Driton Kuka is a renowned judo coach from Kosovo. He is particularly known as the coach of Majlinda Kelmendi, Olympic gold medalist in Rio 2016, as well as many other successful Kosovar judokas such as Distria Krasniqi, Nora Gjakova, Akil Gjakova, and others who have brought world, European, and Olympic medals to Kosovo.

He himself was a judo athlete in the 1990s, but due to the war and the circumstances of the time, his competitive career was limited. After the war, he returned as a coach and founded a strong training system at the “Ippon” Judo Club in Peja, turning it into a center of champions.

Today, he is considered the most successful coach in the history of Kosovar and regional sports, and has been recognized with numerous national and international awards for his contribution. Alongside many local recognitions, Driton Kuka was named Best Coach by the International Judo Federation in 2021 and has received other prestigious awards such as Best Coach in Europe for his outstanding achievements.

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Franco Foda is a well-known German coach with extensive international experience as both a player and a manager. Born in Mainz, Germany, he played for prestigious clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart, and Sturm Graz, and also represented the German National Team.

After retiring as a player, Foda became one of the most successful coaches in Austria, winning both the National Cup and Championship with Sturm Graz. From 2018 to 2022, he served as the head coach of the Austrian National Team, leading them to the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.

In February 2024, he was appointed as the head coach of the Kosovo National Team, bringing with him professionalism, discipline, and valuable international experience.

As an invited speaker, Franco Foda shares his insights on leadership in sports, team building, and professional motivation, offering inspiration for athletes and managers across various fields.

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Megan Chawansky, Ph. D., is currently an Associate Professor of sport management. At Otterbein University, she teaches courses on global sports, sport marketing, sport facilities, sport psychology and sport finance. Previously, she served as a lecturer and the Assistant Director of the Global Center for Sport Diplomacy at the University of Kentucky. She also worked at the University of Bath (UK) and the University of Brighton (UK), where she taught on the graduate program in sport for development.

Her research interests reside in the use of sport for social change. She has worked with a number of organizations in the ‘Sport for Development and Peace’ (SDP) sector, and her research and consultancy experiences in the area of SDP include work with partners and colleagues in South Africa and Cambodia (Skateistan), India (Naz Foundation), Zambia (Go Sisters), Kenya (Moving the Goalposts-Kilifi), Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Secretariat), and the Caribbean (multiple organizations). Chawansky grew up in northeast Ohio (Lorain and Avon Lake) and played college basketball at Northwestern University.
 

Areas Of Expertise

• Sport in Social Change
• Sports and Marginalized Communities
• Sports for Development and Peace
• Global Sport

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Antonio Tessitore is a university professor from Italy, specialized in sport sciences and physical education. He is a Full Professor (Professore Ordinario) at the University “Foro Italico” of Rome, an institution recognized as Italy’s leading center for study and research in physical activity, sport, and health.

In his academic work, he teaches courses related to team sports, sports training methodology, and sports psychology. He has an extensive research background in the fields of physical performance, exercise planning, motor sciences, and medical aspects applied to sport. In addition to theoretical work, he also directs research laboratories within the university, focused on sport, health, and performance enhancement.

Prof. Tessitore also serves as an academic advisor for study programs in motor and sport sciences, contributing directly to the professional development of coaches, physical education teachers, and sport performance specialists.

At the European level, he holds a particularly significant role: he is the President of the European Network of Sport Education (ENSE), the leading European network that promotes quality in sport education, inter-university cooperation, and the development of European policies in the field of sport and physical education.

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Majlinda Kelmendi is one of the most successful athletes in the history of Kosovo and an international judo icon. She has won the most prestigious global titles, including the Olympic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, two world championship titles, and four European championship titles. With her outstanding achievements, Majlinda has set high standards for Kosovar sport and has become an inspiration for entire generations of young people.

After concluding her career as a competitor, she continues to contribute to the development of judo and sports in Kosovo through her role as a coach and mentor to young talents. Her participation as a panelist in the conference brings exceptional value, offering the experience, vision, and inspiration of a true champion.

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