Mimi Kodheli is the Vice President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and was the first woman to serve as Minister of Defence of Albania. She has been a leading advocate for military modernization and regional cooperation, with expertise in security policy, defence reform, and Euro-Atlantic integration.

A distinguished Albanian political leader in Euro-Atlantic security, Kodheli currently serves as Vice-President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, contributing to parliamentary dialogue among Allies and strengthening transatlantic cooperation. She made history in 2013 as Albania’s first female Minister of Defence, a position she held until 2017, during which she led substantial defence reforms, increased Albania’s contributions to NATO missions, and advanced the modernization of the armed forces—helping position the country as a credible and proactive Ally.

Holding a PhD in Economic Science from the University of Verona, Kodheli has also served as a Member of Parliament and held senior public roles, including Deputy Mayor of Tirana. Throughout her career, she has been a consistent advocate for gender equality in the security sector and for the integration of the Western Balkans into European and Euro-Atlantic structures.