Auron Tare Rr. Butrinti Nr 14, Saranda, Albania Tel: 355.682058244 email: auron@auronexpeditions.com www.auronexpeditions.com The Albanian Center for Marine Research Executive Director/ Founder May 2006-present Established the first underwater archaeology & marine biology research project in the country of Albania. This initiative is supported by RPM Nautical Foundation 501 and Institute of Nautical Archaeology of Texas A & M. This project was initiated in May 2006 with the mission to research and survey the Albanian coastline. As a result of historical findings the Center for Marine Research was established July 2010. The Albanian Center for Marine Research will work in the field of archaeology to increase knowledge of the evolution of civilization through the location and excavation of submerged and buried ships and ruins in Albania to organize and manage the underwater exploration, train and engage young Albanian archaeologists in the field of underwater archaeology, restoration and ultimately create the first underwater Museum in Albania. Recognized as the Country Director for the project and liaison with local government and institutions around the world. Project Manage local resources, including military and political involvement with joint efforts with RPM Nautical Foundation. Archaeology Magazine named the project TOP TEN UNDERWATER PROJECT IN THE WORLD 2009 19 Ancient shipwrecks have been found dating as far back as 4 th Century B.C. to 1946 One third of the country now has been research with multy beam technology and the first underwater heritage Map has been composed The Center initiated and has worked with the Ministry of Defense of Albanian and the American Navy in sinking 5 former patrol ships belonging to the Cold War Era to make them as the first underwater attraction in Albania The Center is working with USAID office in Albania in creating a training program for young Albanians in the field of underwater archaeology, publications and media to promote the underwater activities in Albania. The Center has initiated cooperation in the field of underwater archaeology with the Government of Montenegro and creating a join program for the future. The Center has presented it works and finds at The Explorers Club the first ever presentation about Albania in the history of this organization.
AURON EXPEDITIONS May 1994 - present President Special Interest Travel Company operating in Albania & Montenegro, Corfu and Northern Greece. Established in 1994 one of the first tourism companies in Albania. Offer custom tours and programs for a select group of travelers and explorers. Auron Expeditions has a reputation of hosting heads of states, academic tours, study abroad programs, volunteerism, restoration projects, creating sustainable projects, and engaging local community. Trained and recruited local youth to become tour guides in a country that still does not have a guiding tourism program. Introducing for the first time trekking and walking holidays in rural parts of Albania Organizing the trips to Albania for most of foreign dignitaries, heads of States, VIP guests and government officials. Collaborate with Universities in creating study-abroad programs/projects, non-for profit organizations, create restoration Created touring programs and itineraries for various interest groups and markets coming to Albania. Worked with ITN, Channel 4 London based T.V. station in creating the documentary of Scandalous Adventure of Lord Byron with Hollywood actor Rupert Everett. Inviting to Albania and organizing Shore Excursion Programs for major Cruise Liners Lecturer and speaker for private yachts and small cruise ships on Historical and cultural issues in Albania. Member of Albanian Independent Travel Agencies Organizations Auron Expeditions has been recommended by many international publications such as Conde Naste Traveler, International Herald Tribune, Traveler, Corriere Dela Sera, Lonely Planet. Geography. Independent of London, BUTRINT NATIONAL PARK January 2000- October 2005 DIRECTOR Butrint National Park is located in southern Albania. The site is a Unesco World Heritage site and consists of 29 km square of protected area. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in the country with an archaeological sequence that runs from the Bronze Age to the 19th century. In 2003 the site was established as Ramsar wetland protected area. Identified recruited and worked with consultants in creating the First Management Plan of Butrint National Park.
Worked with the Prime Minister Office and the Ministry of Justice of Albania in creating the first legislative body for the creation of a National Park of Butrint Lobbied the Albanian Government and Unesco World Heritage Site in creating a preservations buffer zone of 29 km square around the archaeological site of Butrint Under my direction The National Park of Butrint was established Identified, recruited, staffed and trained all personnel for the park. Working with a team of international and national consultants in developing Butrint with efficient guidelines in accordance with international standards. Solicitant and engage political and international support for the establishment and creation of the site to be recognized as a World Heritage site. the National Park was declared a World Heritage Site of Unesco. Created the handicraft center in the park which is run by the local villagers and supports 32 families today. Created and staffed the first Park Ranger program for the park in cooperation with the International Rangers Federation. Created the First Cultural Program in Butrint where various art and theater activities where organize with national and international partners. Initiated and supervised a restoration and conservation program with national institute of monuments and international organizations such as ICROM and ICOMOS. Established a management, monitoring, documentation practice for all ancient monuments and protected areas including the lagoons, lakes and wetlands. Solicitant and engage political and international support for the establishment and creation of the site to be recognized as a Ramsar Site Butrint became the only cultural heritage site in the country to be in every international media outlets as the role model in tourism sustainability and cultural heritage management (Travel & Leisure, International Herald Tribune, Guardian, Independent of London, Corriere de la Sera, Traveler. It was the only cultural heritage site in the country to receive a World Bank Grant and GEF (global environment facility grant). Included in the RAMSAR protected List as significant environment site. The Museum of Butrint was open build with international standards. Still today is consider the best Museum in the country. It was built with grants given by international foundations as well as with Park funds. The number of visitors coming to the Park was increased from 3000 visitors a year in 2000 to 54. 000 in 2005 Created a program where the National Park of Butrint till today is the only historical site in the country that it is financially sustainable and it is not depended by Government Grants. Started the first partnership with Utica College in establishing Anthropology study abroad program. Program expanded to Physical Therapy Department since 2006. In 2001 in cooperation with Dr. George Bass from INA of Texas A & M started the first underwater exploration in the National Park territory Auron has been invited to lecture about his work at Butrint in prestigious ex. Harvard University, Boston University, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Wayne State University. Chicago Institute of Oriental Studies,
Easter Michigan University, The Explorers Club, Albanian American National Comity, In July 2005 the Annual UNESCO World Heritage Comity removed Butrint from the List of Sites in Danger do to improvement made in the management and protection of the site. Butrint was put in the List of 100 most endanger sites in the World in 1997 CONSULTANT 1999 WORLD BANK Part of a 5-member team that was initiated by James Wolfenson (former World Bank Director) Advised and collaborated with World Bank consultants and Albanian Government on the development of a Coastal Zone Management plan to preserve Albania s coastline due to demand in tourism, preservation of historical villages, and promote sustainable tourism. Butrint Foundation 1995 2001 Country Director Representing in Albania and internationally The Butrint Foundation a charity established by Lord Rothschild and Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover. The Foundation financed the Archaeological Mission of Butrint and worked mainly in the archaeology and restoration projects in Butrint. Working with Sir Patrick Fairweather former British Ambassador to Italy in managing and running the Archaeology Mission in Butrint
Professional Achievements CULTURAL HERITAGE 2003 - present Co-founder of Albanian National Trust Foundation Albanian non-for profit foundation was created as a grass-roots organization that transpired as a result of guests, friends and acquaintances that visited Albania. The strong interest and motivation of giving back to the community. Establish summer camps for young volunteers and students from Balkan countries i.e. Bosnia, Kosova, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Greece and Albania which also served as a work-shop for reconciling differences between the neighboring states. Founding Member of South East European Heritage Network an alliance of Foundations in the Balkan Countries working together in the field of cultural heritage. Establishing the First public Radio own by a NGO in the country 2003-2002 Advising role to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in cultural heritage issues. Succeeded in returning the Bust of Empress Livia, a beautiful marble sculpture excavated in Butrint in 1930 by Italian archaeologist Luigi Maria Ugolini and stolen in 1991. This Statue was found in New York and taken back from Robert Hecht private collection. This was the first cultural heritage object to return in the country. Lobbied for the returned of the Bust of Asclepius in 2009 which was in a private collection in Italy. Raised 20.000 euro for this purpose 2002 Founder of the Albanian Archaeology Mission of Butrint lead by Prof. Neritan Ceka. 2004 Member of the Albanian Delegation of Minister of Culture and Tourism to China to establish the first cultural relation between the two countries since 1978. 2000 - Founded the Ancient Theater Drama Festival in Butrint that bring international productions i.e. Russian State Ballet, St. Petersburg Theater, La Mama New York, National Theater of Prague, National Theater of Beograd. Established a number of summer schools in archaeology, journalism, handy crafts, tourism, anthropology, visiting physical therapists... Was instrumental in returning three more Busts from Greece which was stolen from Butrint in 1991. Founding Member of The Forum, a leading organisation in Albania in the field of cultural heritage issues. Board Member of the Youth organisation Mjaft
TOURISM Butrint National Park is the country s leading example of a successful sustainable tourism program in the country. The site is the number one tourist attraction. In 1999 records show 3000 visitors and today 2010 recorded 80,000. Mobilizing interest and support among many international organizations and institutions like UNESCO, World Bank, RAMSAR Convention, Butrint Foundation, Oak Foundation, Mifflin Trust, and World Mate to protect and preserved this unique historical site. Brought a new vision to the field of Management of Cultural Heritage in Albania and created a unique Project in Butrint where Cultural Heritage is used for the economic development of the Region. Lead the first exploration expedition of a foreign group in Albania in 1992 organized by Smithsonian Society and The Explorers Club Establishing the Lord Byron Trail a walking trail in South Albania following the footsteps of the famous British poet Lord Byron. Organizing the Horse Riding Expeditions with British Explorer Robin Hanbury Tennyson in Albania. Creating the summer programs from French volunteers coming from the Rampart Organization to work in the City of Gjirokastra. Work includes the recording of all oriental inscriptions in the Town and publishing them in the future. 2008 Advisor to The Mayor of Tirana (Albanian capital) on Tourism issues and growth 2009 Established the first Tourism Information Center in Tirana. 2009 Establishing the first Tourism Information Center in the Tirana International Airport Established relations with international partners and organizations on a Global level. Marketing the capital of Tirana at Tourism Trade Fairs of London, Berlin and Milano for the first time. Organizations working have included World Bank, USAID, and SIDA Swedish Aid. EU Delegation 2009 Representative for Tirana Town Hall in the Summit of World Organization of Town Hall s in Konja Turkey Organized special artistic events in the Butrint Theatre such as a performance of the Russian State Ballet, the Ancient Flute Festival, Concerts of classical music featuring the renowned soprano Inva Mula, or Philosophic Dialogues under the fashion of Plato s dialogues. Founded the annual International Ancient Theater Festival, where for the first time artist from Kosova, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and FYROM where brought together to perform in the Ancient Theater. Opened a Cinema "Open Air" for the local farmers, shepherds and fishermen keeping in mind that there was no Cinema in the South of Albania for the last 15 years. Established an Art History Program in Butrint and brought for the First time in Albanian an Art Exhibit with work from native Indians artists from New York.
Lobbying the Government and the International Organization in creating a preservation zone and saving the area from uncontrolled development in the Albanian south coast. Lobbying and worked with UNESCO, Icrom, and Icomos in creating a frame work to be able to create other National Park and preservation zones around the country. 2007 - Advisor to Town Hall of Gjirokastra on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Program. Put in motion a 5 year plan for creating a Tourism base project. FUNDRAISING Fund raised and won three Grants to build two schools for local children in the community of Butrint and Gjirokastra and one hospital in the city of Libohova. The Grants were awarded by the Japanese Foundation World Mate. Fund raiser for the building of the Butrint Museum considers being the fines in the country. Fundraised for the publication of four books about Butrint and the surrounding cultural heritage sites Fundraised and won a grant from Cultural Heritage without Borders to restore the Bektashi Teke ( a Sufi order) of Melan Organized a Program to support the local community South Albania in establishing a Handy Craft Centre in Butrint. This Centre was supported by the Italian Trust Fund for Culture and now provides job opportunities for 33 families who work and sell handy crafts in the area 2005 Organized and Co-founded Team Albania which was a relief team consisting of doctors and volunteers which were sent to Indonesia during the Tsunami. The First volunteer Mission ever sends by Albania on international crises. Awarded a Grant ( GEF) from the World Bank for 1 million USD for environmental issues for Butrint Park in 2005. 2010 working with a catholic charity group of Sorele Marceline in building the first Catholic Church in South Albania JOURNALISM CNN. local journalist covering news on Albania for CNN London Office 1997-2000 Journalist member of British ITN Channel Four News covering the Civil Unrest in Albania, War in Kosova and news events in Macedonia 2005 present Weekly columnist on Historical and Cultural issues featured in two major publications
2009 present Exclusive monthly T.V. program on Historical and Cultural Issues TOP CHANNEL TV. Professional Development: Federation of Journalists - Journalism courses Norfolk Broads - Cultural Heritage Management Training (supported by British Council) University of Lancaster - Training in the field of Buisness Management (supported by British Embassy) University of Norwich - Archaeology and cultural management heritage courses Physical and cultural anthropology courses organized by Utica College Syracuse University Culture Heritage Management supported by USAID Tourism Planning Training supported by SIDA National Park Management training at Fort Ticonderoga in USA EDUCATION & Language Military Academy of Tirana B.A. Degree University of Physical Education of Tirana English Fluent Albanian Fluent Italian basic Greek basic