Executive leadership
Elena MARZAC
Director and Co-founder
Elena Mârzac has 15+ years of experience in project management and communications across the NGO, public, and academic sectors. As former Director of the NATO Information and Documentation Center (2009–2022), she specializes in strategic communication and security reform. She is a researcher and coordinator focused on civil society development, NATO partnerships, and the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
Natalia ALBU
Co-founder
Dr. Natalia Albu is an Associate Professor at the "Alexandru cel Bun" Military Academy. Her expertise includes national security policy, threat assessment, and gender integration in defense. She has co-authored Moldova’s National Defense Strategy and the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 implementation program. An alumna of the Marshall Center (GCMC) and APCSS, she holds a PhD in Political Science.
Sanda SANDU
Co-founder
Sanda Sandu is a Co-founder of PISA, Program Manager at Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and a Wikimedia Human Rights Fellow. With over 8 years in international organizations and civil society, she specializes in anti-corruption, security governance, and integrity policies. As a researcher, she focuses on information security, risk assessment, and the coordination of external defense assistance.
Rodica PANȚA
Program Manager
Dr. Rodica Panta is a Senior Lecturer at ULIM (2003–present) with a PhD in Political Science, awarded for her excellence in research on Moldova's public diplomacy. She has authored over 70 publications on foreign policy, security, and education, including the monograph Models of Contemporary Public Diplomacy. Since 2003, she has managed numerous international projects (e.g., INOTLES, MPSPN) and held coordinator roles at the NATO Information Center and the European Institute for Political Studies.
Ana NEGRU
Program Manager
Program Manager at PISA with a decade of experience in the NGO sector. She has managed over 25 projects focused on the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, disinformation, and civil-military cooperation. Previously a project manager at the NATO Information Center, she contributed to Moldova's first National Action Plan for UNSCR 1325. An alumna of the Marshall Center (ESS-EU/NATO) and the National Defense College, she specializes in building security resilience through multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Livia Florea
Communications Specialist
Livia Florea is a Communications Specialist at PISA, managing multi-channel media presence and institutional partnerships. With a background in public administration and international relations, she spent five years in the governmental sector (State Chancellery, National Integrity Authority) before moving to the NGO sector in 2021. A graduate of the School of Advanced Journalism, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in National Security Studies.
Nadejda IGNATENCO
Project Assistant
Nadejda Ignatenco is a Project Assistant at PISA (since January 2024) and a Master’s student in Diplomacy and Security at ULIM. A former PISA intern, she focuses on global security and nuclear diplomacy. She is dedicated to advancing her expertise through active involvement in security research and initiative management.
Irina ȚURCAN
Irina Țurcan is a legal professional with expertise in human rights and international law. Currently pursuing a Master’s in International Law at Moldova State University, she has experience working with NGOs and international organizations on refugee protection, hate speech monitoring, and legislative analysis. Her work combines administrative support with a focus on international security, migration, and the rule of law.
Expert team
Victoria ROȘA
Associate Expert
Victoria Roșa is an Associate Expert at PISA with 17 years of experience in international relations, security, and peacebuilding. A former Security Advisor to Prime Minister Maia Sandu and Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Association (APE), she specializes in Eastern Partnership dynamics, NATO-EU cooperation, and gender integration.
She has provided high-level consultancy for organizations such as UN Women, Freedom House, and the Austrian Ministry of Defense. A Marshall Memorial Fellow (GMF), she holds an MA in International Relations and specialized certifications from the NATO School (Oberammergau) and the Clingendael Institute.
Diana MOLODILO
Associate Expert
Dr. Diana Molodilo is an Associate Expert at PISA with over 15 years of experience in security and defense. A key figure in launching Moldova’s WPS agenda, she has contributed to national policies on military professionalization and recruitment. She specializes in organizational leadership, crisis management, and gender integration. Dr. Molodilo holds a PhD in Organizational Leadership (University of Massachusetts) and a Master’s in Security Studies (Naval Postgraduate School, USA).
Laurențiu PLEȘCA
Associate Expert
Laurențiu Pleșca holds a PhD from the Doctoral School of Political Science at the University of Bucharest, where he also obtained his bachelor's degree, as well as a master's degree in International Relations and European Studies. He is fluent in three foreign languages: English, Russian, and Italian. His areas of expertise include European security and EU enlargement policy, the geopolitics of the Russian Federation in the Black Sea region, and the domestic and foreign policy of the former Soviet states (with a focus on Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan). He also provides in-depth analysis of Moldova's domestic and foreign policy.