MARTIN MATA
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Martin Mata has 30 years of experience in public and private sector management, strategic planning, advanced economic, market and investment analysis, policy analysis and human resource development. He joined the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund in 2000 and became Co-Executive Director in 2010. His previous experience includes positions as General Manager of Mercedes-Benz Albania, Political Advisor to the Prime Minister of Albania, Political Advisor at the United States Embassy in Tirana and Director of Public Relations at the National Privatization Agency. He holds a BA in History and English and an MBA from a joint program of the University of Nebraska and the Faculty of Economics of the University of Tirana. He has been the Co-Executive Director of AADF since 2013. In 2015, Mr. Mata received the Title “For Special Civil Merits” from the President of the Republic of Albania.
ELVIN GURI
Vice-President/Chairman of the Board of Directors
Elvin Guri is an investor and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of successful track record in banking and private equity in Europe. As an investor and advisor, Elvin has been involved in deals in the financial institutions sector (Czech Republic, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Albania, Macedonia), in technology and biotechnology (Switzerland, Bulgaria), in healthcare and food industry (Bulgaria), and in real estate sector (USA). Mr. Guri is one of the 2 founders of JetFinance International, the largest consumer finance lender in SEE. JetFinance was sold to BNP Paribas Personal Finance in July 2007. Mr. Guri owns 49% of the shares of the mobile phone operator Telekom Albania, after the acquisition in 2019, through the company Albania Telekom Invest AD. He has held various roles in prestigious organizations such as PWC and EBRD. Elvin holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from Oxford University. Elvin supports several educational initiatives in Bulgaria and Albania, including AUBG, Teaching for Bulgaria (""Zaedno v Chas"") and Junior Achievement.
JONIDA LAMAJ
Member of the Board of Directors
Jonida joined the AADF in 2018. Prior to that, she worked with EducationUSA Advising Center and served as Executive Director at Youth Act Center.
She holds an MSc in Law, an MA in Public Administration, and a PhD in Competition Law, all from the University of Tirana. Jonida is also a licensed attorney with the National Chamber of Advocacy of Albania.
JONIDA ÇOLLAKU
Member of the Board of Directors
Ms. Jonida Çollaku has served as the General Director of the General Regulatory Directorate for Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports since November 2023. She began her professional career as a lawyer in 2012, working initially with bailiff offices, subsequently in the private sector, and later at the "Mother Teresa" University Hospital Center in Tirana. Ms. Çollaku also worked for five years in the Appeals Division of the Legal Directorate at the Central Immovable Property Registration Office, as well as at the General Directorate of the State Cadastre Agency in Tirana. From 2021 until November 2023, she served as the Director of the Tirana Regional Directorate of the Compulsory Health Care Insurance Fund.
Ms. Çollaku completed her integrated second-cycle studies at the Faculty of Law, University of Tirana, and obtained a Professional Master’s degree in Agribusiness from the Agricultural University of Tirana. Since 2014, she has held the title of "Lawyer," granted by the National Chamber of Advocates.
JONA SULI
Member of the Board of Directors
Ms. Jona Suli has served as Secretary General of the Ministry of Education since 2026, where she oversees the ministry's administrative and institutional coordination, supports the implementation of public policies, and ensures the effective functioning of the administration in achieving the institution's strategic objectives.
Ms. Suli possesses extensive experience in public administration and the leadership of state institutions.
Prior to her current appointment, she served as Advisor on Legal Affairs to the Minister of Education. She also held the position of Director General of the State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination (SASPAC), where she was responsible for coordinating and managing foreign development aid and aligning national strategic programs.
Throughout her career, she has also served as Director General of the Agency for Dialogue and Co-Governance, Director General of the Agency for Drafting Special Citizenship Programs, and Administrator of the state-owned enterprises "Security Paper Printing House" (Shtypshkronja e Letrave me Vlerë sh.a.) and "Albtrace Co. sh.a." Previously, she served at the Ministry of Tourism and Environment as Director of Priority Implementation and Statistics, as well as Director of Tourism Development Programs.
Jona Suli is a legal professional with expertise in public administration, strategic planning, institutional coordination, legislation, and European integration.
She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in International and European Law from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, as well as a Master of Science in Public Law and a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tirana.