imonida Kacarska is the Director of the European Policy Institute (EPI) in Skopje. She holds a PhD in Politics and International Studies from the University of Leeds and an MA in European Politics from the Sussex European Institute (UK). As one of EPI’s co-founders, Simonida has been driving the institute's vision since 2011. Before that, from 2005 to 2011, she worked within the Sector for Integration at the Secretariat for European Affairs in the Government, specifically in the Department for Justice, Freedom, and Security. Over the years, she has been a research fellow at prestigious institutions like the Central European University, the University of Oxford, the College of Europe, and the University of Edinburgh, and has lent her expertise as a consultant for international organizations such as the Council of Europe and the OSCE. Simonida brings deep research and hands-on experience in the political transformation and EU integration of the Western Balkans, with a particular focus on minority rights policies. She stepped into her role as EPI's Director in February 2017.

Ardita Abazi Imeri is one of EPI’s co-founders and has been an integral part of the institute since 2011. She holds a PhD from the Institute for Sociological, Political and Legal Research at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, focusing on consumer protection and the transposition of the EU acquis communautaire. She also earned her Master’s degree in International, Comparative, and European Law from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. At EPI, Ardita oversees strategic planning, monitoring, and evaluation across the board. As our Programme Coordinator, she manages all thematic areas of the institute's work. Her research and advocacy focus heavily on the rule of law, EU accession monitoring, conditionality policy, consumer protection, and promoting social cohesion policies. She has successfully led major initiatives, serving as the regional grant manager for public administration reform projects (WeBER) and heading crucial judicial reform projects like Network 23+ and JuDGMeNT. Before joining EPI, from 2008 to 2010, Ardita worked at the Secretariat for European Affairs within the Government, focusing on internal market issues and sectoral policies.

Julijana Karai is a Senior Researcher at EPI. She holds a Master’s degree in European Studies from the University of Leipzig, Germany, where she focused on regional development and EU integration processes. Julijana brings a wealth of experience in policy analysis and quantitative research. At the institute, she drives several key research initiatives, focusing closely on public administration reform, environmental policies, and youth engagement in the region. Before stepping into her current role, Julijana collaborated with various international organizations and civil society initiatives across Europe, designing data-driven advocacy campaigns. Her work bridges the gap between academic research and practical policy solutions, making her a vital asset to EPI's modern and dynamic research team.

Stefan Ristovski is a Senior Researcher at the European Policy Institute – Skopje, where he monitors North Macedonia’s EU accession process and EU sectoral policies. His portfolio at EPI covers economic reforms, regional cooperation and integration, social security, and inclusion. Stefan also brings valuable private-sector experience, having worked in the life sciences compliance events industry and cross-border healthcare. He studied European Economic Studies at the College of Europe and International Trade at the Faculty of Economics in Skopje.

Angela Delevska - Radevska is a Researcher and Project Manager at EPI. She manages and coordinates impact-driven research projects while actively contributing to policy analysis. Her work is central to keeping our project timelines smooth, our partnerships strong, and our research output sharp and actionable for the think-tank.

Ardita Vejseli is a Researcher at the European Policy Institute. She holds an LLM in International Law from the South East European University in Skopje and is currently wrapping up her second Master’s degree in International Human Rights Law at the University of Essex in the UK as a Chevening Scholar. Ardita works on a variety of human rights projects, including hands-on fieldwork. Since joining EPI in 2017, she has been actively involved in organizing and executing three National Debates using the Deliberative Polling method in North Macedonia, a collaborative effort with Stanford University. She has authored and co-authored several research papers and was part of the second cohort of the “EUth – Youth advocating in the EU” project by Civil Rights Defenders. Through this project, she conducted research on the right to education for youth with disabilities and presented these findings at the European Parliament. During her time at the University of Essex, she was an active member of Amnesty International's Digital Verification Unit. Ardita has also served as a member of the U.S. Embassy Youth Council in Skopje.

Beba Žagar is a Researcher at the European Policy Institute, working within the Democracy and Rule of Law programme. She graduated from the Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje in 2018, and went on to earn her Master’s degree in International Law, International Relations, and EU Law from the same institution two years later. Expanding her expertise internationally, Beba also obtained an LLM from the Advanced Master of Science in International and European Law programme at Ghent University in Belgium in July 2020. Beba brings a well-rounded professional background to the team, with practical experience spanning non-governmental organizations, state institutions, law firms, and consultancy agencies.

Kalina Dukovska is a Junior Researcher at EPI. Bringing fresh energy and a keen analytical eye to the think-tank, she supports the research team with data collection, policy monitoring, and project implementation. Her work focuses on tracking regional policy trends and contributing to the institute's latest briefs and publications. Kalina's dedication to open, collaborative research makes her an essential part of driving our youth-centered initiatives forward.

Vaska Ristovska joined the EPI team in October 2014 as an Administrative Officer. Since then, she has been managing the financial and administrative sides of multiple projects while actively supporting the growth of the institute's programmatic activities. Beyond handling the daily logistics that keep our projects running smoothly, Vaska ensures seamless management and clear communication with project teams and partners. She graduated from the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University.

Dejan Ristovski is the Finance Officer at the European Policy Institute. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje. Dejan has been with EPI since 2013, managing the financial operations of projects funded by the European Union and various international partners. Notably, he served as the financial and administrative officer for the Network 23 project, which featured a complex sub-granting scheme. In that role, he was responsible for drafting sub-granting documentation and monitoring the financial implementation of the grants. At EPI, Dejan oversees the overall financial operations of the organization, managing payments, generating financial reports, and preparing documentation for accounting.

Naum Lokoski is the Communications Officer at EPI. He graduated with a degree in Political Studies from the Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje in 2015. In his role, Naum manages EPI’s website and digital presence across social platforms. His day-to-day responsibilities include drafting press releases, amplifying EPI’s latest research findings, handling email marketing, and tracking media coverage. He plays a key part in designing the institute's overarching communications strategy, crafting specific project-based outreach plans, and monitoring their overall impact. Naum also drives the creation of our creative promotional assets, turning complex data into engaging fact sheets, policy brief summaries, infographics, and videos.