On 27 May 2026, the Presidential Palace in Skopje opened its doors to host the first-ever national Women in Tech® Macedonia Awards — a landmark moment for the country’s technology and innovation community, held under the high patronage of President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova.
A Presidential Commitment to Women in Technology
Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder and CEO of Women in Tech® Global and Founder and President of the Tech Diplomacy Global Institute, was received by President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova ahead of the ceremony for a 30-minute bilateral meeting. The conversation covered a range of shared interests at the intersection of technology, governance, and international cooperation, including the emerging field of tech diplomacy — how governments can build the knowledge and networks needed to engage with the digital world on equal footing, learn from global best practices, and leverage technology as a tool for international relations. Exciting developments are expected to follow from this dialogue.
The President’s decision to place the awards under her personal patronage and to welcome the Women in Tech® community into the Presidential Palace is a powerful signal: that the advancement of women in technology is not a niche ambition, but a national priority.
The Awards: Recognising North Macedonia’s Trailblazers
The Women in Tech® Macedonia Awards recognised nine women whose contributions span cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, Web3, digital governance, entrepreneurship, and global leadership. Each award reflects a different dimension of what it means to shape the technological future — from protecting digital borders to building the country’s first internationally patented green AI marketing technology.
Aspiring Teen Award — Kristina Mukaetova
From childhood television star and Junior Eurovision representative to a powerful advocate for youth, Kristina Mukaetova is driving positive social change through her talk-show *Around the City with Kiki* and extensive volunteering work.
Best Ally Award — Maja Naumovska Saveska
Director of Corporate and Marketing Communications at Halkbank, Maja Naumovska Saveska has championed innovative, socially responsible campaigns that actively strengthen the local business and technology ecosystem.
Most Impactful Initiative Award — Biljana Pejoska Risteska
A cybersecurity leader dedicated to building a safer digital environment, Biljana Pejoska Risteska educates families and schools on responsible internet use through MKSafeNet.
Most Disruptive Award — Monika Simjanoska Misheva
Associate Professor at FINKI and co-founder of iReason, Monika Simjanoska Misheva coordinates ChatMED — the largest EU project of its kind — pioneering generative AI in healthcare to create visible European impact.
Woman in Web3 Award — Franka Grazdani
Digital innovator and COO and co-founder of 223, Franka Grazdani is a pioneer in NFC-driven physical good tokenization and founder of Ethereum Macedonia, driving Web3 adoption across the Balkans and the Middle East.
Start-Up Award — Ina Markovik
Harvard Business School alumna and founder of DINNA AI — the first internationally patented green AI marketing technology originating from North Macedonia — Ina Markovik is bridging local talent with global market competitiveness.
Tech Diplomacy Award — Gordana Klincharova
State Secretary at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Gordana Klincharova has been a driving force behind the nation’s first Cybersecurity Law and national digital strategies, building a secure, prosperous, and modern state.
Global Leadership Award — Elka Joshevska
HR global leader at A1 Macedonia, Elka Joshevska manages the Workday platform ecosystem across seven countries, serving over 16,000 users with cross-border expertise.
Lifetime Achievement Award — Sofche Jovanovska M.Sc.
General Manager of Scalefocus Macedonia and MASIT Board Member, Sofche Jovanovska brings over 25 years of impact to the field. She co-authored the country’s first National IT Strategy and created the globally recognised Executive Identity and Decision Architecture™ methodology.
A Chapter Seven Years in the Making
The significance of this occasion cannot be understood without looking back to where it began. The Women in Tech® Macedonia chapter was founded in September 2019 in Skopje — the fourth chapter to open in the global network. From those early days, the chapter has grown steadily and with purpose: hundreds of events, thousands of participants, and a growing community of professionals, entrepreneurs, and change-makers who have benefited from its programmes and networks.
That growth is inseparable from the leadership of Chapter Director Monika Rizovska Tanevska, who has led the chapter for nearly seven years and taken it, consistently, from strength to strength. The first national awards, held at the Presidential Palace, are a fitting reflection of what she and her community have built.
For Women in Tech® Global, North Macedonia holds a particular place in the history of the organisation. Returning to Skopje to witness this milestone — a national ceremony at the highest level of the state — is a moment that speaks to what the global network was always meant to become: not a series of events, but a movement with real roots in the countries it calls home.
—
Women in Tech® is a global organisation advancing inclusion and leadership in the technology sector, with chapters across more than 60 countries. The Tech Diplomacy Global Institute works with governments and international organisations to build diplomatic capacity for the digital age.