Elira Çanga is a journalist and communication professional, media trainer and educator from Albania. She has 20 years of experience divided between active journalism, media development and communication for international organizations. During 2022-2023, she served as a media and
communication adviser to the President of Albania, planning strategically media relations and appearances as well as communication approach of the institution.

She holds a Master on EU Studies and is a PhD student at Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, Arizona State University.
Elira started her career as a journalist early on, right in 1999 when situation in the Balkans was turmoiled and worked for Albanian national news agency, different local newspapers while established a TV program on regional and foreign affairs “Diplomaticus” for News 24 Tv. She got specialized in radio
journalism and worked as local producer for BBC.

She dived into media development working for different international organizations as the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and USAID aimed at modernizing the public service
media in her country, enriching the journalism curriculum at the public school of journalism. As a communication professional she worked closely with organizations as UNICEF, World Bank and World Health Organization into building their communications strategies and ensuring high visibility of
various much needed projects and initiatives of these organizations into making a difference in Albania.

She was a Humphrey Fellow at Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication during 2021-2022 and she is back now as ASU as part of the PhD program, focusing on strategic communication and aiming at making her experience valuable to a more academic pathway.

Mariatu Esther Kabba is an experienced radio trainer and advocate for women's and girls’ empowerment. Over a decade, Mariatu has played a crucial role in many transformative development communication projects, including the BBC 50/50 Equality and the BBC Media Action Girls’ Education and Empowerment (EAGER) Project. Through EAGER, Mariatu trained more than 200 local journalists on gender-sensitive radio programming. Her outstanding work earned her the prestigious “Fifty Most Influential Sierra Leonean Women” Award in 2021.

Mariatu is the founder and executive director of Strong Women, Strong Girls Sierra Leone. This nonprofit organization provides mentorship opportunities for underprivileged young women and girls in rural communities in Sierra Leone. She holds a BA in Mass Communications from Fourah Bay College and a Civic Leadership Certificate as a Mandela Washington Fellow from Rutgers, State University of New Jersey.

As a Humphrey Fellow, Mariatu aims to enhance her understanding of women’s leadership in a global context and the role of media technology in gender transformation in the US, with the possibility of implementing similar strategies back home.

Elzat Kydyrmysheva is a highly experienced communication professional who has spent the past fifteen years developing communication strategies for the government of Kyrgyzstan. She is the Head of the PR Department at the Digital Development Ministry, leading the charge to eliminate digital illiteracy in Kyrgyzstan through the National Program.
Throughout her illustrious career, Elzat has led numerous nationwide information campaigns during key moments in Kyrgyzstan’s history.

Some of her notable achievements include playing a pivotal role in the information campaigns for monumental projects such as the creation of the Unified State Population Register and the automation of state registration services, collecting biometric data from citizens, and organizing the first election in Central Asia using innovative technologies.

Award-winning news industry executive with deep experience in investigative journalism, industry leadership, digital transformation and change leadership. Currently, she serves as the Frank Russell Chair and curator of the Humphrey Fellowship at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. She was the first woman editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and E&P Editor of the Year in 2004. During that time, the newspaper won two Pulitzer Prizes. She also served as managing editor of USA TODAY, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Arizona Republic. She also led Cox Media Group Ohio. She is the co-author of the book "There's No Crying in Newsrooms: What Women Have Learned About What It Takes to Lead."