Co-PLAN is run by an Executive Director, who constantly consults the Directing Board of the organization as well as with the Strategic Collaborators and Advisors. However, it is the staff who constitute the core of the organization through direct engagement in implementing various projects and achieving visible and tangible results, while the board structures work to increase collaborative networks as well as to position the organisation more effectively in the Albanian civil society. The Board is a decision-making structure composed of three members, Floreta Pirushi, Tom Passero and Ester Caco. This board is chaired by Ms. Pirushi, and makes decisions about overall organizational policies and strategies.
Loreta Gogaj (Chair) is a senior banking and economic development professional with nearly two decades of experience in Albania’s financial sector. She currently serves as the Head of the SME Business Department at Union Bank, where she leads strategic business development efforts, particularly in the agriculture and energy efficiency sectors. Her career has spanned leadership roles in banking, economic analysis, risk management, and sustainable finance.
Ms. Gogaj brings a strong track record in developing tailored financial products, advancing green and inclusive lending, and advising on climate finance, local government creditworthiness, and energy transition planning. With deep expertise in financial strategy, feasibility analysis, and SME development, Loreta Gogaj offers a unique blend of private sector leadership and public-interest engagement. She holds a degree in Finance from the University of Tirana and a postgraduate banking management qualification from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
As Chair of Co-PLAN’s Board of Directors, she provides strategic oversight and guidance on the organization’s mission to foster sustainable, inclusive, and locally driven development.
Brikena Zogaj (Board Member) is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in child rights advocacy, development, and humanitarian response. She has worked across diverse and complex contexts—including Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Eastern Europe—leading national, regional, and global programs focused on child protection, social inclusion, and community resilience.
Brikena has held senior roles in international NGOs and philanthropic organizations, contributing to policy reform, system strengthening, and multi-sectoral collaboration. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to equity, justice, and the well-being of vulnerable children and families.
With a background in Child Rights, Leadership, and Public Policy, Brikena combines strategic insight with empathy and practical experience. She is widely respected for her ability to navigate humanitarian challenges while fostering long-term impact through inclusive and rights-based approaches.
As a member of Co-PLAN’s Board of Directors, she brings valuable expertise in governance, social policy, and advocacy, reinforcing the organization’s mission to advance sustainable and inclusive development across Albania and the region.
Dr. Rudina Toto (Board Member) is an accomplished expert in urban and environmental management, with over 17 years of experience in spatial planning, decentralization, and good governance. Her academic and professional journey bridges technical expertise and policy insight, focusing on sustainable urban development and regional planning.
She holds advanced degrees in Urban Planning and Environmental Management from the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Wageningen University, and IHS – Erasmus University Rotterdam. She completed her PhD through a joint program between POLIS University in Albania and the University of Ferrara in Italy, with a focus on housing, governance, and spatial development.
Rudina has led and advised on numerous strategic planning projects, including regulatory urban plans, territorial development strategies, and the design of territorial information systems. She has also worked extensively on issues related to regionalization, governance structures, and institutional capacity building.
Her combined academic rigor and applied field experience have made her a respected voice in urban transformation and sustainable policy reform. As a member of Co-PLAN’s Board of Directors, Rudina brings deep sectoral knowledge and strategic vision to support the organization’s mission in advancing inclusive, well-governed, and resilient territories.
Co-PLAN also has Strategic Collaborators and Advisors, who contribute with ideas and advice to the decision-making structures of the organisation.