Our Mentors Are Our Strength
The Cyber Ready Balkans Mentor Network connects students with experienced cybersecurity professionals from across the region. These mentors are UK Chevening Cyber Fellows and industry experts. They are here to share their journey, answer questions, and help you take your first steps into the cyber world.
Why Mentorship Matters
Learning cybersecurity isn’t just about courses, it’s about connections too. Talking to someone who’s already walked the path can help you understand where to start, what to study, and how to grow your skills with purpose.
Our mentors come from diverse backgrounds: ethical hacking, digital forensics, policy, risk management, and more. They know what it’s like to begin with curiosity and turn it into a career.
Through the platform, you can browse mentor profiles, read about their work, and book one-on-one sessions directly with them. Each conversation is an opportunity to ask questions, get feedback, and gain insights from their experience.
Our mentors are here to guide you, whether you’re deciding what to study or just exploring cybersecurity for the first time.
Aleksandra Blazhevska
STEM Teacher
An experienced chemistry mentor teacher in Skopje, STEM advocate, Scientix Ambassador, NGO president, trainer, consultant, and digital education innovator.
Marko Paloski
Systems Engineer @Netcetera
A systems engineer specializing in Internet governance, cybersecurity, and digital rights, senior engineer, national IGF coordinator, youth mentor, and international policy contributor.
Laura Thaci
Cyber Security Engineer @Banking sector
An experienced Cyber Security Engineer from Kosovo with 12+ years in network, infrastructure, and application security, Chevening Fellow 2022, dedicated to resilient digital protection.
Liljana Pecova
CEO @IMPETUS
A cybersecurity and digital governance expert with 20+ years’ experience, Chevening Fellow, Data Privacy & DSA certified, Founder of IMPETUS.mk, leading regional initiatives on digital rights, Internet Safety and policy development.
Nikola Nikolov
Senior IT Advisor @Agency for Electronic Communications
An ICT professional with 20 years’ experience leading national digital transformation, cybersecurity, and e-government initiatives, Chevening Fellow, IT Advisor, and part-time programming lecturer.
Blagoj Arizanov
Technology Manager @Spider Net
System and network engineer with 16+ years’ experience in hybrid networks, data engineering, and virtualization, delivering standards-compliant deployments, CRM inventor, and trusted problem-solver.
