Mr. Palle Westergaard’s educational background is firmly grounded in the field of Education/Training (Masters Degree in Education, Pedagogic and Psychology, etc.) as well as Communication, Mediation and Conflict related studies (Certificate in Communication, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution; Certificate in Mediation). Mr. Westergaard is a proven Team Leader with more than ten years of experience as a Senior Manager and Team Leader, managing teams of international and local experts and as a trainer in civic education (civil society development), adult education, vocational education training, life-long learning, etc. His managerial experience and skills include administrative and technical aspects related to EU funded schemes, as well as managing policy dialog, training, trainers/experts, client communication, project logistics, mentoring, mediation and financial sustainability. He gained relevant experience through managing civil society development programmes, educational reform projects, domestic as well international NGOs, training institute country offices and training centres.

In addition, Mr. Westergaard has more than 20 years' experience in the development of policies, concepts and curricula for civic education and training, adult education and vocational training at both, the Ministry and  grassroots level. He has extensive knowledge of the Western Balkans and in particular from the former Yugoslav countries and holds specific experience from working with ethnic groups as a Conflict Mediator and as a Trainer of Conflicting Parties. Mr. Westergaard has accumulated 11 years of working experience in the Southeast European countries (BiH, FYROM, Serbia, Croatia and Bulgaria) as well as from Afghanistan and Qatar. He has specific experience working with vulnerable groups and minorities from the region.

Ms. Emina Abrahamsdotter holds a Masters degree in Political Science from the University of Lund, Sweden, with a focus on peace, conflict and mediation. She has also studied German and English languages as well as Religious science. She is currently involved in the TACSO project as the Regional Training Coordinator.

Ms. Abrahamsdotter has worked in international development cooperation for the last seven years in the countries of the South-East Europe. Her main experience is in the Civil Society Sector (NGOs and trade unions) and political parties. On behalf of the LO-TCO Secretariat of the International Trade Union Cooperation in Stockholm she worked as a Program Coordinator at the Regional office of International Confederation of Trade Unions in Sarajevo where she was in charge of several development program including the Program on Trade Union Education and Gender Equality. She has also worked as a Project Manager at the International Centre Olof Palme in Stockholm in the Unit of the Western Balkans.
 
Prior to that, she worked as a public servant in the Swedish Migration Board with asylum issues and language teacher in the primary school and the schools for adults. She has consultancy experience as the evaluator working for ILO, UNIFEM and UNDP.
 
She has extensive experience in project cycle management, project planning and formulation, monitoring, evaluations, trainings, project writing etc. She also has experience as a policy researcher exploring topics such as Confessional Religious Education in the public schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Soros Foundation) and Social security of unemployed persons (Social democratic Party of BiH). She has written a number of analysis, developed guides, designed trainings etc.

Ms. Abrahamsdotter is fluent in Swedish, Bosnian, and English, has working knowledge of German, and is currently studying French.