Prof. Dr. Fatmir Besimi Fatmir Besimi is a professor of economics and finance at South East European University (North Macedonia). He is founder and CEO of Strategers (Strategic Consulting, Policy Research and Executive Education). His early experience starts in banking sector and teaching at University and he served the country in several public positions for two decades (2002-2024). He was elected in the Parliament as Vice-Governor of the National Bank of the North Macedonia, Minister of Economy (two terms), Minister of Defense, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs (two terms) and he served as Minister of Finance during multiple crisis period (2020-2024). He also was an economist at the World Bank Office in Kosovo (2007-2008). He has an active international academic life being visiting senior fellow at the London School of Economics, UK, as well as holding several lectures worldwide, such as Webster University in Geneva, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the diplomatic academy in Vienna, the Center for European Politics in Brussels, the Institute for International and European Affairs in Dublin, the University Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University, Georgetown University, the National Defense University in Washington, the University of Vermont, and the Military Academy in Zagreb. Besimi is author of three books: "Economy and Integration in Times of Polycrisis" (2024) "Monetary and exchange rate policy in Macedonia: Accession to the European Union" (2009) and "My notes: Integrations beyond Rhetoric" (2015). He is co-author in other books and has published over hundreds of columns and papers on economics and politics. Besimi was elected as "Young Global Leaders for 2010" of World Economic Forum and he was awarded with the "Order of the Star of Italy" by the Decree of the President of Italy (2015).