The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) has named Veronika Tomova as the first Macedonia Director.
UMD Macedonia, the global non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization’s second post following Washington, D.C., will be based in Skopje, Macedonia, and will focus on six countries – Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Serbia. It was made possible through the generosity of our donors.
“UMD’s decision to expand to Macedonia is very important not only organizationally, but also symbolically,” said UMD Chairman Stojan Nikolov. “It proves that UMD is investing in the future of our homeland, as well as seeking to improve cooperation and ties with governments, civil society, and local communities in a region rich in Macedonian heritage, while safeguarding Macedonian values and ideals for future generations.”
“With the establishment of a base in Skopje, UMD makes a clear statement that the Diaspora is a partner that stands behind the future of Macedonia. There are real opportunities for engaging various stakeholders and fostering a greater understanding of the role the Diaspora plays in the democratic development of Macedonia and Southeast Europe,” said Tomova, a native of Macedonia, who joins UMD during a critical time for the Macedonian people.
Tomova holds a joint M.S. in Comparative Local Development from University of Trento, Italy; University of Ljubljana, Slovenia; University of Regensburg – Germany; and Corvinus University, Budapest, Hungary, and a B.A. in Political Science concentrating on International Relations and Diplomacy from University American College Skopje. She specializes in political affairs, development models, and societial systems, and her professional experience combines the corporate, government, and civil society sectors. She is the Co-Founder and Economic Development Specialist of the social innovation lab, SmartUp, a coordinator of European projects financed by the Instruments for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), and a Program Manager for the international independent financial report, “The European Times.”
“Having directly supervised Veronika in 2016 during her five-month UMD International Policy and Diplomacy Fellowship in Washington, D.C., and attended meetings with her in Macedonia over the course of the past three weeks, I am certain that UMD’s Board of Directors made the right decision to have her join our team,” said UMD President Metodija A. Koloski. “Visiting Macedonia once or twice a year is not enough; we are delighted that Veronika will work on a day-to-day basis in strengthning our ties to the homeland and advancing the UMD’s policies and programs within Macedonian society.”
In addition to her professional endeavors, Tomova is a Young Global Changer in the Circular Economy Task Force within the Sustainable Development Policy Field of the G20 Global Solutions Summit, a Golden Laissez Passer finalist, a Shaper of the Global Shaper Skopje Hub of the World Economic Forum, a Goodwill Ambassador for Empowerment of Women and Youth of the International Human Rights Commission, a Young Leader of President Ivanov’s School of Leaders, and a Young Leader of the “Nizami Ganjavi” International Center.
Since 2004, UMD has been a leading voice for Macedonia and Macedonians in Washington, D.C. and across the globe. In 2008, UMD opened an office in Washington, D.C. – the first serving Macedonians and Macedonian communities in the world’s capital. UMD maintains representation in Australia, Canada, and throughout Europe.