Vesna Shapkoski is a Member of the Working Group of women experts on Foreign and Security Policy and a Ph.D. student at the University St. Kliment Ohridski in Bitola, at the International Law and International Relations Program. She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies, where she obtained the title Master of Laws.
Her professional experience includes engagement in the civic sector, in areas, such as Human Rights and Access to Justice, Rule of Law and promotion of Democratic Processes, since early 2016. As of 2019, she founded, and serves as Executive Director of the Association STANICA PET from Prilep, which works on legal empowerment and access to justice, as well as encouraging democratic processes at the local level.
Her research interests include Foreign Policy of the European Union, China and its role in International Relations, Chinese influence in Central and Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans, and other factors, as well as the protection and promotion of Human Rights.