Bernard Zeneli is specialized in development work that brings together policy and training of university students, civil servants and new political leaders in the Southeast Europe. He was the Manager of the Brain Gain Programme, an initiative of the Government of Albania supported by UNDP from July 2006 until the end of 2012. This programme sought to engage the intellectual Albanian Diaspora more effectively in the development of the country. As a result of this programme more than 150 distinguished individuals of Albanian background have returned to Albania and are working for the public administration and institutions of higher education in Albania. The programme was closely associated with the office of the Prime Minister of Albania and the Ministry of Education.

Bernard is a Fulbright Scholar, specialized in Political Science and Policy Analysis at Northeastern University in Boston. He is the youngest Albanian to have been awarded this prestigious scholarship. Prior to the Brain Gain management position in Albania, Bernard was working at the University of Prishtina in Kosova, as the Chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, a department that he developed in cooperation and with support of UNMIK (United Nation Mission in Kosovo) and Soros Foundation.

He has extensive experience (about 20 years) in teaching and training at both university and post-university levels including adult training programs. In his teaching career he has also worked at Northeastern University in Boston Massachusetts, University of Tirana in Tirana, Albania and South Eastern European University in Tetovo, FYROM (Macedonia). Bernard was also engaged in several regional projects related to development of higher education and student participation in it. He is also active in the area of policy advice.

Civil society engagement is also a key area of Bernard’s activities. He seats in the management boards of several organizations and offers his expertise in preparing curricula and training programs related to leadership, policy making, political elections and campaigns, project writing and development. He set in different Soros Foundation boards and sub-boards dealing with student initiatives and gender issues.

Mr. Zeneli holds a bachelor degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the Foreign Languages Faculty of Tirana University and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Northeastern University. He has specialized training in teaching and policy making and analysis and teaches courses related to comparative politics and governments.

Bernard Zeneli is currently working with E-On Company in the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline Project that aims to bring Azeri gas into the European markets. He is the in-country expert responsible for Stakeholder Engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility within the framework of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline Project.