Nena brings over fifteen years of international experience in the higher education sector. Prior to joining the Hertie School she oversaw alumni relations at the Central European University (CEU) in Vienna and Budapest. A number of successful initiatives were developed under her leadership, including an award-winning volunteer engagement and recognition programme and an effective emergency response for alumni affected by the war in Ukraine. Prior to CEU, Nena managed programmes at leading global organisations, including the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in London, the Institute of International Education (IIE) and Open Society Foundation (OSF) in Budapest. A firm believer in collaboration and the power of sharing best practice, Nena is an active CASE volunteer and has served as a speaker, on the editorial board, as a conference co-chair and as task force member. She holds a Master of Arts in Gender Studies from CEU. A native of North Macedonia, Nena has lived and worked internationally for nearly two decades and is fluent in English, Italian and a number of Slavic languages.