Kaja Shukova, engineer of technology, was born on January 1, 1970 in Skopje. 

She graduated in 1995 at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Department of Food Biotechnology at the University "St. Cyril and Methodius" in Skopje. 

Most of her professional career is in the field of environment, urbanism and construction. Shukova is coming to the position minister from the position State Secretary at the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning. Prior to that, she held the positions Head of Department for Sustainable Development and Investments, and Advisor in the Unit for Project Preparation within the Department for Sustainable Development. In this ministry, she also worked as an Advisor in the Department for International Cooperation, and was engaged in the Department for Eco-Management.

Shukova had her first work engagement in the field of the environment in the former Ministry of Construction, Urbanism and Environment in the period November 1998 - January 1999, respectively from the very establishment of the ministry. 

She also had professional engagement in the private sector. She worked in several companies, such as Pivara Skopje, engaged as a plant engineer, responsible for the production of beer and soft drinks, MOTO TRADE-Skopje and AIVA BEK-Skopje. 

Apart from the Macedonian language, Shukova actively speaks English and has knowledge of the German language.

Shukova has exceptional knowledge in the field of project management and environmental management and planning. She participated in the preparation of legal acts, harmonization and screening process and negotiations with the EU. Her key qualifications are in the field of environmental management - in the direction of sustainable development and protection of air, water, soil and natural resources from pollution; development of policies, programmes and projects in the field of environment and sustainable development, as well as coordination of institutional and infrastructure projects in the field of environment, with particular emphasis on water and waste management; coordination of institutional projects from the segment of sustainable development in North Macedonia, as well as preparation of work tasks, tender files, analyses, reports and other working documents from the field of environment; and facilitation of workshops, seminars, trainings, public debates, etc.

In her professional career, Shukova completed several trainings and successfully implemented numerous projects and activities in the field of the environment. The list of current leadership positions in projects in which Shukova participates is huge. 

She is Co-chairman of the Subcommittee on Transport, Energy, Regional Development and Environment; member of the Committee for European Integration; Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Nature Protection Program, SECO, Switzerland; member of the Coordinating Body under the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia for Prespa. 

She is involved in coordinating a project for the establishment of regional waste management in 5 regions - in the Southeast region, the region of Vardar, Pelagonia, Southwest and the Polog region; in determining potential assistance in the area of environment from donors and foundations; implementation of EU pre-accession assistance - IPA - programming process and implementation of IPA 2 and IPA 3, as well as in numerous other project activities at both national and international level. 

Link to the complete biography: https://bit.ly/3l9GeFS