Meet The Team

28^th – 31^st May

Meet the Team who
are putting it all together

Core Conference Team

Katia Burdet, DTM

District Director

Katia Burdet has been a dedicated Toastmaster since 2012, serving as Club President, Area Director, Division Director and now as District Director of D109. A Purchasing and Facility Manager at SSI-SCHAEFER, she is also a professional coach and TEDx mentor. She leads with empathy and vision, inspiring membership growth through impactful projects and a culture of learning and fun.

Laor Glukhovsky, DTM

District Program Quality Director

Laor is the current PQD of D109, having been a very active member of Toastmasters since 2019. He has extensive professional expertise in commercialization, product management and business planning for deep-tech startups entering the European and American markets. Laor also organizes local swing and blues dance festivals, and is an avid musician and dancer at these events.

Nigel Thew, DTM

Conference Co-Chair & Venue Manager

Nigel has been a Toastmaster since 2017, and has held multiple leadership roles at club and District level. He is a passionate communicator, innovator and strategic thinker who seeks to inspire and support new leaders, creative projects and memorable events. He is an environmental archaeologist with a passion and curiosity for the past, nature, travel and culture in all its forms.

Kristi Tirana

Conference Co-Chair & Marketing Manager

Kristi is an Electrical Engineer by trade. One of the founding members of Toastmasters Tirana, he helped to grow the club from a Demo meeting into a strong community. As VPPR last year, he strengthened visibility and engagement. Today, he is passionately committed to facilitating an exceptional District 2026 Conference, driven by creativity, connection and a belief in leadership through communication.

Franceska Davidhi

Education Chair

Franceska blends engineering logic with educational vision. As current District Administration Manager and Conference Education Chair, she connects details with purpose, people with structure, and ideas with execution. Her contribution to the Conference is to create clarity, ensure flow, and design a learning experience that not only inspires in the moment but stays with attendees long after the event has concluded.

Petra Salmutter

Registration Manager

A passionate Toastmaster since 2021, Petra was the 2024-25 Division Director for Austria & Slovenia. As current District Harmony Team Chair, she fosters a respectful, inclusive and solution-oriented environment and serves as a neutral contact for conflict prevention and resolution. She is a consultant and trainer who bridges people, processes and technology, and helps organizations to turn complexity into actionable solutions.

Néstor A. Bartolomei

PR Manager

Néstor is an entrepreneurial design strategist specializing in customized interior design for high achievers, personal branding, and event management. Those who know him have called him “Néstor the connector,” a role he embraces by bringing people and ideas together. He has been an active member of Toastmasters for 12 years, and last year was District PR Manager.

Shamil Khaibullov

Website Manager

Shamil is a web developer who enjoys helping people turn ideas into clear, user-friendly web solutions. He built this conference website with a focus on usability and smooth navigation. As a former Toastmaster, he values effective communication, collaboration and thoughtful design. In his spare time, he enjoys pickleball and learning languages. He is always open to coffee chats and new collaborations.

Godela Bittcher

Volunteers Manager

A Toastmaster for 10 years, Godela has held various officer roles at club and District level up to Division Director. She likes to take on responsibilities, and takes pleasure and satisfaction from motivating people, helping them to grow and observing their personal development. As a teacher and scientist, she has a genuine interest in understanding people and their different personalities.

Arben Dedja

Social Activities Manager

A dedicated member of Toastmasters Tirana since 2024, Arben has served as Treasurer and is now Club Secretary, helping to drive the club’s President’s Distinguished performance and achievements. With a solid professional background in compliance and risk management, he brings energy, commitment, organization and a solution-focused mindset to the conference’s organizing team.

Pietro Ferrario

Planning Manager

Pietro is a Project manager from Italy, living in Switzerland for 12 years. He is fuelled by a passion for Toastmasters as well as for Coldmasters (freezing swims in Lake Geneva). With no spouse, children or pets, he greatly values the time he can spend pursuing other interests, including reading European history, scaling the Alps and hunting for intriguing social connections.

Marjana Murja

Sponsorship Manager

Marjana is a marketing strategist and a founding member of Toastmasters Tirana. Currently serving as club VPPR, she works at the intersection of communication and strategy. Toastmasters has taught her that progress comes through showing up, practicing consistently and learning to speak with purpose, skills she applies in her work and her everyday interactions.

Joseph Galea

Technical Manager

Jo loves building better software and nurturing better speakers, one sprint at a time. He enjoys solving problems, simplifying complexity, and making communication feel effortless, on stage or in the codebase. As a technology consultant and enthusiast, he values using innovation to deal with everyday challenges. He is an experienced Toastmaster, based in Malta, who has held leadership roles at club and District levels.

Diane Richardson, DTM

Web Designer

Diane lectures in Graphic Design in London, after a career working as a designer specialising in brand design, strategic planning and communications, for international organisations. As Director of D91 she led her district to become Presidents Distinguished. An expert in creating educational materials to impart knowledge, she is part of the Toastmasters team that created the New Club Officer Training program.

Damien Gautier, DTM

Conference Finance Manager

Damien is the current D109 District Finance Manager. He inspires growth through integrity, transparency and flexibility. From relaunching and revitalizing clubs, to achieving President’s Distinguished, he connects people, strengthens communities and ensures financial clarity. His leadership blends multicultural insight, strategic vision and heart, proving that money managed with integrity empowers lasting success.

Voltisa Xhokaxhiu

Master of Ceremonies

Voltisa is a passionate HR Consultant and entrepreneur. She has been actively involved in Toastmasters since 2024, where she has honed her communication and leadership skills. As a business owner, she balances her professional life with her many interests and her family. Careful to contribute to the society she lives in, she is also very much involved in charitable initiatives.

Support Team

Daniela Sulko

Supporting Social Events

A Senior Facility Management Officer in the banking sector and a passionate actress, Daniela blends professionalism with creativity and enthusiasm. Curious, outgoing and optimistic, she enjoys dancing, cinema and mindfulness, bringing her positive energy to the conference Social Events team.

Julia Sulstarova

Supporting Social Events

Julia works as a data scientist in the energy sector, with a strong focus on AI. She joined Toastmasters Tirana to push beyond her comfort zone and become a more assertive public speaker.

Carmen Stampfli

Supporting Public Relations

Carmen is currently completing her Bachelor’s degree in Bioanalytics and Cell Biology. Her studies have sharpened her analytical mindset, but she combines this precision with a creative and visionary nature.

Franklin Moya

Supporting Public Relations

Franklin grew up in Venezuela. He is an author, illustrator and speaker, while making his living as professional Cabin Crew. He is currently VPPR at UN Geneva Toastmasters, and an Area Director in Geneva.

Luis Aguilar

Assistant Venue Manager

Luis is a Venezuelan professional with extensive leadership experience in international development and finance. An active member of the Blue Danube Leaders Club in Vienna (Austria), he contributes his organizational, communication, and team‑support skills to strengthen club events and member engagement.

Stefano Caterino

Supporting the Technical Team

Stefano is a road safety professional specialising in business development, product marketing, and technical communication. He is the President and founder of Toastmasters Napoli, and a Rotary member committed to leadership, public speaking, international collaboration, and community service.

Rodolfo Parlati

Supporting the Technical Team

Rodolfo is a career transition and executive coach, and leadership trainer. Driven by curiosity and a passion for lifelong learning, he is a founding member of Toastmasters Napoli. He is a strategic thinker and creative problem-solver, who helps individuals unlock their potential and achieve personal and professional success.

Contest Team

Laor Glukhovsky, DTM

Contest Chair

District PQD

Mikaela Gallon, DTM

Contest Toastmaster

Mikaela is a multilingual senior program manager with extensive experience in finance, operations and IT. Within Toastmasters, she is an active member of several clubs and has served in multiple club and district roles, supporting educational programs and speech contests. Her work has a strong cross-cultural perspective, and she has a deep interest in how communication fosters understanding and connection.

Hasan Vural

Contest Toastmaster

Hasan is a biomedical engineer, supporting irregularly beating hearts. A passionate Toastmaster for the past four years, he enjoys discovering the power of authentic storytelling to create a difference in everything he does, inspire curiosity, and foster genuine connections. His greatest motivation is the smiles he leaves around him.

Penny Wilkie

Contest Toastmaster

Penny has been a Toastmaster for 13 years and has held leadership roles at club and district level. She is an internationally experienced finance leader passionate about driving change. She is a strong believer in the power of communication, a strategic thinker and a connector. She turns data into stories that shape decisions, support businesses to grow and transform, and push beyond perceived limits.

Stefano Caterino

Chief Judge International Speech Contest

Stefano is a road safety professional specialising in business development, product marketing, and technical communication. With a background in philosophy and a passion for yoga, he combines analytical thinking with personal growth. He is President and Founder of Toastmasters Napoli, Area Director for A6, and a Rotary member committed to leadership, public speaking, international collaboration, and community service.

Rudolf Debelak

Chief Judge Evaluation Contest

A Toastmaster since 2016, Rudolf has served as Club President, Secretary, and currently as an Area Director. He is passionate about public speaking and firmly believes that everyone can deliver an excellent speech. Professionally, he is a researcher at the University of Zurich and EPFL, Zurich, working at the intersection of AI and education.

Yoko Owatari, DTM

Chief Judge Table Topics Contest

Yoko has been a Toastmaster since 2019 and has been a member, club sponsor, club mentor and club coach in Europe and Asia, and was District 109’s Toastmaster of the Year in 2024. She believes that evaluation is Toastmasters’ greatest gift, helping members to grow in confidence and nurture their leadership skills through supportive feedback and continuous learning experiences.

Interested in Volunteering?

We are looking for Volunteers to help run our conference. Please click the link to discover how you can volunteer to make FOLTirana an event to remember after you have purchased your ticket.