redefining societal and organizational norms to rebalance power and drive meaningful change for women. Jingjin has a background in global product management, portfolio turnarounds, and the establishment of thriving organizations in Germany, China, and Singapore. She is an INSEAD Global MBA graduate and has been a pioneer in empowering women in various industries, particularly in the automotive sector.
As Chair of the Fundraising Committee, Jingjin will leverage her extensive experience and international networks to develop sustainable funding strategies that will help WOBA expand its initiatives, foster new partnerships, and increase its overall impact.
Viola Haxhillazi – Chair of the Finance Committee
Viola Haxhillazi brings extensive experience in finance and business consulting. With a career that includes leadership roles in international financial institutions and consultancies, she has contributed to projects focused on business resilience, supply chain management, and financial sustainability. Viola is currently a Financial Sector Consultant with Deutsche Sparkassenstiftung and an expert for the International Labour Organization’s SCORE Programme. Her deep expertise in finance and operations will play a pivotal role in strengthening WOB-AL’s financial strategy and operations.
As Chair of the Finance Committee, Viola will focus on implementing robust financial policies, ensuring transparency in financial operations, and developing long-term financial sustainability plans that will support the continued growth of WOBA’s programs and outreach efforts.
Manuela Moneti – Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee
Manuela Moneti is a senior commercial leader with over 20 years of experience in strategy, P&L management, and business transformation, particularly in FMCG, beauty, and consumer durables. Having held leadership roles at Unilever and Whirlpool, Manuela is known for her ability to drive revenue growth and navigate complex change processes. A member of European Women on Boards, she is a graduate of their C-Level School and INSEAD’s Women Leadership Program.
As Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee, Manuela will lead WOBA’s efforts to enhance its brand visibility, strengthen engagement with stakeholders, and increase public awareness about the importance of board diversity. She will play a key role in developing marketing strategies, media outreach, and communication campaigns to elevate WOBA’s influence on a national and international level.
New Advisory Board Members:
Hagen Schweinitz – Specialist in C-Level Executive and Board/Non-Executive searches across industries. Chair of the Advisory Board of European Women on Boards and a board member of INSEAD’s International Directors Network. Hagen has extensive experience in governance advisory and corporate board leadership.
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Kristen Anderson – Global Advisor for How Women Lead, former Chief DEI Officer at Barilla, and internationally recognized Inspirational D&I Leader 2021. Board Member of European Women on Boards.
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Eglantina Gjermeni – Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Albania to OSCE and International Organizations in Vienna
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Jeremy Joel Tan – Executive with expertise in finance and corporate governance, bringing a wealth of knowledge in leadership and advisory roles.
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Blerina Memo – Finance and taxation expert with over a decade of experience at Deloitte. Specializes in financial consulting, tax strategy, and compliance.
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Andia Shtepani – Executive with a wealth of banking and financial services experience. Specialist in regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and financial strategy.
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Christine Baldy Ngayo – Global Executive Education Leader specializing in strategy, digital transformation, and impactful learning. Associate Dean at Emlyon Business School, designing executive education programs worldwide.
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Strategic Vision and Future Goals
Albana Vrioni, Founder, WOB-AL said, “WOB-AL extends its gratitude to Charvet & Cie, the international board advisory firm, for their support in facilitating the board search process. Special thanks to Hagen Schweinitz for his guidance throughout.
WOB-AL will continue to offer tailored programs, workshops, and networking opportunities to empower women in their professional journeys. These initiatives will play a crucial role in building a pipeline of talented women prepared to take on leadership roles across various industries.
As WOB-AL embarks on this new chapter, the organization looks forward to working with its expanded leadership team to implement transformative programs and initiatives that will drive lasting change”.
