NextGen Adria

Elevating young leaders shaping sustainability and digital policy across the region

What is NextGen Adria?

NextGen Adria is the youth leadership platform of the Adria Future Summit. It is designed to move young people from the margins of discussion into the centre of decision-making on sustainability, governance and innovation across the Adria region.

The programme creates structured opportunities for young leaders to engage directly with policymakers, institutional leaders, business executives, and international experts. It responds to clear evidence from the region: young people want a stronger voice, and they see regional cooperation as a practical pathway to progress. The programme has received sustained support from international partners, including the Regional Cooperation Council’s Western Balkans Youth Lab 2, as well as from private sector partners, notably Universal Capital Bank Montenegro, and institutional support from the Young European Ambassadors.

At the fourth edition of the Adria Future Summit, NextGen Adria will focus on engaging a new generation of leaders across the region, treating them not as observers or beneficiaries, but as contributors and partners in shaping the region’s future.

What We Want to Do Next

NextGen Adria is not a one-off programme. Our ambition is to develop it into a year-round platform that consistently connects young leaders with institutions, decision-makers, and regional initiatives.

Going forward, we aim to:

    • Expand participation across the Adria region, with a stronger focus on diversity of backgrounds and disciplines.
    • Create more structured opportunities for youth input into policy, governance and sustainability initiatives linked to the Summit.
    • Strengthen partnerships with universities, youth networks, and international organisations.
    • Support young leaders in translating dialogue into concrete projects, recommendations, and long-term engagement.

Our objective is simple but ambitious: to ensure that the next generation is not only prepared for the future but actively involved in shaping it.

How NextGen Adria Engages Young Leaders

NextGen Adria’s activities are designed to create meaningful exposure, dialogue, and connection, allowing young leaders to engage with the Summit’s core themes and bring forward ideas and insights that influence regional debates.

At the Summit, engagement begins with direct access to decision-makers. Carefully structured conversations with political leaders, senior officials and institutional representatives allow young participants to contribute perspectives in settings that encourage openness and mutual respect. NextGen Adria also places strong emphasis on policy-oriented dialogue. Through moderated discussions and interactive formats, young leaders are invited to take part in conversations on sustainability, governance, regional cooperation, and innovation. The aim is to position them as informed contributors, helping bridge generational perspectives while keeping discussions focused and constructive.

Beyond formal sessions, the programme values learning through proximity. By participating in selected panels, informal conversations and networking moments throughout the Summit, young leaders are exposed to global thinking, professional pathways, and practical insights. These interactions are intentionally lighttouch, designed to inspire rather than overwhelm, and to complement rather than compete with the main programme.

Equally important is peer connection. NextGen Adria creates space for young participants to meet each other across borders and disciplines, helping build a regional network that can continue beyond the Summit.

What We Aim to Achieve

Our intention is to gradually strengthen the presence of young voices within the Summit ecosystem. Each edition of NextGen Adria builds on the previous one, refining formats, deepening partnerships and responding to feedback from participants and institutions alike.

Over time, NextGen Adria aims to:

    • Normalise the inclusion of young leaders in regional discussions.
    • Strengthen dialogue between generations without formalising it excessively.
    • Support informed participation rather than symbolic presence.
    • Create continuity between Summit editions through networks and partnerships.

NextGen Adria is an integral part of the Summit, helping ensure that its direction and priorities remain relevant and responsive to the perspectives and realities of future generations.

Ditjon Fetahu

Kosovo

Adla Kahrić

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Andrea Ugrinoska

North Macedonia

Sandra Veljković

Serbia

Emilija Bojić

Serbia

Adi Softić

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Antonio Grujevski

North Macedonia

Sara Ceshko

Kosovo

Kleidi Memo

Albania

Edina Osmanović

Montenegro

Ilir Kiçmari

Kosovo

Elif Su Čakmak

Montenegro

Marija Blažević

Kosovo

Jovana Mitrić

Montenegro

Ademir Ćosićkić

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Drina Srdić

Serbia

Lara Savić

Serbia

Filip Jovetić

Montenegro

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