EPF Staff

President

George Zarubin has worked with the Foundation since 2000, when he served as the Regional Director for the Foundation’s South Caucasus Cooperation Program. During his five years with Eurasia Foundation in Washington, he served as Executive Director and then Vice President of Program Development, during which time he coordinated the Foundation’s fundraising activities throughout Eurasia and managed special program initiatives in Iran, the Middle East and North Africa. Mr. Zarubin returned to the South Caucasus in 2007 to lead the localization of the Foundation’s offices in the region. From 1995-1999, Mr. Zarubin was the Executive Director of Soros Foundation

E-mail: gzarubin@epfound.org

Country Director

Ketevan Vashakidze has held a variety of teaching, consulting and management positions both in Georgia and internationally. Ketevan has consulted the Government of Georgia, the World Bank Group, UNDP Regional Office in South-East Asia, UNICEF in NYC & Bolivia as well as various NGOs and universities in Georgia on various development issues. Ketevan holds a Master’s degree in international development and policy analysis from Columbia University. She has also undertaken Ph.D. studies in social, economic and political geography at Tbilisi State and Edinburgh Universities. Ketevan is an adjunct professor at Tbilisi State University, where she has been teaching courses in human geography, policy analysis, and international development since 1997. Ketevan is a chairperson of Grant-Makers East Forum, a group that promotes development of civil society in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia by providing a forum to discuss effectiveness of grant-making, exchange experience, get inspired and encourage new donor activity in the region.

E-mail: kvashakidze@epfound.ge

Associate Country Director

Nino Khurtsidze brings 10 years of experience in international development, providing technical legal assistance to post-Communist states through projects aimed at strengthening the capacity of executive and judicial powers, to promote democracy and the rule of law in their respective societies. Ms. Khurtsidze also has significant project management, strategic planning, and monitoring and evaluation experience, which she gained while working with various international and public institutions. Since returning to Georgia, she worked on issues related to Georgia’s rule of law reforms, provided pro bono services in higher education reform area, and taught at several Georgian institutions of higher education. Previously, Ms. Khurtsidze lived in the U.S. for 12 years, where she worked on various development issues at the American Bar Association, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center, and the Center for Rural Development. Ms. Khurtsidze holds an M.A. in Diplomacy and International Commerce from the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School, B.A. from Western Kentucky University’s Department of Government, and a law degree from Tbilisi State University. She is a Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at American University’s School of International Service in Washington, DC.

E-mail: nkhurtsidze@epfound.ge

Program Manager, Civil Society Programs

Zaal Anjaparidze was born and raised in Tbilisi. Zaal received his master’s from the Georgian Institute of Mass Media and Public Communications in 2004. Prior to joining the Eurasia Foundation in 2005, Zaal received journalism and public relations training from the US-based PR Academy and from IRIS. He has been a journalist for a number of Georgian publications and has worked with various Georgian NGOs. From 1998-2005, Zaal was public information and citizen participation manager at several USAID-funded projects in Georgia. Zaal is also a Georgia contributor to international publications. Zaal’s hobbies include travel and music.

E-mail: zanjaparidze@epfound.ge

Program Manager, Media Programs

Prior to joining EPF, Tamar worked as a Regional Development Officer for UNDP Kakheti Regional Development Project (2007-2009), among other duties supervising development of Kakheti Regional Development Strategy. Besides, since 1999, Tamar has held a number of teaching positions at Ilia Chavchavadze State University, Center for Social Sciences, and Telavi State University, teaching various courses in Sociology. Recently, Tamar has been involved in several studies of labor emigration from Georgia, serving as a consultant for IOM and CIPDD. Tamar has been publishing regularly, as well as participating in conferences both in Georgia and internationally. Tamar has MA degrees both in Media Studies and Sociology, and Ph.D. in Sociology from Ilia Chavchavadze State University (2008).

E-mail: tzurabishvili@epfound.ge

Senior Program Manager, Youth Programs

Prior to joining Eurasia Partnership Foundation Maia Tavadze has worked for CARE International in the Caucasus/Georgia, where she successfully managed CARE’s innovations Youth Reproductive Health Project by addressing underlying causes of poverty and marginalization. The project’s approach and lessons learned have been selected for presentation at the 15th annual Global Health Council Conference in Washington D.C. and for the Unite For Sight 6th Annual Global Health Conference at Yale University. The manuscript about this project has been also published in International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice “Global Public Health” issued by Columbia University. Maia holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Georgian American Institute of Public Administration (GIPA) and Master’s degree in International Development and Policy from Duke University. Maia is a member of Central Eurasia Leadership Academy since 2004.

E-mail: mtavadze@epfound.ge

Program Manager

Mariam Kobalia cooperates with EPF from March 2010. She holds an M.A in Social Sciences from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU), Center for Social Sciences (CSS) and B.A from TSU with a major in English language and Literature and minor in Social Work. Ms. Kobalia previously worked with IREX’s (International Research and Exchanges Board) Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) and besides, she has a year of working experience in the banking sector. In addition to, Mariam cooperates with different organizations as a volunteer with great pleasure. In terms of professional development she has undergone different trainings and courses not only in Georgia but abroad as well. Mariam is currently involved in translation project that provides translation and publication of companion to English literature in Georgian. She is an author of several scientific articles.

E-mail: mkobalia@epfound.ge

Program Manager, Economic Development Programs

Prior to joining EPF in November 2008 Viktor worked as a deputy head of the Department for Foreign Trade and International Economic Relations at the Ministry of Economic Development of Georgia. Viktor used to work as a consultant in number of projects supported by UNDP, World Bank and other donors. He participated in preparation of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Program of Georgia (EDPRP) and its consecutive progress reports, MDG reports for Georgia and Tbilisi, Human Development Report, etc. After graduation from Tbilisi State University, Faculty of International Law and International Relations in 1997, Viktor worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. He has wife and two children.

E-mail: vbaramia@epfound.ge

Program Manager, Towards European Integration Programs

Vakhtang Kobaladze joined Eurasia Partnership Foundation in September 2010 with over 10 years of program management experience. Prior to EPF, he has held various program management positions in Eurasia Foundation Georgia Office, Swiss Cooperation Office for the South Caucasus, and Open Society Georgia Foundation. He received a doctorate in Political Science from Tbilisi State University’s in 2004 and has completed multiple trainings in project cycle management. His fields of responsibility covered democracy and governance, civil society development, and assistance to the socially vulnerable. During his career, Vakhtang contributed to elaboration of various program strategies, as well as preparation and implementation of numerous development projects. He has managed large-scale project portfolios comprised of both small projects and multimillion-dollar initiatives in Georgia, as well as in the rest of the South Caucasus.

E-mail: vkobaladze@epfound.ge

Program Manager

Prior to joining EPF in 2010, Tamar Mosashvili-Shevardnadze has held a variety of legal positions in Georgia and the Unites States. In the United States she worked in the International Corporate Law Section of Smith, Gamrell & Russell, LLP Atlanta, Georgia office. In this position Ms. Mosashvili-Shevardnadze advised US and foreign clients establishing operations in the United States. Her areas of practice included corporate governance, general international business operations, intellectual property and employment law issues. In Georgia Ms. Mosashvili-Shevardnadze worked as Executive Manager in Georgian International Oil Corporation and legal consultant for MagtiCom, Ltd.
Ms. Mosashvili-Shevardnadze graduated with BA degree, cum laude, from Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. She received JD degree from Emory University School of Law. Ms. Mosashvili-Shevardnadze is admitted to practice law in the State of Georgia, USA. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia (USA).

E-mail: tmosashvili@epfound.ge

Organizational Development Director

Her professional career includes over 15 years of consultancy and managerial work with private, non-governmental and international organizations in Georgia and internationally. She has held various supervising positions at private industries, as well as at educational and international organizations in the South Caucasus, such as: Civic Education Project (CEP), Academic Fellowship Program (AFP), Open Society Institute (OSI), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the European Commission – TACIS-SMEDA (Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency). Her professional experience abroad includes consulting and executive stints at the Aim-Strategies, NY; Ketchum, NY; and iCoach NY; as well as at TOB mbH, a consulting firm in Berlin, Germany. Before joining EPF she was Organizational Development & Human Resources Director at Georgian Industrial Group, a holding with up to 3,000 professional employees and 32 businesses in the region. She also served as an Executive Board Member. In 2006-2008, Nino Dzotsenidze earned her Master of Science Degree in Organizational Change Management from the New School of New York, USA.

E-mail: ndzotsenidze@epfound.ge

IT Manager

Bakari was born and raised in Tbilisi. In 1989 he received a degree in Auto Engineering from the State Technical Institute of Georgia. Later, he worked as a manager at a computer firm where he became a self-tutored computer whiz. Bakari joined the Foundation in 2000 as an office and technical manager. Bakari spends his free hours watching movies and listening to classic rock. He especially loves Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.

E-mail: baleksidze@epfound.ge

Logistics Coordinator

Teimuraz (Kutsa) began working for the Foundation as a driver and was recently promoted to his new position. Prior to joining the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, Kutsa worked for the Georgian National Investment Agency and the State United Employment Fund. He graduated from the Institute of Ecology, Environment and Agribusiness.

E-mail: tgaprindashvili@epfound.ge

Financial Manager

Mariam Kakhelashvili graduated from Tbilisi Medical University, Pediatrician Department with honors. In 2003 she was awarded certificate of ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Professional Scheme, UK. In 2007 Mariam attended training in USAID Rules and Regulations provided by APVOFM (Washington DC). Previously she worked for Merlin, a British humanitarian organization, as Finance and Administrative Officer. She has also worked as a CFO for Caucasus Airlines, and as a Project Monitor for the Open Society Georgia Foundation. She was also a lecturer in financial accounting at the Black Sea University.

E-mail: mkakhelashvili@epfound.ge

Finance Associate

Dika Katsitadze is a graduate of the Department of West European Languages and Literature from the Tbilisi State University. In October 2009, Dika became Finance Associate for EPF. Dika worked for variety of international development organizations before joining EPF. Her Professional experience includes working for UNDP Project under the Work Bank’s Institutional Building credit on customs computerization as a translator/interpreter, as a Project Coordinator for USAID Project on NIS Energy Sector Institutional Reform and as a Research Assistant for USAID Project in Egypt. In her spare time, Dika enjoys traveling.

E-mail: dkatsitadze@epfound.ge

Financial/Grants Manager Assistant

Suzi Patsatsia joined EPF in July 2010. She graduated from Tbilisi Ilia Chavchavadze State University of Languages and Culture, majoring in Translating and Interpreting (English and German). Later, she completed a full course on international accounting standards and attended Tbilisi Aviation University’s Access and Refresher Faculty, from which she was certified as air hostess. Suzi has successfully passed the Starwood, Sheraton Brand Service Culture trainings. Prior to joining EPF, Suzi worked for different private companies and international organizations as a receptionist, administrative assistant, manager, interpreter/translator, and elections’ observer. She enjoys working with younger generation and gives private English lessons. She enjoys music and dancing, likes reading novels and spending time with friends and loved ones. Her greatest passion is traveling and sightseeing.

E-mail: spatsatsia@epfound.ge

Senior Grants Manager

Nino Kikodze graduated from the Tbilisi State University and received additional international accounting training from the Georgian Federation of Professional Accountants and Auditors and Ernst&Young. Nino worked in the various international organizations such as UMCOR, World Bank and Mitsubishi Motors before she began to work in the Foundation. She has been promoted several times from administrative assistant to her current position as senior grants manager. In July and October 2002, she was a board member of the International Research & Exchanges Board for the program IATR (Internet Access & Training Program).

E-mail: nkikodze@epfound.ge

Grants Manager

Eter Shaburishvili graduated from Tbilisi State University with a M.A. in Journalism and BA in Law 2000/ 2001.

Prior joining the Foundation, Eto worked as a documents controller in the BP/BTC Technical Compliance Department. She also worked as a grants monitor at UMCOR (United Methodist Committee in Relief), where she monitored financial compliance all UMCOR projects related to infrastructure, agriculture and medicine and micro credits. She joined the Foundation in 2005 as a Grants Manager. Nowadays she is working toward becoming certified as an accountant by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK.

E-mail: eshaburishvili@pefound.ge

Grants/HR Manager

Leila Bagaeva graduated from Leningrad Technical Institute with a degree in Biomedical Electronics. She was a lecturer at Tbilisi Technical College from 1983 until she began working at the Eurasia Foundation in 1999. Leila began her work at the Foundation as a grants analyst, was later promoted to grants associate, and has been a grants manager since 2003. In 2007 Leila moved on the position of Regional Human Resource Manager until January 2011, when she moved back to being Grants Manager. However she is still performing part of HR duties. She holds a certificate in Basic Financial and Tax Accounting from the Tbilisi Business School. Leila is an active parent who enjoys organizing educational activities for her son and his classmates. Her other hobbies are cooking and traveling.

E-mail: lbagaeva@epfound.org

Grants Assistant

Ana Tvaliashvili joined the Foundation in 2009 as an intern at the position of executive assistant of EPF President. In several months she was offered the full time job of the Administrative assistant/receptionist later has been promoted to the position of the Program Assistant and currently she is grants assistant. Ana graduated from Georgian-American University, department of Business Administration. In 2002-2004 she lived in the United States, California and studied at Monterey High School. In 2006 she attended summer school in Manchester, UK, where she developed her communication skills. In 2007 Ana completed German language course in Erlangen, Germany. She enjoys reading, watching movies and listening to music. Ana also loves skiing.

E-mail: atvaliashvili@epfound.ge

Program Associate

Nino Sutidze joined Eurasia Partnership Foundation a year ago. Before taking the position of a Program Assistant, she served as an Administrative Assistant/receptionist. Nino graduated from Tbilisi State University in the Department of English Language and Literature in 2005 and also holds Cambridge Advanced English certificate. Previously she worked in the private sector, as an assistant to the director and gave private lessons of English as well. During her student years she worked for different interpreters’ offices. Her greatest passion is music and literature. She also enjoys hiking and sightseeing.

E-mail: nsutidze@epfound.ge

Program Assistant

Marianna Khalatyan joined Eurasian Partnership Foundation in April, 2011. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from International Black Sea University. During her undergraduate studies, Ms. Khalatyan completed the IELTS Course in London, the United Kingdom. Prior to joining EPF, Marianna’ volunteered at the British Council, where she was involved in a project aimed at supporting the internally displaced persons ( IDPs) and orphaned children. After graduating from International Black Sea University, she was employed at VTB Bank Georgia, as an HR Specialist. Marianna speaks five languages and delivers private English language lessons to school kids. She enjoys singing, painting, playing volleyball, and reading fiction. In the future, she is determined to complete post-graduate studies in Europe and open a support center oriented to solve unemployment problems in Georgia.

E-mail: mkhalatyan@epfound.ge

Organizational Development Program Associate

Nino Nutsubidze joined the Foundation in March 2011 as the Organizational Development (OD) Program Associate. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (BBA) at Free University of Tbilisi, ESM Business School. During 2009-2010, she attended Manchester Business School (MBS), from which she received a Master’s degree in International Business and Management (IBM). In January 2011, Nino completed the Professional Junior Fellowship Training organized by CRRC – Georgia, a program of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation. Prior to joining EPF, Nino worked at BCG Research, where she supervised various projects, such as the research on the effectiveness of the vocational training workshops implemented by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and Conducting exist polling during May 2010 municipal elections in Imereti. She has several months of work experience in the banking sector, specifically in micro-business loans area. While in school, with supervision from business school professors, she wrote more than 6 business and marketing plans for entrepreneurs. Nino loves camping and spending time outdoors. She is very fond of cinematography as well.

E-mail: nnutsubidze@epfound.ge

Program Assistant

Prior to joining EPF, Levan worked as a Desk officer for Greece and Turkey at the Ministry of Defense of Georgia and later as an Adviser to the Deputy Defense Minister. After spending some time in the public sector, he decided to seek employment at BTA Silk Road Bank, where he had a chance to learn about the banking sector and hone his communications skills. Mr. Inadze graduated from American Univesity for Humanities (Tbilisi Campus) with specialization in International Relations and Diplomacy. He is an alumnus of the Future Leaders Exchange Program, which gave him an opportunity to graduate from an American high school and take classes at Kirkwood Community College, in the state of Iowa. Apart from formal education, Mr. Inadze completed various training courses, including at the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany and the Netherlands Defense College in the Hague. At times, he has worked as a Trainer at various ski schools. Levan is interested in cars, motorsport, and skiing.

E-mail: linadze@epfound.ge

Program Assistant

Irina Ghughunishvili joined EPF in April 2011. After finishing Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi, she pursued a Bachelor’s Degree at Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, USA. While at Mount Holyoke College, she majored in international relations and minored in film studies. In 2009-2010, Irina completed an MA program in International Relations and European Studies at the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary.
Prior to joining EPF, Irina worked at the Open Society Archives in Budapest, organizing the 2010 Verzio Human Rights Film Festival. After returning to Georgia, she was able to gain valuable experience at Georgian National Tourism Agency.
In her free time, Irina enjoys playing tennis, skiing, reading, and watching films.

E-mail: ighughunishvili@epfound.ge

Administrative Assistant

Prior to joining Eurasia Partnership Foundation, Rusudan worked in private sector as an assistant to the chief financial officer. Her recent job has greatly contributed to her knowledge in the field of accounting. She also completed a course in accounting with international standards, at the Georgian federation of Professional Accountants and Auditors to become more relevant for her position.
Rusudan holds Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the Tbilisi Technical University. During her undergraduate studies she was an intern in international organization GS1 Georgia, holding the position of administrative assistant, where she had a chance to hone up her communications and team building skills.
After an internship Rusudan volunteered at the Center for Social Support as an administrative/HR assistant for the employment and job creation project. Rusudan’s participation in employment project equipped her with the skills and experience working with human resources.
In 2006 she graduated from the Ilia Chavchavadze state college of foreign languages. After graduation she significantly increased her knowledge of foreign languages.
Her interests involve, growing plants and landscape gardening, because she is concerned with environmental problems, supports all kinds of eco-friendly solutions.

E-mail: rjandieri@epfound.ge