Aurora Balaj

Experience

• 

  ICRC/ Finnish Red Cross

  Jun 1999 - Mar 2001

  Project Assistant/ Junior Field Officer
• 

  KTV

  Mar 2001 - Jun 2001

  Journalist/ Reporter [International News Desk]
• 

  World Bank Project for the Ministry of Education [Standards and Assessment Department]

  Jun 2001 - Feb 2002

  Project Assistant/ Translator
• 

  Independent Media Commission

  Sept 2002 - Mar 2004

  Licensing Officer/ Legal Language Translator
• 

  American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative

  Mar 2004 - Sept 2007

  Outreach Coordinator / Legal Language Assistant

  ABA in D.C., donors, counterparts in the government, and legal an justice system in Kosovo, as well as other institutions; •Coordinate with ABA Outreach in DC and donors including USAID and the Resident Legal Adviser in the US Office in Prishtina, in preparation of press releases and media advisories;•Produced a number of high quality products including brochures, posters, reports, and public service announcements. •Had an active role in all of the program activities, assisted the office and the Kosovo Chamber of Advocates, the Kosovo Judges Association, and the University of Pristina Law Faculty with organizing high-profile events, such as the Women in Law Conference, presided over by former ABA President Martha Barnett and the former US Chief of Mission Tina Kaidanow, and the Bench & Bar Conference, presided over by former Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu.•Assemble and maintain a list of local and regional media;•Organize press conferences and other media events;•Coordinate outreach events e.g. open houses, donor forums, receptions, guest speakers, and other special events;•Regularly prepare success stories for Speaking of CEELI and other publications in coordination with program staff;•Work with Outreach in DC to update country summaries and country brochures, etc. Show less

• 

  Prishtina International Airport J.S.C

  Sept 2007 - Mar 2009

  Administration Officer & Translator to MD Office

  Interpreted airport and department policies and advised staff on their provisions.•Participated in the formulation of Office policies and operations, drafted Standard Operation’s Procedures, Routing Slip, etc.•Assisted and provided input to determining strategic objectives for the Department.•Prepared annual report (achievements/ plans) of the Department on annual basis.•Prepared reports as per request of the Board of Directors.•Actively participated in anticipating the operations budget, during budget planning period for the coming financial year;•Followed up expenses as per contracts, falling under Administration Department’ units, checking the deadlines and the amounts allowed to be spent.•Oversaw and organized sale of PIA vehicles as per regulation into force for Public Sales.•Participated as an evaluation committee member in, opening and/or evaluation of the bids of EO applying for PIA call for provision of services or supply.•Oversaw the coordination of calendars and schedules, coordinated administrative office space and facilities management.•Served as liaison for inter-divisional, interdepartmental, or interoffice on processing the different documents related to the administration office responsibilities.TRANSLATOR to the MD Office:• Translated documents from English into Albanian, Serbian, and vice-versa, respecting deadlines and using appropriate terminology.• Provided written translations of documents from English to Albanian and vice versa.• Provided simultaneous and consecutive interpretation in The Board of Director’s meetings and other occasions.• Translated written material, such as legal documents, reports and rewrote material into Albanian/English language, according to established rules of grammar.• Provided general administrative and logistical support to the Managing Director’s Office, maintained the highest degree of confidentiality.•Ensured efficient working flow of the Managing Director’s office. Show less

• 

  USAID KPEP/ Booz Allen Hamilton

  Mar 2009 - Dec 2012

  Implement the development of the Kosovo Private Enterprise Program (KPEP) communications strategy (and update annually).•Design, implement and evaluate the tasks set out in the KPEP work plan.•Understand and meet USAID branding guidelines and approval processes.•Develop, coordinate, and maintain excellent contacts and communications with local and national news media.•Develop and prepare a sample press kits, media lists, dissemination lists, etc. and update as needed.•Independently prioritize and ensure to coordinate and organize successful public events and media outreach programs in support of KPEP, •Ensure that high quality articles are submitted to USAID, and published in local and international electronic and print media.•Monitor the media and identify news relevant to KPEP in order to develop initiatives and formulate responses as appropriate.•Coordinate and maintain excellent contacts and communications with KPEP counterparts.•Liaise with and advise counterpart Public Information Officers.•Comply with USAID and KPEP reporting requirements.•Manage vendors and timetables for production, website, and events planning.•Manage submission of contractual deliverables like weekly report, quarterly report, annual report and work plan, as well as the final report Show less

  • Communications Specialist

    Feb 2011 - Dec 2012

  • Translator/Interpreter

    Mar 2009 - Mar 2011
• 

  USAID DEMI /The Urban Institute

  Mar 2013 - Aug 2013

  Communications Expert

  Implement the development of the communications strategy.•Understand and meet USAID branding guidelines and approval processes.•Develop, coordinate, and maintain excellent contacts and communications with local and national news media.•Develop and prepare a sample press kits, media lists, dissemination lists, etc. and update as needed.•Independently prioritize and ensure to coordinate and organize successful public events and media outreach programs, • Ensure that high quality articles are submitted to USAID, and published in local and international electronic and print media.•Monitor the media and identify news relevant to DEMI.•Coordinate and maintain excellent contacts and communications with DEMI beneficiaries and counterparts.•Liaise with and advise counterpart Public Information Officers.•Comply with USAID and DEMI reporting requirements.•Manage vendors and timetables for design of publications, production, website, and events planning. Show less

• 

  Academy of Justice

  Oct 2013 - now

  Senior Language Officer

  - Translate training materials for judges, prosecutors and other legal professionals, beneficiaries of AJ;- Translate reports, publications, bylaws and other documents for the AJ;- Interpret simultaneously and consecutively for the meetings, workshops and training organized by the AJ for the Kosovo judicial system representatives (judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other stakeholders attending the AJ events).- Other duties as assigned in relation to preparing for the training of judges and prosecutors Show less

• 

  Solten Group

  May 2019 - now

  Linguist/ Reviser English to Albanian (freelance)