Chris serves as President & CEO of Conair Group Inc., headquartered in Abbotsford, BC, Canada, leading Conair, Conair France and Aero-Flite Inc., the company’s US subsidiary. Chris joined Aero-Flite in 2021 bringing with him 26 years of leadership experience in both civilian and military aerospace organizations. After completing his service in the U.S. Marine Corps as a combat experienced F-18 Instructor Pilot, Landing Signal Officer, and Forward Air Controller, he held various roles in engineering, operations, and aviation safety at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.

Danilo Nikolić serves as an Advisor for Relations with International Financial Institutions at Regionalni vodovod Crnogorsko primorje, where he is actively involved in structuring and implementing projects of strategic importance for the development of water infrastructure and the sustainable management of resources. His professional engagement is focused on cooperation with international financial institutions and development partners, with a particular emphasis on projects that contribute to strengthening climate resilience and environmental protection.

He has over eight years of experience in the field of economics, with expertise in financial management, internal control, and auditing. He began his professional career at the hotel group Budvanska rivijera, where, as an Internal Controller, he was responsible for improving internal control systems and enhancing financial efficiency.

He completed his undergraduate and master’s studies at the Belgrade Banking Academy – Faculty of Banking, Insurance and Finance, University Union in Belgrade.

His professional interests include financial management, internal control, auditing, and sustainable development, with a focus on integrating economic and environmental principles into public infrastructure projects.

At the conference, he will present the role of Regionalni vodovod Crnogorsko primorje in the preservation of water resources, as well as approaches to addressing land degradation and the challenges posed by climate change.

Mirjana Kojić is a senior professional with over twenty years of experience in international cultural and business institutions across Montenegro, Serbia, and Italy. She has held a range of leadership positions focused on international cooperation, investment promotion, and strategic project implementation.

Prior to her current role, she served as Head of International Cooperation at the Music Centre of Montenegro, where she played a key role in securing a major cultural donation through the Government of Japan’s programme implemented by JICA. She also served as Secretary General of the Italian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce, contributing to the strengthening of economic relations between Italy and the region.

Ms. Kojić began her career in Italy and has worked on international projects with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, collaboration with multiple Ministries in Montenegro and international associations, as well as with leading organizations including Deloitte Serbia.

She currently leads the Montenegrin Investment Agency, focusing on enhancing the country’s international investment profile and supporting sustainable economic development.

Paul Grossinger is a 27-year-old New York-based entrepreneur, angel investor and syndicator.

He is a founder of Gaingels, the first investment network backing LGBT founders which has led over $15mm of investment into 13 companies and four funds since inception in 2014. Gaingels has over 150 members worldwide, with chapters in NY, LA, DC and London.

He is also co-founder of Blue Jay, the first investment network backing Johns Hopkins alumni. Blue Jay has led or co-led investment of $3m in 7 companies since 2015. Additionally, he has backed over a dozen companies from Hopkins students and alumni as a GP at A-Level Capital. Paul teaches at Johns Hopkins during intersession.

As a private investor he has backed eight funds and 74 start ups. He is a senior advisor to early stage standouts such as Tradeit, Elemental Path and Emocha. As an entrepreneur he co-founded Pervasive Group and L&M Media.

Paul is also a philanthropist, serving as a board member for StartOut and Marriage Equality USA, an advisor for to Out in Tech and as a Trustee Scholarship Advisory Group member for Johns Hopkins.

A regular speaker and panellist, Paul has spoken for a wide range of organizations inlusing at events for Startout, Slush, International CES, Compass Fellowships and CTIA Wireless.

He writes regularly for Inc.com and is a graduate of Cololumbia University’s School of Journalism and the Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Pranvera Kastrati is a seasoned expert in international trade and digital transformation with 30 years of high-level experience in Albania and the broader Western Balkans region. Her professional path reflects a deep engagement in trade negotiations, trade policy formulation and implementation, digital economy, and regional economic integration, with a proven track record in navigating complex institutional environments at both national and regional levels. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Tirana, focusing on the impact of European integration on Albanian trade flows and policymaking.

From 2005 to 2017, Dr. Kastrati played a central role in shaping Albania’s trade policy architecture and institutional capacity for international integration. As Director of Trade Integration Policy and later Director for Economic Development and Cooperation at the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Economic Development, Tourism, Trade and Entrepreneurship, she was entrusted with formulating Albania’s trade strategy, leading international trade negotiations, and representing Albania in key multilateral trade processes in the World Trade Organization and regional processes, including CEFTA and other free trade agreements.

She served as Albania’s CEFTA Contact Point for a decade (2007–2017), and led Albania’s negotiations on trade facilitation, trade in services liberalisation, and regulatory alignment under CEFTA 2006. She was also Albania’s lead interlocutor for related activities under the World Trade Organization (WTO), where she managed the engagement across all WTO agreements and led both Albania’s First and Second Trade Policy Reviews in 2010 and 2016 respectively. In this capacity, she chaired the work for the alignment of national legislation with Chapters 3 and 30 of the EU acquis, directly contributing to Albania’s EU integration process.

Since joining the Regional Cooperation Council in 2017, Dr. Kastrati has progressively taken on senior leadership roles, culminating in her appointment as Acting Head of the Programme Department. She led the preparation of the strategic regional initiatives such as the Common Regional Market in 2020 and 2024 and contributed to the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans. Her leadership was instrumental in some key regional achievements, such as the reduction of roaming charges within the Western Balkans and between the EU and the Western Balkans, mobility agreements under the Berlin Process, the Western Balkans Digital Summit, etc.

Her work is distinguished by her strategic foresight, strong analytical judgement, and ability to lead cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder initiatives. As Director of the CEFTA Secretariat, she brings a unique combination of deep policy knowledge, diplomatic skill, and visionary leadership to advance regional cooperation and alignment with the EU Single Market.

Ravik Mima is the CEO of Keiretsu Forum Southeast Europe, where he champions innovation and regional collaboration to cultivate a thriving startup ecosystem across Southeast Europe.

Under his leadership, the region’s first cross-border Angel Investor Network spans nine countries, providing essential alternative financing opportunities for emerging founders, especially in Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro where Keiretsu is the only active angel network. As part of Keiretsu Forum, the world’s largest angel investment network with 50+ chapters, over 2,500 investors globally, and more than $1 billion deployed to date, the Southeast Europe chapter is the youngest chapter strategically poised to strengthen private investment in the region, with a particular focus on the Western Balkans.

Ravik holds a PhD in Economics from Peking University and has an extensive academic and advisory background. He serves as a university lecturer at the Western Balkans University, is a research associate at the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, and has held advisory roles for Albanian institutions responsible for economic development and regional development.

His expertise in regional studies is reflected in his authorship of significant works on Nearshoring, Green Industrial Policy, and Sustainable Development in the Western Balkans.

Roko Tolić assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer of Airports of Montenegro in July 2024.

He built his career in aviation over more than two decades at Dubrovnik Airport “Ruđer Bošković,” where he spent ten years serving as CEO. During Tolić’s tenure in Dubrovnik, the airport was completely rebuilt, and its route network became one of the most developed in this part of Europe. At Airports of Montenegro, in just one summer season—during 2026—Tolić secured the launch of 21 new routes, 18 at Podgorica Airport and three at Tivat Airport.
Tolić is a member of several international aviation organizations. He serves on the board of the International Association of Airport Executives (IAAE), and previously was part of the Security Committee of the Airports Council International (ACI), as well as an accredited aviation security auditor with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

He holds a degree in economics.

Dušan Živković is an electrical engineer with decades of work experience at managerial positions, as well as in investments, financing, engineering, power systems design, control systems and their implementation at various facilities in Elektroprivreda Srbije.

He began his professional career at «Jugel Inženjering» on the construction of the National Dispatch Center. For two decades, he worked and managed investments, renewable energy sources and the development of production capacities within EPS, and then managed the Sector for Renewable Energy Sources in the distribution network. He actively participated in the preparation of long-term investment and development plans, as well as in numerous equipment revitalization projects in open-pit mines, thermal power plants, hydro power plants, transmission and distribution networks, environmental protection projects, RES development and energy efficiency. He has also dedicated part of his career to the introduction of smart metering at the distribution level, creating conditions for a significant share of RES, but also the introduction of some new technologies in the Serbian energy sector.

During his career, he has also made significant contacts with numerous international companies in the energy sector, achieving successful cooperation and exchange of experience necessary for continuous improvement and development, as well as restructuring processes of Serbian energy companies. Unequivocally supporting the Serbian economy, through the completed projects he created the conditions for their development, as well as the support for them to compete as successfully as possible in markets around the world.

With excellent knowledge of modern information technologies, in addition to English, he speaks Russian and French and has successfully completed several different trainings in the field of management and finance, human resource management and project management.

Branko Zečević has lived and worked in London for over 30 years, where he obtained a degree at the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE) in the field of Economics, International Trade and Development. He has 30 years of international experience in the field of steel, non-ferrous metals, mining and energy. He is a founder and President of the Metalfer Group. Currently, he holds the position of Chairman of the Association of Serbian Energy Intensive Industry.

Assoc. Prof. Predrag Zenović (b. 1986) is Montenegro’s Chief Negotiator with the EU at the Ministry of European Affairs, and a lecturer and researcher in political science at the Humanities Programme of the University of Donja Gorica in Podgorica. He read Political Science at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade, and holds a master’s degree in International Law and Human Rights from the Faculty of Law in Riga. Having completed his doctoral studies in political theory and European studies at LUISS in Italy and the University of Geneva, he was subsequently a postdoctoral fellow at the New Europe College in Bucharest. He was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship for 2020/2021 for a research project in feminist political theory at The New School for Social Research in New York.

Zenović is the author of two books in the field of political theory — one focusing on Montenegro and the other on the European Union — as well as over thirty academic papers published in domestic and international journals, covering citizenship, constitutionalism, European studies, identity, gender studies, and other areas of normative political theory. He also teaches at the Faculty of Legal Sciences and the Faculty of Culture and Tourism, on the International Studies in Hospitality and Management – Vatel degree programme.

He serves on several working and expert groups involved in drafting legislation (including the Law on Scientific Research) and strategic documents at both national and local level (the National Cultural Development Programme and the Budva Municipality Cultural Development Programme). He is a member of the Board of Sociology and Political Science of the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts.

In addition to his native language, he is fluent in English, Italian, and Spanish, proficient in French, and has a working knowledge of Russian and German.

Grzegorz is the Director of EBRD’s Energy Europe team, promoting the Bank’s mandate and supporting green transition through investments and policy advice across the energy sector in Europe. Grzegorz joined EBRD in 1998 from Ernst & Young and became a banker in the Power and Energy Utilities team in 2001. In this role he led a number Bank’s investments in various geographies before later taking on a regional responsibility for the Central Europe. In 2014 Grzegorz became the Country Director for Poland with responsibilities further extended to cover the three Baltic states and later the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. He led the entire business and policy engagement of the EBRD in eight Central European and Baltic states and managed five EBRD offices across the region. In July 2021, Grzegorz joined the Sustainable Infrastructure Group as the Director of the Energy Europe Team. Grzegorz has a Master’s degree in business and economics from the University of Gdansk, Poland, and holds a post-graduate certificate in European Integration from the EC Research Institute. He is also a UK-qualified accountant.

Vladimir Zynchenko is the CEO of GX Superyachts and Greenline Yachts, where he leads the development of innovative, forward-thinking vessels. Originally trained as an engineer, he acquired Greenline Yachts in 2009 and transformed it into a benchmark for modern yacht manufacturing. Under his leadership, the companies have earned recognition for pioneering hybrid yachting, emphasizing efficiency, intelligent design, and advanced technology. Zinchenko has helped position both brands at the forefront of next-generation yachting combining refined luxury with precision engineering and progressive maritime innovation.

She graduated from the University of Montenegro (2000), obtained an MPhil from the University of Cambridge (2002), completed the CORIPE Master’s Programme in Economics (2003), and earned a PhD in Economics (2009).

Governor Radović is a recognised advocate of gender equality and inclusive finance. She authored Montenegro’s first National Agenda for Women’s Economic Empowerment (2022), launched the Women on Boards Programme (2023–2026), and serves as national lead for the global We Finance Code (since 2025). In 2022, she was awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest national distinction.

Dejan Vujović is the Deputy Director General for Technology at Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG), the country’s national public broadcaster, where he leads the organisation’s broad technology transformation programme.

His work spans broadcast infrastructure modernisation, digital platform development, AI integration, and institutional operations management. He has been driving RTCG’s digital transformation since 2018, overseeing the replacement of legacy broadcast systems and the development of new digital services, including the OTT platform MNE Play. He manages significant infrastructure projects and maintains strategic relationships with international organisations and vendors, including the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

A strong advocate for sustainability in public media, Dejan has led RTCG’s transition to a greener operational model — including the deployment of an electric vehicle fleet, the installation of a solar power plant at RTCG’s premises, and the integration of sustainability principles into the organisation’s long-term technology strategy. He has spoken at international panels on AI in public media, digital transformation, and media sustainability.

Ivana Vojinović is recognised as one of the leading regional experts in the fields of environment, climate change, green transition and EU integration. Over a period of ten years (2011–2021), she served as Deputy Minister and General Director for Environment and Climate Change in the Government of Montenegro. From the outset of Montenegro’s EU negotiation process, Mrs Vojinović was appointed by the Government to lead the country’s negotiations with the EU in Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change. Under her leadership, Chapter 27 was opened for negotiations in 2018. Since 2022, Mrs Vojinović has served as Director of the Centre for Climate Change at the University of Donja Gorica. She has further contributed her expertise as a consultant to the World Bank, UNOPS, UNDP, ILO and other international organisations. Ivana Vojinović holds a PhD in Environmental Economics and EU Integration and has 19 years of academic teaching experience at the University of Donja Gorica. In recognition of her exceptional contribution to strengthening bilateral relations between Montenegro and the Republic of Italy, particularly in the field of environment, she was awarded the title of “Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia” by the President of the Republic of Italy — the highest honour conferred upon a foreign national.

Borislav Višnjić began working in journalism while still a student. A few months after graduating, despite holding a degree in political science, journalism became his everyday routine and, before long, something far more than a profession.

At the Montenegrin news agency Mina, where he started his media career, he discovered that journalism is a way of life. Journalists are, or at least ought to be, the ones searching for solutions to the numerous issues that surround us once we leave the newsroom.

Throughout his career he has worked as an editor at a public broadcaster, a private television station, and a number of regional and European online publications, but he has always preferred being “just” a journalist. Not because it carries less responsibility, but because it offers the chance to continuously challenge both himself and the people who make most of the decisions in our lives.

As time went on, he came to understand that reporting on the most significant domestic and international events is not as important as revealing what lies behind the news. It is for this reason that he believes the most crucial journalistic task is to find and tell that deeper story.

Since 2016, he has served as General Manager of Renexia and has played a pivotal role in advancing offshore wind in Italy. He led the development of Beleolico, the Mediterranean’s first offshore wind farm, and is currently spearheading Med Wind, a 2.9 GW floating project supporting the energy transition.

Samid is an experienced programme leader and public services specialist with over a decade of experience in international development, public sector engagement, and human rights protection. Proven track record of designing and implementing national-level strategies in gender-based violence response, policy reform, and digital innovation. Adept in overseeing multisectoral coordination, ICT-enabled service delivery, and advocacy across government, civil society, and multilateral systems. Currently focused on integrating AI and digital tools to future-proof public services in fragile and post-conflict settings.

Stanislava Simić is the Director of the Association of Serbian Energy Intensive Industry (ASEII), which brings together leading companies from the steel, fertilizer and cement sectors in Serbia.

She works at the intersection of industry and policy, focusing on the business environment and climate regulation and their impact on companies. In her role, she facilitates dialogue between industry, institutions and other stakeholders, helping bridge the gap between regulatory frameworks and real business operations. She advocates for a fair transition and sees dialogue among all actors as essential to moving this process forward.

Stanislava has a background in international economics and professional experience across both the public and private sectors in Serbia.

Marina Riđić is an experienced policy advocate and strategic leader with 15+ years in political analysis, communications, and inter-agency coordination. As UNFPA Assistant Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, she has advanced the ICPD and 2030 Agenda through high-level policy engagement, partnership building with the EU, national institutions, and the private sector, and evidence-based advocacy on SRHR, GBV, and gender-responsive policies. With a background in political reporting at Al Jazeera and ongoing PhD research on demographic challenges in the Balkans, Marina brings a unique blend of analytical rigor, regional expertise, and proven capacity to position UNFPA within intergovernmental frameworks and drive impactful regional initiatives.

Federico Quaglia is an energy professional with 15 years of experience at Terna, the Italian electricity transmission system operator, where he has developed deep expertise in power system operations, electricity markets, and grid planning. He currently serves as Head of Efficient Microzonal Solutions, leading multidisciplinary teams responsible for innovating grid connection processes and supporting the integration of renewables, storage, and emerging loads such as data centers.

Throughout his career, he has held several leadership roles across operational analysis and market design, contributing to key national and European initiatives, including the Italian capacity market and the Bidding Zones Review under the Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management Regulation. He has also played a central role in high-impact programs that significantly reduced system costs and improved operational efficiency, generating substantial economic benefits for the company and the electricity system. He also served as Chairperson of the Med-TSO Technical Committee on Operation, contributing to international coordination across Mediterranean transmission system operators, and actively participated in ENTSO-E task forces.

His academic background includes a Visiting Scholarship at Stanford University, where he focused on electricity market design and advanced analytics. He holds a Master’s degree in Energy Engineering (summa cum laude) from the University of Pisa and is the author of numerous scientific publications on electricity markets and power system operation.

Irena Petrović has a rich work experience in the field of marketing and communications, acquired while working in leading media companies in Serbia. She graduated from the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade, and later obtained an MBA from the University of Sheffield.

Since 2018, she has focused on sustainability, combining her expertise with a sincere dedication to positive changes and innovations.

Today, she leads the WMG Foundation, which is implementing several significant projects:

• The initiative EUpravo zato was launched with the aim of contributing to better mutual understanding, building trust, and strengthening partnerships between Serbia, the Western Balkans, and the European Union.
• The project Prevention as a Guarantee is dedicated to raising society’s awareness of the importance of preventive health care.
• The newly launched project, the Women’s Initiative SpOna, is a platform for connecting and creating a strong network of women and organizations that, through joint action, drive positive social change.

Irena sees her calling as an opportunity to materialize her deep commitment to sustainable business practices into positive social and environmental changes.

Snežana Pekić is the Executive Director of Sonuba Montenegro, leading the Maljevik Bay – Luxury Resort, a major foreign investment project. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro and is a member of the Rotary Club Bar and WOBA. From 2022 to 2023, she was Head of Cabinet at the Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism.

Her prior roles include Development Manager at RACC Ltd., consulting foreign investors, and management positions in hospitality and procurement. Snežana holds a Master’s degree in Classical Philology and has worked for over a decade as a Latin language consultant for Montenegro’s Ministry of Education. She also translated Meditations by Marcus Aurelius from Classical Greek.

Valentina Pavličić was born on April 1, 1968, in Podgorica. She graduated in 1990 from the Faculty of Law of the University of Montenegro in Podgorica. She passed the bar exam before the commission of the Ministry of Justice of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in Belgrade in February 1997. She served for many years as a criminal judge in the Montenegrin judiciary, handling some of the most complex criminal cases in both procedural and substantive law.

In December 2024, she was elected President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro.

In 2024, she also served as a consultant for the Council of Europe.
From September 2015 to February 2024, she was the Agent of Montenegro before the European Court of Human Rights.
From 2013 to 2015, she was the President of the Criminal Division of the High Court in Podgorica.
From 2008 to 2015, she was a judge in the Special Department for organized crime, corruption, terrorism, and war crimes of the High Court in Podgorica.
Since 2017, she has been a lecturer, expert, and consultant within the joint Council of Europe and European Union “Horizontal Facility” program for the Western Balkans and Turkey.
From 2016 to 2019, she was a member of the Working Group on Freedom of Expression and its links to other human rights within the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH-EXP) in Strasbourg, France.
Since 2016, she has been a lecturer at judicial academies and seminars on the rule of law.
Since 2015, she has been a member of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) in Strasbourg, France.
Since 2015, she has been a member of the Committee of Experts on the system of the European Convention on Human Rights (DH-SYSC) in Strasbourg, France.
Since 2014, she has been a lecturer in initial and continuous training at the Training Centre for the Judiciary and State Prosecution of Montenegro.
Since 2014, she has been an expert of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ).
Since 2012, she has been an expert of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in the fields of human trafficking and cross-border crime.

She is the author of numerous publications primarily intended for the professional and academic community, as well as legal practitioners, aimed at promoting and expanding knowledge on the application of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and Convention standards. She has also lectured at numerous national and international seminars and conferences.

She speaks English and Italian.

Anthony O’Sullivan is a Partner and Director at Whiteshield, with extensive experience in driving peak performance and transformation across both the private and public sectors. He has advised leading global firms on industrial innovation in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, shipping, rail, energy, and agribusiness. Drawing on his tenure as Deputy Director and Head of Private Sector Development at the OECD, he brings deep expertise in regulatory reform, competitiveness and business climate enhancement. Anthony’s work focuses on investment strategy, innovation, policy reform, and the reimagining of business and government models for high-impact outcomes. Prior to joining Whiteshield, he held senior roles at Kearney and the Monitor Group. He holds degrees in business, economics, and political science from Harvard Business School, the London School of Economics, and McGill University, and is currently a visiting professor in management and innovation at Sciences Po Paris.

Faye Mythen is a strategic leader and entrepreneur with a global perspective, dedicated to reshaping the future of healthcare through innovative, patient-centred models. She is a Board Advisor and strategist for Reborne Longevity, a Harley Street clinic and London’s first private longevity hospital, transforming preventive healthcare through clinical excellence, scientific rigour and luxury service.

Faye is crafting the expansion of the Reborne Longevity service schedule to include late-phase trial diagnostics, which inform preventative therapies and complementary pathways to support clients who are already managing chronic disease.

She holds an MSc in International Strategy and Diplomacy from the London School of Economics and an LLM from SOAS, University of London. Her foundation in global strategy and law informs her analytical approach to healthcare futures, partnerships and regulatory alignment.

Getoar Mjeku is a commercial and international lawyer. Born in Prishtina in 1987, he graduated magna cum laude with an honors bachelor’s from Texas Lutheran University and cum laude with a Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University.

He holds a law license in the U.S. state of Texas, and has practiced law with firms in the United States and various organizations in Kosovo. He has authored several articles published in international journals and edited volumes.

He is a lawyer and activist of the VETËVENDOSJE Movement, Mjeku represented plaintiffs in strategic litigation against abuses in publicly owned enterprises, environmental protection and the energy sector.

From February to June 2020, he served as legal adviser to the Minister of Economy in the first Kurti government, drafting key decisions to remove PoE directors for violation of their fiduciary duties, to address the mismanagement of public property, and to impose reciprocity measures in trade relations with Serbia.

From 29 March 2021 to 1 September 2022, he served as Deputy Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Grade in the second Kurti government, helping with the rule of law, legal reforms, investment promotion, and trade issues. Deputy Minister Mjeku oversaw the drafting of key legislation covering investments, fuel market, foreign trade, competition, inspections, intellectual property.

On 1 September 2022, Mjeku was appointed Deputy Minister of Economy. He helps supervise state-owned companies and co-led the team tasked with establishing the Sovereign Fund of the Republic of Kosova.

Jelena Milovanovic is the Founder of BioEridan, a biotechnology company developing advanced ingredients that support cellular health and longevity. Her work focuses on pioneering solutions to preserve telomere length during cell production, helping extend cellular lifespan and enhance stability and performance for companies across the life sciences and biotech industries.

Boris Raonić is the Director General of Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG), the country’s national public broadcaster. A graduate in law, he was among the founders of the first civil society organisations in Montenegro during his student years. He worked as a journalist until 1999, after which he transitioned to an extensive career in the civil sector.

The author of numerous essays and publications on dialogue, tolerance, political culture, and conflict resolution, he also produced several documentary films. He has served as a member of the National Council for European Integration, the Council of the Agency for Electronic Media, the Parliamentary Committee for Electoral Law Reform, the Ethics Committee of the Police Directorate, and various working groups for legislative development.

Boris is a member of several international networks focused on political culture, human rights, and leadership, and previously served as Director of the School of Political Studies. An international ski instructor, his personal interests include mountain biking, basketball, and football.

Minister Bojan Božović was born in Cetinje on 31 August 1984. He holds a law degree from the University of Montenegro and a Master’s degree from the University of Novi Sad. He has passed both the judicial examination before the Ministry of Justice and the Bar Examination before the Montenegrin Bar Association.

Since July 2024, Mr Božović has served as Minister of Justice of Montenegro. Prior to this appointment, he was State Secretary at the Ministry of European Affairs (2023–2024) and previously State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Human and Minority Rights (2021–2023).

Alongside his governmental career, Mr Božović has an#e09900 extensive academic background. He was a scholarship holder at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg and served as a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Legal Sciences (UDG), lecturing in international public law, EU law, human rights, international private law and international humanitarian law.

He has worked as an expert and consultant on projects for the Council of Europe, GIZ and the International Labour Organization, and has published widely in the fields of international law, EU law and human rights. His academic work has been cited in leading legal textbooks.

Dr. Anino Emuwa is a global expert in leadership and corporate governance, working at the intersection of emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and inclusion. A former corporate banker, she is the Managing Director of Avandis Consulting in France and the Founder of 100 Women@Davos, a community of impact-driven women leaders convening decision-makers on critical matters of the day.

Anino sits on the boards of several organisations, including Nottingham Trent University, Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030 – a sustainability and inclusion industry initiative founded by Cartier and Kering, and works with companies to create inclusive and diverse leadership teams. She is also a Distinguished Fellow of the ReTech Center of Ecole des Ponts Business School.

A member of the Institute of Directors’ Expert Advisory Group on Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Emuwa advises on governance and policy matters and contributes to global discussions on leadership and inclusion.

She has served as a judge, coach, and regional lead for the Cartier Women’s Initiative. Anino holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Nottingham Business School, an MBA from Cranfield School of Management, and a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics.

Amer Kapetanović is an accomplished diplomat with over two decades of experience in international relations and regional cooperation. Since 2017, he has served as the Head of the Political Department at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). His portfolio included managing high-level relations with 26 governments, co-chairing EU-funded projects such as Integrative Internal Security Governance (IISG) and overseeing the implementation of SEE2030 Strategy.

Mr Kapetanović held prominent roles in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As Assistant Minister for Bilateral Affairs and Economic Diplomacy (2012-2017). His tenure as Deputy Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Germany (2005-2010) and Head of the EU Department (2010-2012) underscored his expertise in fostering EU integration and bilateral relations.

Mr. Kapetanović began his career in journalism before transitioning to diplomacy, where he became the spokesperson for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2000-2002).

He is a graduate of the University of Sarajevo in Political Science and International Relations. He is a prolific author and editor, contributing to works on regional security and foreign policy, including his recent publications, The Chronicle of a Lost Century and Solidarity Fund.

Fluent in English, proficient in German, and native in languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr Kapetanović, born in Sarajevo in 1970, is married and a father of two.

Dr Vijay K Verma, (PhD in Energy Engineering VUB-Belgium) has been working over 15 year with different national (Austrian, Belgian, German, Swiss) and European funding schemes. He is founder and CEO of Dharma Funding Solutions GmbH (DFS), supporting high-tech, DeepTech startups & SMEs to prepare the best quality of grant applications. With more than 500 projects successfully funded, presently Dharma Funding Solutions stands as one of the most success Austrian companies in this field. Dr Verma has published over 28 high research articles in high impact journals, with roughly 1000 citations in high impact research journals.

Over 50M euro annually is raised with our support from different funding agencies. Presently clients from Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands, Belgium, UK are being benefitted from our expertise in Funding. Hands full of success in EIC accelerator, HorizonEurope projects, presently DFS operates with 3 offices in Austria (Graz, Vienna, Klagenfurt), Spain (Barcelona) and Switzerland (Zurich).

In addition to this, Dr Verma, is also invested in over 16 startups/SMEs from Austria, Germany, Netherlands.

Artur Lorkowski is the Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, an international organization responsible for implementing the Energy Community acquis. These EU-aligned regulations are designed to integrate the energy markets of countries neighbouring the European Union (EU) with the EU’s internal market. A native of Poland, Mr. Lorkowski has a distinguished background in diplomacy and policy, having served as Poland’s ambassador to Austria. He also worked as the Special Envoy for Climate at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was the Deputy Director for Energy and Climate Policy and previously EU Sectoral Policies, where he played a key role in Poland’s accession to the European Union in 2004.

David Margason is a property development and investment professional with over 30 years’ experience in large scale projects focused on international leisure, hospitality and mixed use waterfront developments. His previous roles include Development Director for the Majid Al Futtaim Group, focusing on acquisitions and developments within the Middle East and North Africa, Head of a Middle Eastern Family Office, and Development Director for Lendlease Corporation in The United Kingdom.

Minister Admir Šahmanović is a senior public official and energy policy expert with over a decade of experience in sustainable finance, energy transition and EU integration processes in the Western Balkans. He holds a Master’s degree in Financial Management and has built his career at the intersection of public policy, investment planning and international cooperation.

His expertise covers the European Green Deal, sustainable finance, renewable energy, ESG integration, transport and environmental policy, with a strong focus on translating EU frameworks into bankable projects and national reform agendas. He has extensive experience in managing EU-funded programmes, WBIF projects and IFI loan facilities, as well as in coordinating donors and working closely with the European Commission, international financial institutions and multilateral organisations.

Mr Šahmanović has held senior roles across government and international institutions, including PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, the British Council, and the Ministry of Public Administration. He was appointed Minister of Mining, Oil and Gas in 2024 and currently (from April 2025) leads the Ministry of Energy and mining of Montenegro.

He has been actively involved in EU accession negotiations, heading several key chapters, and is a frequent speaker at international conferences on energy transition, sustainable investment and regional cooperation.

Rikard Scoufias is a London-based infrastructure and energy leader with over two decades of international board and C-suite experience. He is recognised for aligning commercial, political, and civil-society interests to secure licence-to-operate and unlock value in geopolitically complex environments.

Since 2020 he serves as Chair of Greece’s National Hydrocarbons & Energy Resources Management company (HEREMA), leading its transformation into a diversified energy platform. Under his leadership, the company attracted global investors ExxonMobil and Chevron, revived national upstream exploration after a four-decade hiatus, delivered 63% revenue growth, and launched Greece’s offshore wind and CCS programmes. Previously, as Country CEO of the €5bn Trans Adriatic Pipeline, he delivered a new gas corridor from the Caspian through Greece and Albania into Southern Europe, and before that he led BP group’s Government & Corporate Affairs in Europe and international high-risk assets.

He has addressed COP28, COP29, the World Economic Forum in Davos, and Economist Government Roundtables, and his perspectives on net-zero strategy, ESG and the energy transition have been featured in the Financial Times and The Banker.

Vladimir Vukićević is the Co-founder and CEO of Better & Better. Better & Better is transforming oral care into a daily ritual for wellness and longevity. By embedding clinically meaningful nutrients and bioactives into toothpaste and other oral formats, it turns a routine habit into a health intervention. The platform bridges consumer wellness and biotech—designed to extend healthspan, not just clean teeth.

A serial entrepreneur, Vladimir has co-founded and led multiple venture-backed startups to successful acquisitions. Most recently, he was the Co-founder and CEO of Meural, a company that brought together technology, design, and fine art to create a connected digital canvas. Meural was acquired by NETGEAR in 2018, where he continued to lead the brand’s integration and growth.

Prior to Meural, Vladimir served as Co-founder and CTO of RocketHub, one of the world’s first crowdfunding platforms, which empowered thousands of creators, scientists, and social entrepreneurs to raise millions of dollars. RocketHub was acquired by EFactor in 2015.

In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Vladimir is active in nonprofit and tech-for-good space. He currently serves on the boards of MyWhatif, a nonprofit using AI to support mental health in war-affected communities. He is also a Collective Member at Baukunst, advising early-stage founders at the intersection of technology and design, and was previously on the boards of the New York Foundation for the Arts and Theatre Within.

Irena Radović serves as Governor of the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG), chairs the National Financial Stability Council, and represents Montenegro as Governor at the IMF since December 2023. She brings more than 25 years of professional experience at the intersection of central banking, economic policy, development, and European integration, with a consistent focus on institutional reform, financial stability, and Montenegro’s EU accession. Throughout her civil servant career, she has remained unaffiliated with any political party, exercising a strictly professional and institutional mandate.

As Governor, she leads the strategic transformation of the Central Bank of Montenegro, centred on full alignment with the EU acquis and ESCB standards, strengthening banking and non-banking supervision, safeguarding central bank independence and financial autonomy, advancing the integrity and resilience of the financial system, and modernising the national payment infrastructure. Under her leadership, Montenegro joined the Single European Payments Area (SEPA) in 2024, becoming the first Western Balkans Six country to do so and delivering a concrete step toward early integration into the EU Single Market. Preparations for connection to the Eurosystem’s instant payments infrastructure through the TIPS Clone are well advanced, with operational go-live expected by July 2026, further anchoring Montenegro’s payment ecosystem in the EU framework.

Since 2023, the CBCG has spearheaded an accelerated reform agenda to align the regulatory and supervisory framework with the EU acquis. In September 2024, the Bank prepared and coordinated a package of 16 systemic financial-sector laws, critical for the closure of Chapter 4 – Free Movement of Capital (provisionally closed in December 2025) and Chapter 9 – Financial Services (provisional closure envisaged by Q2 2026). The Central Bank also plays a substantive role in Chapter 17 – Economic and Monetary Policy and contributes directly to reforms across nine accession chapters.

From 2020 to 2023, she served as Executive Director of the national development financial institution, the IDF (now the Development Bank of Montenegro). In partnership with the EIB, AFD, and CEB, the institution expanded access to finance for SMEs and mid-caps, with a strong focus on the green and digital transition, aligned with the EU Economic and Investment Plan and the New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

Earlier, from 2016 to 2018, she served as Vice Governor of the Central Bank of Montenegro, responsible for banking supervision, regulation of non-bank financial institutions, and financial consumer protection.

She has also held senior diplomatic posts, including Head of the British Office and Representative of the British Government in Montenegro (2003–2006), and Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy following independence (2006–2007). She subsequently served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007–2010) and Ambassador of Montenegro to France (2010–2015), with concurrent accreditation to Monaco and Andorra.

Academically, Governor Radović held a full-time position at the Faculty of Economics, University of Montenegro (1999–2007), first as Assistant Professor and subsequently as Lecturer. During this period, she taught International Economics, International Trade and Globalisation, and EU Monetary Economics.

She graduated from the University of Montenegro (2000), obtained an MPhil from the University of Cambridge (2002), completed the CORIPE Master’s Programme in Economics (2003), and earned a PhD in Economics (2009).

Governor Radović is a recognised advocate of gender equality and inclusive finance. She authored Montenegro’s first National Agenda for Women’s Economic Empowerment (2022), launched the Women on Boards Programme (2023–2026), and serves as national lead for the global We Finance Code (since 2025). In 2022, she was awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest national distinction.

Majda Adžović was born in 1990 in Podgorica, Montenegro. She graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Montenegro, where she was a two-time recipient of the Student Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. She further advanced her studies by obtaining a Specialist Degree in Legal Sciences, with a focus on Criminal Law.

Adžović began her professional career in 2014 at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, contributing to the drafting of legislation and by-laws. Over the years, she has held senior and high-responsibility positions, including Advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Head of the Working Group for EU Accession Negotiation, Chapter 24 (Justice, Freedom, and Security).

She subsequently served as Head of the International Cooperation Department at the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, before being appointed State Secretary at the Ministry of Spatial Planning. Currently, she serves as Minister of Public Works, overseeing the strategic planning, development, and implementation of national infrastructure projects, with a focus on sustainable development and EU alignment.

Fluent in English and French, Adžović applies her international expertise to her professional responsibilities and is a mother of three.

Manas Chawla is a political risk expert and the Founder of London Politica, the world’s largest political risk advisory for social impact. He has advised heads of state, UN agencies and a range of Fortune 500 companies on navigating geopolitical volatility. He is also the Director of the Oxbridge Diplomatic Academy.

An accomplished public speaker, Manas has delivered keynotes on geopolitical risk for leading decision makers at conferences across the world. He is also a regular commentator for a range of international news broadcast programmes including CNN, BBC, CNBC and Bloomberg. Manas holds an MSc from St Antony’s College Oxford, and his PhD research at the LSE explores how Big Tech actors shape the geopolitical order of the twenty-first century.

Boštjan Čeh is a Slovenian commercial and biotech executive, entrepreneur, and ecosystem builder with extensive international experience in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. He holds a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and an Executive MBA from London Business School. Over more than a decade, Boštjan has led commercial, access, pricing, and market strategies at national, regional, and global levels for major pharmaceutical companies including GlaxoSmithKline, Novo Nordisk, and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. In his last corporate role at Otsuka, he led a European cross-functional team and was responsible for P&L in the commercial launch of a medicine with peak projected annual revenues of approximately €350 million.
After his corporate career, Boštjan co-founded a start-up in medicinal cannabis and now serves as Head of Business Development at Labena Group, a Ljubljana-based life sciences company providing research, development, and laboratory solutions to the global pharmaceutical and biopharma industry.

Boštjan is also one of the co-founders and co-directors of Labena Ventures, a corporate accelerator based in Slovenia that supports startups in biotech, health tech, medtech, as well as food and environmental technologies across the EU and Central & Eastern Europe through tailored mentorship, strategic partnerships, and access to networks and investors.

He is deeply committed to strengthening Slovenia’s biotech ecosystem. Boštjan is a co-founder and the current President of the Council of the Slovenia Biotech Hills Institute, a non-profit initiative launched with partners including Novartis Slovenia and Lek/Sandoz to position Slovenia as one of Europe’s leading biotech innovation hubs by fostering collaboration among industry, academia, and government.

In addition, Boštjan was elected to the Management Board of the British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce, where he helps advance trade and investment ties between the United Kingdom and Slovenia.

Having lived and worked in Denmark, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Slovenia, he brings a strong international perspective and commitment to driving innovation and growth in global health and life sciences.

Primož Dolenc is the Governor of Banka Slovenije and the President of its Governing Board. He assumed the function in March 2026 for a term of six years, after being appointed by the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia.

He has been working at Banka Slovenije since 2016, for most of the time as a Vice-Governor and a member of the Governing Board. The National Assembly appointed him to this function in 2016, and again in 2022. For most of his term as Vice-Governor he also held the position of Deputy Governor, and has headed Banka Slovenije for two periods in the absence of a governor.

Primož Dolenc is a graduate of the University of Ljubljana’s School of Economics and Business, where he also completed his master’s and doctorate. He defended his doctoral dissertation on asset management and government debt in 2006. Since 2000 he has held advisory and managerial positions at several financial institutions. He was also a full professor and researcher at the University of Primorska, with responsibility for banking and finance.

Vladimir Đurović is the Founder and CEO of LABBRAND Group, established on the conviction that “Your Brand is Your Power.” He founded LABBRAND, the only globally recognized leading brand consultancy headquartered in China, with a mission to help organizations build enduring brand power through systematic, long-term brand management.

With over 20 years of experience in corporate branding, Vladimir has advised Fortune 500 companies, industry leaders, and high-growth enterprises on brand strategy, transformation, and innovation. Known for combining strategic discipline with deep cultural sensitivity, he is also a semiotician and a champion of brand-led innovation. Vladimir was named Innovator of the Year by The Internationalist Awards and serves as an international judge for the Transform Awards. His work is distinguished by a rare ability to decode cultural meaning, identify emerging shifts in society and business, and translate them into long-term brand relevance and value.

David Giron is originally from Guatemala. He began his career as a professional American football player before transitioning into finance, working in Wealth Management and Venture Capital. In 2019, he joined a Silicon Valley startup, where he became Director of Business Development, leading international expansion efforts. He later moved back to Switzerland to work in Venture Capital and ultimately founded eFrontiers, a data and sales platform powered by financial education, helping financial institutions acquire customers while gaining deep insights into their goals and behavior. Today, David leads eFrontiers as CEO, focused on building scalable learning products that create real business impact while improving financial literacy.

Brankica Janković is a senior legal and gender equality expert and the former Commissioner for the Protection of Equality of the Republic of Serbia, a position she held from 2015 to 2025 after being elected twice by the National Assembly. During her tenure, she played a key role in strengthening Serbia’s anti-discrimination framework and promoting equality policies at both the national and international levels.

Prior to serving as Commissioner, she was State Secretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Policy of the Republic of Serbia, where she led the Chapter 19 Negotiations Team (Social Policy and Employment) in the EU accession process. She also served as President of three Government Councils and headed several state delegations. Earlier in her career, she was Director of the Gerontology Center Belgrade.

Her professional background also includes experience in education and media, as a teacher and Secretary General at the “Ruđer Bošković” High School, as well as work with RTV Politika and RTV Yugoslavia. She was a visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Political Sciences and the Higher Studies of Security, and served as a mentor in several professional and educational programs.

She is particularly dedicated to the advancement of human rights and the improvement of the status of women, youth, persons with disabilities, children, older persons, national minorities, and other vulnerable social groups. The labor market and cooperation with the business community in the implementation of human rights and application of ESG standards are special fields of her expertise.

She is the author of numerous scientific articles and publications, an organizer of a large number of conferences and professional events, and an initiator, member, and co-founder of several national and regional initiatives including WOBA, Regional Network of Equality Bodies of South-Eastern Europe and the UNESCO Network of Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Officials. She has been a member of the Serbian Gerontological Society for more than 20 years and a long-standing volunteer of the Red Cross. She has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the “Contribution of the Year to Europe 2018” award and the OSCE “Person of the Year 2017” award and Justicia Award 2025. She is also an Adria Leader of the Year 2022.

Duško Krsmanović, PhD, is an accomplished advisor with over 20 years of experience in international economic, political, and business advising. Before joining UKEF, Duško worked as public affairs and strategic advisor to various international companies across the Western Balkans, providing support and managing stakeholder relations in renewables, petrochemicals, retail, pharmaceuticals, logistics, e-commerce, FMCG, hospitality, and banking. Next to his core occupation, Duško also served as an independent, UK funded, expert advisor for international economic affairs to the Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations (MOFTER) of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Earlier he worked for CMS Law as a regional Business Development & External Affairs Manager, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Serbia and in Montenegro as a Senior Advisor for Economy and Trade, the World Bank, Universities of Bologna, Hamburg, and Rotterdam. Duško Krsmanović holds a doctorate in Economics of Regulation from the University of Bologna and a doctorate in Law and Economics from the Universities of Rotterdam and Hamburg. He also holds an LL.M. degree from the University of Hamburg and the University of Bologna, and a law degree from the University of Belgrade. Besides, he has been specializing in Public Policy at the University of Georgetown in Washington DC. He is a guest lecturer at universities of Belgrade, Milano and Florence, and an author of three books on lobbying.

Ognjen Marković is a young professional with extensive experience in project/programme management in the field of rule of law, youth participation and EU integration processes. Before joining the Regional Cooperation six years ago as Youth Policy Expert, Ognjen has been working for years in one of the most prominent think-tank organisation in Montenegro named Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM).

During his Bachelor and Post-graduate studies at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Montenegro, Ognjen was gaining practical skills within several international organizations. Furthermore, he was an exchange student at prestigious Universities in Slovenia, Poland and Azerbaijan. Currently, he is Team Leader of one of the most successful EU funded projects in the region entitled Western Balkan Youth Lab 2, and in parallel working on his master thesis at Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo.

Petar Mitrović is a Partner in the Energy and Natural Resources Industry Group. He advises clients in high-profile matters related to the development, operation and financing of new energy projects (with particular focus on renewables), capacity-building matters that aim to improve the regulatory framework in the WB6 and energy efficiency. Petar Mitrović is recognised as a top energy lawyer among relevant stakeholders and is active member of all key professional associations in Serbia.

Madis Müller is the Governor of Eesti Pank and a member of the European Central Bank’s Governing Council.

Prior to his appointment in June 2019, Mr Müller held the position of Deputy Governor of Eesti Pank, with his primary responsibilities including issues related to financial stability, payment systems, reserve management and cash operations.

Before joining Eesti Pank in 2011, Mr Müller worked in the area of investment management at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Washington, DC. He has also held the roles of advisor and senior advisor to the Executive Director of the Nordic-Baltic constituency at the World Bank, economic advisor to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance of Estonia, and corporate finance consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr Müller holds a Master’s degree in Finance from George Washington University and a degree in banking and finance from the Estonian Business School. He is also an FRM (Financial Risk Manager) and CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charterholder.

Professor Nic Palmarini is the Director of UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA), the co-founder of the Edelman Longevity Lab, the CEO of Voice® Italia, and affiliate to the Harvard Meta Lab. He holds more than a decade of experience in research on ageing and longevity. In his career, he has been Global Head of AI for Healthy Ageing for IBM Research and Ethics AI lead at MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab.

Miloš Pavlović is a seasoned professional with a rich experience across the fields of finance, media, hospitality, and legal sector. He holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Nis, Faculty of Law.

His joined the Universal Capital Bank in Montenegro, in July 2014, and since then he has ascended to the position of President of the Management Board as of January 2022. In this capacity, Miloš Pavlović orchestrates the bank’s operations with finesse, ensuring smooth functioning while adeptly coordinating the activities of the Management Board members.

Prior to his current role, Miloš Pavlović served as the Executive Director of Universal Capital Bank, overseeing critical aspects such as acquisition and change management. His responsibilities extended across Legal, HR, Finance, Risk, IT, and International departments, where he demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic prowess.

Miloš Pavlović also served as a Board member at Dnevne novine, a prominent media company in Montenegro. Here, he played a pivotal role in delineating the company’s business strategy and providing astute guidance for its implementation.

His professional career includes a tenure at Monterock International, where he served as the Head of Legal and HR, managing teams across the company’s luxury hospitality ventures. Additionally, Milos has made significant contributions to VisionFund International, where he held various legal leadership positions, showcasing his expertise in microfinance operations across the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Throughout his career, Miloš Pavlović has spearheaded numerous projects of strategic importance, including high-profile acquisitions, establishment of representative offices, and restructuring endeavors. He is proficient in Serbian and English, coupled with his elementary proficiency in Russian.

Teodora Pećanac is a marketing and growth leader from Belgrade with extensive experience in the startup ecosystem, venture building, and innovation ecosystems. She currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer of the SEE UP Accelerator, where she shapes brand strategy, partnerships, and program execution while connecting high-potential startups with investors, corporates, and international markets.

She is also CMO of Bold International Group, helping position and scale a portfolio of ventures, and Co-Founder & CMO of Smartsy, an IoT retail solution redefining how pet-friendly spaces function in modern retail environments.

Teodora specializes in go-to-market strategy, storytelling, ecosystem building, and fundraising narratives that help ventures gain visibility, traction, and global reach. She thrives in fast-moving environments where innovation meets real market needs and is passionate about building bridges between startups, corporations, and investors.

Vedran Peršić advises leaders and organizations on crisis communication, reputation management, and leadership communication in complex and rapidly changing environments.

With more than two decades of experience across media, international organizations, and the private sector, he has worked with governments, corporations, and civil society leaders on navigating public trust, strategic narratives, and high-stakes communication. His advisory work today spans sectors including energy, finance, and the metal and mining industry, as well as initiatives focused on public health awareness and social impact.

Before launching his consultancy, Vedran helped establish the Sarajevo newsroom of Bloomberg Adria and was part of the team that launched the Bloomberg Adria television program across five countries in Southeast Europe. He previously served as Director of Marketing and Communications at Sberbank BH, where he coordinated strategic communication and ESG initiatives.

Earlier in his career, he held senior communication roles in both the private and international sectors, including with ASA Prevent Group, the International Commission on Missing Persons, the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the United Nations mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Vedran’s professional roots are in journalism, shaped by training at the BBC School of Broadcast Journalism and its tradition of rigorous, fact-based reporting. He reported on political and economic developments in the region before moving into strategic communication, where he now works with leaders and institutions on navigating complex public narratives and building trust.

He is an active member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), President of the Assembly of PRIBA, and a frequent lecturer at business schools in Sarajevo.

His Royal Highness Nikola Petrović Njegoš is Crown Prince of Montenegro and Chairman of the Petrović Njegoš Foundation. Born on 7 July 1944 in Saint-Nicolas-du-Pélem, France, he holds both French and Montenegrin nationality.

Educated in Paris, he graduated in architecture in 1971 from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris and subsequently established his career as a freelance architect. His professional work has encompassed urban planning, environmental design, industrial and agricultural construction, and the renovation of administrative and commercial buildings.

Since 2011, as Chairman of the Petrović Njegoš Foundation, he has led initiatives focused on solidarity, environmental protection and cultural heritage. Under his leadership, the Foundation has supported more than 200 projects contributing to Montenegro’s sustainable and cultural development. In 2017, he was awarded the rank of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris.

Luka Prelević is a Managing Director at Hellas Direct, a digital-first insurer serving 1.5 million customers across CEE with €275m in revenue—a tenfold increase in five years. Backed by investors like Portage, IFC, and Munich Re, Luka drives the company’s growth and strategy. Previously, he was a founding member of Heritage Holdings and a consultant at McKinsey & Company, with prior experience at Kearney and Bank of America. Luka holds a Double Degree MSc from Bocconi University and CEMS, and a law degree from Union University in Belgrade.

Manuel Schiappa Pietra is a global executive and purpose-driven leader with over 30 years of experience leading organisations across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Africa.

Since becoming President and CEO of FreeBalance in 2006, he has transformed the company into a leading provider of public financial management (PFM) solutions, helping 30 governments worldwide enhance transparency and accountability.

A dedicated advocate for fiscal integrity and sustainable development, Manuel led FreeBalance to become a signatory of the UN Global Compact and a member of the World Economic Forum New Champions community. Beyond his corporate leadership, Manuel holds several high-level international roles, including serving on the Supervisory Board of the Tech Diplomacy Forum and advising the Portuguese Presidency on diaspora engagement. He also serves as Executive Director of The Happier Way Foundation, promoting global well-being.

A frequent speaker at global events, Manuel was recently invited to present in Davos, at the World Leadership Forum in Warsaw, and the Tallinn Digital Summit. He recently completed the prestigious Global CEO Program at IESE Business School and MIT Sloan. Manuel was recognised in the 2026 Tech Diplomacy Global 50 and remains a steadfast champion for digital transformation, inclusive prosperity, and social value creation.

Dr Stasa Stankovic is a Cambridge and Oxford-trained reproductive geneticist and biotech entrepreneur recognised as a global leader redefining women’s health innovation. As Co-Founder and CEO of OvartiX, she leads a next-generation drug discovery company leveraging human multi-omics and engineered ovarian disease models to develop breakthrough therapies for menopause, PCOS and infertility. She also advises governments and global biopharma: as a strategy consultant at AstraZeneca, she helped shape the company’s strategy for applying human omics, AI, and machine learning in drug discovery. She additionally supports Cercle AI, an emerging AI women’s health technology startup.

Dr Stankovic has been widely recognised for her impact on science and innovation. She is a McKinsey & Company Next Generation Women Leader, winner of the International Menopause Society’s Robert Greenblatt Award for the top investigator under 40, named one of the Top 10 early-career UK scientists in biomedical research by the UK Government’s STEM for Britain, included in Barclays’ Top 100 Women in Tech, and selected as one of the Top 200 Trailblazing Women in FemTech by Covington and Women of Wearables. Forbes has identified her as one of just 11 scientists globally shaping the future of menopause and reproductive health innovation.

As a founder, scientist, speaker and strategic advisor, Dr Stankovic sits at the intersection of biotech, women’s health, longevity and AI – championing a future in which female biology is finally prioritised in medicine and drug discovery.

Goran Svilanović is an internationally recognised expert and adviser to international organisations and private investors on government relations in the Western Balkans. He is a member of the High-Level Group on EU Neighbourhood Interdependences, established during the Swedish EU Presidency (2023).

He served as Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (2013–2018). Between 2008 and 2012, he was Co-ordinator of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, and Chairman of Working Table I (Democratisation and Human Rights) of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe (2004–2007). From 2000 to 2004, Mr Svilanović was Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia/State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Vilma Tunjić Juzbašić is the Director of Mozaik ESG Solutions and a leading voice in sustainable business transformation and ESG implementation in Southeast Europe. She holds the prestigious ESG & Impact Investing certification from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

With more than two decades of experience in banking, fintech and impact-driven initiatives, Vilma has held senior leadership roles in international financial institutions, building deep expertise in SME finance, innovation ecosystems, and sustainable development. Her international outlook has been shaped by living, studying and working in the United Kingdom, Croatia, and Germany, strengthening her ability to operate in diverse and multicultural business environments.

She currently leads the development of ReUseChain.ba, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first digital platform for trading secondary raw materials, designed to help companies reduce waste, optimize resources and unlock new value through circular economy solutions.

Vilma is a frequent speaker, mentor and moderator at regional and international conferences on ESG, circular economy, and innovation ecosystems across the Western Balkans.

At Adria Future Summit 2026, she will share insights on how digital platforms like ReUseChain.ba can accelerate the transition toward circular and sustainable economies.

TBC

Đorđe Zdravković is an expert in digital transformation, business process optimisation (business process automation), and the development of technological platforms (DeepTech, FinTech), with many years of experience working with small and medium-sized enterprises as well as enterprise clients.

As a co-founder of the Protokol platform, he focuses on implementing scalable digital solutions that connect business processes, financial flows, data, and key providers into an interoperable business ecosystem through full vertical integration, with the aim of democratising access to cutting-edge technology for all companies, regardless of industry or size.

His research work includes technological innovations in the fields of BPM/ERP/CRM/BI systems, financial reporting and payments, as well as strategic advisory in the areas of growth innovation and the monetisation of digital products.

Ivan Zeljković is a Serbian media personality, entrepreneur, and media strategist with more than three decades of experience in television, communication, and digital media. He became widely known as the long-time host of the Serbian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, where he built a reputation for intelligent conversation, curiosity, and strong on-screen presence.

Beyond television, Ivan has spent more than a decade in Dubai building media ventures and connecting international networks. He is the co-founder of Poddster, a pioneering podcast studio movement in the region, and the founder or co-founder of multiple media and technology initiatives focused on content creation, podcasting, digital communities, and AI-powered media tools. Through his companies and projects, he works with brands, startups, and organizations on media strategy, storytelling, podcasting, and digital communication.

In recent years, Ivan has also become deeply involved in promoting healthier lifestyles after going through his own personal transformation and weight-loss journey. This experience inspired him to launch Zona Zdravlja i Mršavljenja (ZZM), a community-driven initiative with a mission to reach one million people and help at least ten thousand individuals transform their lives through healthier habits, knowledge, and support.

Today, Ivan continues to build ventures and communities at the intersection of media, technology, and personal transformation, using his platform, experience, and network to connect people, ideas, and opportunities across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.

Zorica Kalezić is the Vice-Governor of the Central Bank of Montenegro, responsible for payment systems, financial stability, statistics, and research. She is actively involved in the modernization of Montenegro’s financial infrastructure and the country’s integration into the European financial system, including Montenegro’s accession to SEPA and the development of instant payment infrastructure.

Dr. Kalezić holds a PhD in Economics obtained in the United Kingdom and has extensive experience in financial sector policy, macroeconomic analysis, and payment systems development. She served as an Advisor to the Executive Director at the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund. She contributes to Montenegro’s EU accession process, particularly in areas related to financial services and Chapter 17 – Economic and Monetary Policy, as well as the integration of Montenegro’s payment infrastructure with the European Union.

Fridtjof is Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer at Antler, the global venture capital firm backing the world’s most driven founders from inception onwards. He oversees the firm’s external activities worldwide and serves on its investment committees.

Since launching in 2018, it has backed more than 1,800 companies across emerging technologies such as AI, fintech, and climate tech—making it one of the world’s most active early-stage investors. Its portfolio includes companies such as Lovable, Micro1, Airalo, Peec.ai and Pixverse.

Operating in 27 cities across six continents, Antler spans the globe from San Francisco to Sydney, creating a platform where exceptional founders can thrive and scale.

Fridtjof was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Finance & Venture Capital and was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2023. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and pursued his undergraduate studies at Cass Business School and Goizueta Business School. He started his career at McKinsey & Company, advising clients in retail, consumer goods, financial services, and social impact across Northern and Central Europe.

Annette Kroeber-Riel is Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Europe at Google. As a member of the European management team, she oversees political strategy, public affairs, and public policy, and engages with politicians and regulators across Europe, including the UK and Ukraine, at the most senior level.
Annette joined Google in 2007 as the first employee in Berlin, where she built the public policy teams for Central and Eastern Europe. Since then, she has served as Site Lead of the Berlin office, which now has over 500 employees across different functions.

She supports policymakers in building an agenda for greater competitiveness through the responsible use of technology and AI. Her work spans a broad range of policy areas, including AI, cybersecurity, copyright, competition, privacy, content policies, and sustainability.

For the past 10 years, she has regularly participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos and the Munich Security Conference.
Prior to joining Google, Annette held positions at Jamba! and VeriSign, where she was responsible for government relations across the European Union.

After studying law in Frankfurt and Paris, she completed her legal clerkships at a law firm in Frankfurt and at the German Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. She later specialized in telecommunications and media law at a U.S. law firm, spending considerable time in Washington, D.C.

For decades, Annette has supported several human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch. She actively promotes women in technology and serves on the Council of Saarland University.

Annette is an avid diver and freediver.

John Jovanović serves as President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, having been nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He brings to EXIM extensive experience in financing, investing, and building businesses across the energy and critical infrastructure sectors, spanning both the private sector and U.S. government.

Prior to joining EXIM, Mr Jovanovic served as Chief Strategy Officer at Asplundh, the largest provider of critical infrastructure services in North America. In this role, he led the company’s growth initiatives and digital innovation, while overseeing Corporate Development (including mergers and acquisitions) and External Affairs.

During his earlier U.S. government service, Mr Jovanovic was Regional Head and Managing Director for the Aegean and Western Balkans at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), America’s $60 billion development bank, where he established DFC’s first overseas office. At DFC, he contributed to efforts to counter Chinese and Russian malign influence by supporting the provision of American-led financing alternatives in the region. He also led the implementation of President Trump’s Washington Agreements on Economic Normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia.

Prior to his government service, Mr Jovanovic was Investment Director at Mercuria Energy Group, where he led investment and business-building activities across North and South America.

Mr Jovanovic holds a degree in Politics from Princeton University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, with a double major in Finance and Management.

Catherine Atkin is an attorney and expert on global climate and sustainability law and data system design. She was the architect and chief legal advisor for California’s new corporate GHG emissions disclosure law and advises financial institutions and companies on the law’s implementation. As a Co-founder of SME Data Unlock initiative she works with governments in low- and middle- income countries to build open-source AI-powered data exchange platforms and is the Co-chair of the Stanford Law School CodeX Climate x Law project where she focuses on the intersection of law, climate policy and technology. She is a Data Foundation Fellow and part of global expert panels including the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard Technical Working Group and the Task Force for Corporate Action Transparency Senior Advisory Committee. She has written about a range of law, climate and technology topics for Springer Press and the UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub. She received a BA from Stanford University and a law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law.

Nela Belević is a senior executive with over twenty-five years of experience in the banking and insurance sectors, recognized for leading transformation and driving sustainable growth across Southeast Europe. As Regional Chief Corporate & Affinity Officer at UNIQA, she oversees the development of corporate and affinity business across multiple markets – Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Bulgaria, combining strategic leadership with a strong focus on innovation and long-term value creation.

During her 14-year tenure as CEO of UNIQA Montenegro, Nela led the company’s development, strengthening its market position and advancing customer-centric solutions. Her leadership approach integrates data-driven decision-making, agile methodologies, and digital innovation to enhance efficiency and deliver meaningful impact.

Nela is known for fostering a culture of collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement, and for actively advancing the financial sector through her involvement in key industry bodies.

At the Adria Future Summit, she will bring valuable insights on sustainability and ESG in the region, sharing perspectives on how organizations can align innovation with responsible business practices and navigate the evolving demands of a more sustainable future.

Prof. Vesna Bengin is a prominent researcher and academic leader, serving as a full professor at the University of Novi Sad, an Extraordinary Professor at Stellenbosch University, and a scientific advisor at the BioSense Institute. She is the co-founder of the BioSense Institute and the coordinator of the H2020 project ANTARES, which has a budget of €30 million and aims to turn the institute into a market-oriented European research center of excellence. Prof. Bengin is dedicated to fostering economic growth in the region, promoting national and regional agrifood and IT sectors, and developing national policies in the field of research and innovation.

With numerous awards and recognitions, including the Marie Curie Actions special award and the award for outstanding women in science and technology from the Mercedes-Benz company, Prof. Bengin is a highly respected figure in her field.

Cherie Blair CBE, KC is the Chair of Omnia Strategy, a pioneering international law firm with a unique, multi-disciplinary, law+ approach.

Cherie is a King’s Counsel and wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair. She is one of the UK’s best-known lawyers with 45 years’ experience advising on investor-State and commercial arbitration, mediation and government relations, as well as business & human rights, governance and accountability, and public international law.

Omnia represents Governments from Albania to Zambia and provides counsel to States, corporates, private sector clients, civil society and charities. Cherie’s experience beyond the law, encompassing politics, international affairs and philanthropy, inform how Omnia conducts its work and offers clients a combination of best-in-class legal skill and an ability to achieve solutions that others cannot.

Cherie and Omnia have a busy practice in the Balkans, winning cases for the Governments of Montenegro, Serbia and Albania in recent years while helping clients troubleshoot problems in sectors ranging from hospitality and real estate (Croatia) to financial services (Slovenia), rule of law (Kosovo) to mining (North Macedonia).

Cherie is the Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which supports female entrepreneurs across the developing world. Among others, she is Vice Chair of the International Council on Women’s Business Leadership, Director of the Dangote Group, adviser to the B Team, Chair of the Asian University for Women and Honorary Chair of the World Justice Project.

As the Founding Partner of Sustineri Partners and Chair of Women on Boards Adria (WOBA), Biljana is a driving force behind economic growth, sustainability, governance, and gender equality in the Adria region.

She is also the Founder of the Adria Future Summit, a platform that unites business and government leaders to advance responsible business practices.

With over two decades of experience advising governments, businesses, and international organizations, Biljana has worked with the AIRE Centre, World Bank, UNDP, and leading consultancies on social justice, human rights, and governance.

After a full career experimenting with different stewardship formats (from listed companies to start-ups, SMEs, family businesses, non-profits and even cooperatives), Stéphanie’s main focus is corporate governance of financial institutions. She joined the Green for Growth Fund Board, as an Independent Director nominated by the IFC in 2020 and since then serves on different committees, including FX and AML/CFT Committees. The GGF is domiciliated in Luxembourg and invests in renewable energy and energy efficiency in the European neighbourhood, from Eastern Europe to the Western Balkans and Northern Africa. Stéphanie also holds a governance position at the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial, the French governmental sustainable development fund.

With a robust background in Capital Markets derivatives in the 90’s, then early steps of ESG Investment in Europe, Stéphanie has then been introduced to carbon trading, portfolio risk managementand development finance, during the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol. Following preparation and then implementation of the Paris Agreement, Stéphanie supported African institutions to connect with the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which she joined in 2016 as Africa Regional Adviser. She brought expertise in defining FIs green finance strategy, implementing Environmental & Social & gender standards into their management system, and building institutional arrangements with the GCF and other DFIs. Since 2021, Stéphanie has acted as an independent expert of the European Commission and reviews EU investment blended finance projects of the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus, a major cooperation player.

Stéphanie holds an MBA from a French “École Supérieure”, and several diplomas related to regulatory AML/CFT Director training. In 2023 Stéphanie was awarded the DCRO Institute Certificate in Risk Governance®.

Alexandre Chavarot is a UK-based finance professional delivering solutions to the challenges posed by climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity preservation and sustainable development. He has more than 30 years of experience advising clients on project & corporate acquisitions, risk assessments, investments and financings in the energy, infrastructure and maritime sectors with leading investment banks, insurance groups, climate NGOs such as the Clinton Climate Initiative and advisory firms.

Alexandre is the founder of Climate Finance 2050 Limited, through which he consults on climate and sustainability-related financial issues. He is a Senior Adviser with Howden’s climate risk and resilience team. He separately advises the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change in the UK (IIGCC) on its adaptation and resilience programme and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in India (CDRI) on resilience finance. He is also a Senior Adviser at ACCESS Corporate Finance, a London-based financial advisory firm providing M&A services.

Alexandre is a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment in the UK. He has co-authored several articles and papers on project and climate finance, as well as on climate risks and resilience. He has been a member of the Climate Bonds Initiative resilience taxonomy advisory group and was the coordinating lead author of the finance chapter of the Global Infrastructure Resilience report published by CDRI in October 2023.

He is a regular speaker at international conferences. He is also a visiting lecturer at Sciences Po in Paris where he teaches a seminar on climate change and sustainable finance.

Alexandre holds a bachelor’s degree from Sciences Po in Paris, a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and an MBA from INSEAD. He was also a member of the IHEDN class of 2022 in France and is an officer in the civil reserve of the French navy.

Lina Constantinovici, MBA is a globally recognized expert in investments, innovation, and sustainability. She has advised family offices, governments, corporations, and financial institutions, including NASA, the EPA, Starwood, Walmart, and the San Francisco Department of Environment. Lina founded Innovation 4.4 in 2016, with the mission to accelerate the commercialization of technologies key to implementing the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Innovation 4.4 has been an official partner to NASA Centennial Challenges, UNFCCC/COP26 in Glasgow, the National Academy of Sciences, the World Ocean Council, dozens of governments, research institutions, and thousands of investors around the world. Lina has evaluated over 20,000 technologies, advised several hundred startups, and founded several technology companies. Lina is the recipient of the NASA/SSV Finalist Award in the Showcase of Solutions for Planetary Sustainability for Startup Nectar, the first in the world biomimetic technology incubator as its Founder. She has spoken about innovation and effective investing at over 1,200 conferences over the past 20 years, including the Nobel Prize Summit, the United Nations General Assembly, COP21, COP25, COP26, COP27, the National Academy of Sciences, the World Economic Forum, and the UK House of Lords.

Stevan Cvetković is the co-founder and CEO of Office Bite, a platform that digitalises the way companies organise employee catering. With a background in marketing analytics and the FMCG sector, gained through his work at Nielsen—including four years on the Nordic market—Stevan has focused his career on developing scalable business models in the food-tech space.

He began his entrepreneurial journey in 2019 by founding his first start-up, Gajbica.rs, and started building Office Bite in 2021. Today, Office Bite has grown into a leading platform for organising the procurement and distribution of food and beverages for companies in Serbia, with thousands of active users and an extensive network of partner restaurants, caterers and other food and beverage suppliers.
His work is centred on delivering value to companies and their employees through the development of workplace food infrastructure—enhancing user experience, optimising operations and building a sustainable ecosystem that connects companies, employees and food providers, with ambitions to expand into European markets.

Adam Cwetsch is the Head of Decarbonisation and Governance Unit in the Energy Community Secretariat, where he leads the work related to the implementation of the Energy Community decarbonisation agenda. He has 16 years of experience in policymaking, law, economics, diplomatic and international affairs, ranging from national implementation of the EU energy and climate acquis to the reform process in the EU’s neighbourhood and EU policy making. Adam holds a legal background, with degrees from Durham University and the University of Warsaw. His career spans roles in both national and European institutions. Before joining the Secretariat, Adam served as the Head of the Climate Policy Department at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland. Earlier, he spent six years at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) as a Policy Officer, contributing to EU energy policies, and previously was an official at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Born on 27 July 1968 in Bač, Vojvodina, Serbia, Robert Čoban is a renowned media entrepreneur and journalist. He completed his primary education in his hometown and attended the Secondary School of Economics in Bačka Palanka. He later enrolled at the Faculty of Law in Novi Sad in 1988, completing his studies in 1993.

His career in journalism began in 1990 as a correspondent from Novi Sad for prominent publications such as Večernje novosti (Belgrade), Arena (Zagreb), and Naši dani (Sarajevo). He also contributed to renowned magazines such as Vreme and Stav. In 1992, alongside a group of students, he revived the student monthly Index. However, after just two issues, the entire editorial board was dismissed, leading to the creation of Nezavisni Index, which later evolved into Svet—the foundation of what would become the publishing house Color Press Group.

Today, he serves as the head of Color Press Group, the largest magazine publisher in the region, with operations in six countries. The company boasts a vast portfolio, including 110 magazines, 25 online portals, and more than 80 conferences, festivals, and other events annually. Over the years, the company has expanded its influence and readership, becoming a dominant force in the media industry across the former Yugoslavia.

The company’s portfolio includes numerous licensed titles such as The Economist, Hello!, Gloria, Story, Lisa Moj Stan, Brava Casa, Bravo, Alan Ford, Grazia, La Cucina Italiana, and many others. These publications cater to a wide range of audiences, from lifestyle and fashion enthusiasts to business professionals and pop culture followers.

Andrea Darabašić is an HR professional focused on connecting talent with business opportunities across the international market. Through her experience in recruitment, she has specialised in identifying and engaging top-tier candidates, working with companies across Europe and globally.

As a Young European Ambassador, she actively contributes to empowering young people through initiatives that promote career development, mobility, and networking at the European level. Her passion for working with people, combined with a deep understanding of the challenges young professionals face at the start of their careers, led to the launch of the Career Launch platform.

Prof Dr Katarina Đulić is a Full Professor of Economics at FEFA Faculty, where she teaches courses in corporate finance, risk management and corporate governance at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. She also serves as a member of the Board of the Credit Guarantee Fund of Montenegro. Her academic and research interests include corporate and public finance, risk management, public and corporate governance, family businesses, financial literacy and the evergreen economy.

Dr Đulić holds a PhD in Economics from the Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade. She also earned an LLM from Northwestern University School of Law and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University (Kennedy School of Government). She graduated in law from the University of Belgrade.

Over the course of more than two decades of an international career, Dr Đulić has built a reputation as one of the leading regional experts in finance and corporate governance. She has advised governments, ministries of finance, stock exchanges, regulatory bodies, chambers of commerce and major companies across the region on financial management, corporate responsibility and public finance reform. As an expert for the World Bank, IFC and EBRD, she has led numerous programmes across South-Eastern Europe aimed at strengthening fiscal decentralisation, improving the governance of state-owned and municipal enterprises, and aligning corporate practices with international standards.

Dr Đulić previously served as Assistant Minister of Finance of the Republic of Serbia, led corporate governance improvement projects at the IFC (World Bank Group) and worked as a Senior Consultant at KPMG, specialising in risk governance and forensic services. She has also served on the supervisory boards of leading financial institutions, including DDOR Novi Sad, Jubanka, the Central Securities Depository, the Deposit Insurance Agency, and Eurobank Direktna.

As a co-founder and researcher at the Centre for Advanced Economic Studies (CEVES) and the European Research Academy Belgrade (EURAK), Dr Đulić initiated and led several international research projects on fiscal decentralisation, local economic development and access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises. The findings of these studies have contributed to shaping public policy across the region.

Today, she actively collaborates with the EBRD and IFC on modernising corporate governance and professionalising boards in both public and private companies, as well as advising family businesses transitioning towards professional management structures. She is also an Ambassador of the Women on Boards Adria network and an advocate for gender equality and greater representation of women in leadership and governance structures.

Dr Đulić is the author and co-author of numerous publications and academic papers published in international journals and by publishers such as Palgrave Macmillan, Lex Localis, and the Journal of Central Banking Theory and Practice.

Nadine Esposito is a Switzerland-based expert at the intersection of longevity, health, and financial resilience. She is the founder of Wellthspan Advisory, where she focuses on how longer lifespans are reshaping financial planning, workforce dynamics, and societal structures.

Her work centers on “de-risking longevity” by integrating health, life events, and access to care into financial decision-making. She advocates for a shift from traditional wealth management to a broader concept of “wealthspan,” where health is understood as both a personal asset and a key driver of financial outcomes over time.

Nadine collaborates with financial institutions, insurers, and corporate leaders to address demographic change and the challenges of aging populations. She is particularly focused on improving longevity literacy and helping individuals and organizations prepare for longer, non-linear lives. As a speaker, she is known for translating complex longevity trends into clear, actionable insights.

Raphaël Ghiandai is the Executive Director at the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and served previously at Chief Financial Officer since 2024, overseeing financial strategy, treasury, and banking relationships while driving the Foundation’s impact investment agenda and blue economy initiatives.

He brings over 15 years of senior finance experience across Big Four audit, corporate M&A, and CFO roles, with deep roots in the Monaco financial and institutional ecosystem. Prior to the Foundation, he held senior positions in organisations located in Paris, Sydney, and Monaco. He is a board member across seven Foundation offices. He is also alternate board member of the MEDFUND initiative, reinforcing the Foundation’s institutional reach across the Mediterranean and a member of the investment committee.

Raphaël holds an MSc in Management from EM Lyon Business School.

Maida Gorčević was born on 28 December 1987 in Bijelo Polje. She graduated from the University of Montenegro – Faculty of Law, specializing in civil law. She is currently working on a Master’s thesis.

From 2012 – 2020, Maida Gorčević worked at the Publishing House “Nova knjiga” where she led book promotion strategies, represented the publishing house in the media, coordinated the International Podgorica Book Fair, managed international literary projects, etc.

During the mandate of the 42nd Government of Montenegro, Maida was an Advisor to the Prime Minister for Minorities, tackling issues related to human and minority rights, as well as youth rights. Simultaneously, she presided over the Management Board of the “Official Gazette of Montenegro” and was a member of numerous government committees (Commission for Examinations for Work in the State Administration, Commission for Personnel and Administrative Issues etc).

In 2023, Maida Gorcevic was elected as the member of Parliament of Montenegro, following which, the same year, she was appointed as Minister of European Affairs.

Maida speaks English fluently, and has a basic knowledge of Italian and Russian.

Minister Gorčević is a participant in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on “Women, Peace and Security” and an alumnus of the U.S. State Department. She is also a member of the United Nations Development Programme in Montenegro (UNDP) – Women’s Leadership Network.

Andrew is an experienced organisational and leadership consultant with 30 years of experience at senior levels in governance, leadership, and organisational change. He has a particular focus on corporate governance, ensuring key policies and controls are in place for effective compliance and leadership accountability.

Andrew has reviewed the governance arrangements of numerous Boards across various industries, including financial services, manufacturing, hospitality, property, tourism, and utilities, both in the UK and internationally. He began his career in the UK government, working on criminal justice issues, serving as private secretary to two Home Secretaries, and working in Margaret Thatcher’s office. His consulting journey included roles at KPMG, Towers Perrin, and Stanton Marris, and most recently, he was COO of Flint Global, a leading business and political advisory firm.

Andrew holds an MA from Cambridge University, an MBA from Warwick Business School, and a coaching diploma from the Oxford School of Coaching.

Ognen Janeski is an internationally renowned master of ceremonies, multilingual moderator, and communication expert with over 25 years of experience in journalism, public speaking, and strategic communication. He has moderated high-level summits, diplomatic gatherings, and international conferences across the Western Balkans and beyond, working fluently in English, Macedonian, and BCMS languages.

A fellow of programmes supported by the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union, Janeski has anchored major live broadcasts, reported from international institutions, and contributed to long-term initiatives in media development, democracy, and social inclusion. His work spans media training, public speaking and voice coaching, ethical communication, and strategic visibility for institutions and civil society organizations.

He currently serves as President of the Council of Honour of the Association of Journalists of Macedonia and President of the Macedonian-American Alumni Association, while mentoring and advising regional and international programmes.

Ivan Kadić is the CEO and Co-founder of Reputeo, a company focused on building advanced AI systems across cybersecurity, defense, and real-time data intelligence. His work spans the development of generative and applied AI models designed to operate in high-stakes environments, where reliability, explainability, and control are critical.

He leads the creation of solutions such as AISA (AI SOC Analyst), SADA, and PureAI, combining generative models with threat intelligence to support decision-making, automate complex workflows, and augment human operators. A strong emphasis is placed on on-prem and sovereign AI deployments, enabling institutions to retain full control over sensitive data and infrastructure.

Beyond AI and security, Ivan is actively exploring the broader impact of generative AI across industries, focusing on practical applications that move AI from experimentation to real-world deployment. Through initiatives like AI Nation, he works on building ecosystems that connect research, engineering, and business, with the goal of making advanced AI systems more accessible, accountable, and globally impactful.

Liv A. Watson is a Senior Fellow at the Data Foundation, contributing to both Special Projects and the Climate Data Collective. She co-founded the SME Data Unlock project, as well as the open data standards XBRL and the XBRL International Consortium. Her extensive work has been crucial in the advancement of global digital business reporting standards. With over 30 years of experience in promoting digital transformation of financial and sustainability reporting, Liv is a key figure in driving the development of standards for a more transparent and sustainable future.

She actively collaborates with prominent market regulators, accounting bodies, and institutions, advocating for the implementation of digital reporting to improve corporate governance and social responsibility reporting. Her involvement with XBRL includes serving on the IFRS XBRL Advisory Committee and vice chair of the XBRL International Steering Committee.

A widely published author in international journals like the Harvard Business Review, Liv also serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Disclosure and Governance. Her contributions include several significant publications such as XBRL for Dummies, The Governance, Risk and Compliance Handbook, The Landscape of Integrated Reporting, and Effective Auditing for Corporations.

Srđan Kondić is a transformational banking leader with a rare combination of regulatory expertise, depth in risk management, and proven executive experience. He has successfully led major banks through stabilisation, restructuring, and growth—both within international groups and under domestic ownership.

Before becoming CEO of Addiko Bank Serbia, he headed Addiko Bank Banja Luka and Nova Banka, where he delivered lasting change and sustainable growth. His career began at the Banking Agency of the Republic of Srpska, where he worked on aligning regulations with Basel standards and EU directives.

Kondić holds a PhD in banking liquidity, has lectured at the Faculty of Economics in Banja Luka, and has completed executive programmes with the ECB, IMF, Basel Committee, and the Joint Vienna Institute. He is a licensed financial appraiser and internal auditor, co-founder of the Association of Risk Managers in BiH, President of the Employers’ Association of the Financial Sector of the Republic of Srpska, and currently chairs the Supervisory Board of the Association of Serbian Banks.

He represents a new generation of banking leaders—visionary, pragmatic, and results-driven—who deliver both measurable impact and sustainable value.

Nemanja Laković is the CEO of Coal Mine Pljevlja, Montenegro (2024–present). He oversees the company’s strategic direction, financial management, and compliance with environmental standards while representing it in national and international forums.

Previously, he was the CEO of Synergy Tech d.o.o., Belgrade, Serbia (2015–2024), managing business operations, financial planning, and major infrastructure projects across Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro.

From 2012 to 2015, he served as General Manager for Serbia at OIP Engineering Ltd., leading large-scale infrastructure projects, negotiations, and financing. Before that, he was General Manager at Notam System d.o.o.(2008–2011), overseeing investment projects and contract management.

Earlier in his career, he worked as Sales Manager at Elcom d.o.o. (2004–2008), focusing on sales strategies and procurement.

He holds a degree from the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade and is fluent in English and Russian. His expertise includes project management, team leadership, and negotiation.

Sava Laketić has been appointed as Acting Director of the Tax Administration from March 2024. His previous job was as executive director of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) office in Podgorica, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Montenegro.

During his eleven-year tenure at PwC, Sava was engaged in more than one hundred audit and advisory projects, taking on roles ranging from team member to project leader and manager. His key responsibilities included team organization, client communication, performance evaluation, preparation of deliverables, business development, and other project and team management activities.

Throughout his career, he was a member of several PwC teams, including Audit, Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services, Public Sector, as well as PwC Academy.

In addition to extensive audit experience, Sava actively participated in various projects related to IFRS implementation, improvement of internal processes and procedures, and enhancement of financial management and reporting.

Sava also served as a lecturer in two PwC Mini MBA programs, as well as in more than one hundred other internal and external trainings in the fields of Finance, IFRS, and ISA.

Since 2021, Sava has been the Executive Director of PwC’s office in Podgorica, and he is also a member of the Board of Directors of AmCham Montenegro.
His major clients have come from the following industries: telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, construction, banking, IT, real estate, food and beverage production, retail, wholesale, and others.

Since March 2024, Sava has been serving as the Acting Director General of the Tax Administration of Montenegro. His work focuses on the modernization of the Tax Administration through international projects and local initiatives, particularly in the digitalization of processes such as taxpayer registration, processing and control of tax returns, record-keeping, revenue collection management, risk monitoring, and enforcement measures. A significant part of his work also includes risk analysis, which is a primary tool in modern tax administrations, as well as the enhancement of digital services and the implementation of advanced IT solutions.

As of March 2026, Sava has been formally appointed as the Director General of the Tax Administration of Montenegro.

Tanja Mihajlovska Dimitrievska is a distinguished senior leader in the banking industry in the UK, with over 20 years of international experience specialising in audit, corporate governance, behavioural risk, and cultural transformation. As an Audit Director at a Global Bank in the UK, she has led assurance over major strategic transformation and change programmes, while championing a culture of excellence, accountability, and integrity.

In her previous role within the Culture Audit function at a leading UK bank, Tanja played a key role in assessing and strengthening behavioural and conduct risk, ensuring alignment between organisational culture, leadership, and governance frameworks. Her earlier experience as Chief Internal Auditor and in EY advisory further demonstrates her extensive expertise in risk management, internal audit, controls, and governance effectiveness.

Tanja has significant experience in setting up audit functions, leading global teams, and evaluating the effectiveness of Boards and Audit Committees across EMEA, the US, and APAC. She is also a certified board member and serves as an advisory and board member across institutions in Southeast Europe, contributing her expertise to governance, oversight, and strategic development.

A recognised international speaker and lecturer, Tanja has delivered keynote presentations and expert insights at numerous global forums, including prestigious IIA Conferences in US and UK. She will be attending the Adria Future Summit 2026 as Lead Ambassador for North Macedonia for Women on Boards Adria and will be speaking on the Women on Boards Adria panel, where she continues to advocate for stronger female representation in Boards and executive leadership. Through her work with WOBA, she actively supports the development of diverse leadership pipelines and promotes the EU Directive on Women on Boards to advance gender-balanced corporate governance.

Milica Perišića is Prime Minister’s Foreign Policy Advisor, National Coordinator (Sherpa) for the Berlin Process, and National Coordinator for the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).

With a background in philology, Milica is also a professor, translator and certified French language interpreter. She holds a Master’s degree from the UNESCO Department of Cultural Policy and Management.

She worked as an advisor in the Ministry for European Integration in the sector for accession process coordination. She was engaged by the Agency for International Legal Cooperation in Paris as an assistant to the Resident Twinning Advisor on an EU-funded project. She served as Secretary General of the Petrović Njegoš Foundation for eight years. This was followed by her appointment as Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for two years. Before being appointed as the Prime Minister’s Foreign Policy Advisor, she was the Head of Unit within the Directorate for Regional Organisations in the Directorate General for Multilateral Affairs.

She also served as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the French European School in Podgorica during the period of its establishment — the only trilingual educational institution of its kind in the country. As a scholarship holder of the Embassy of France in Belgrade, she also worked as an intern within the Master’s study programme at the Directorate for Culture of the City of Cherbourg-Octeville in Normandy, France. She attended numerous training courses organised by the École nationale d’administration (ENA) / Institut national du service public (INSP), the Institute for Advanced Studies in National Defence (IHEDN), Kensington Academy, the British Council, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, and others.

She has been awarded the Knight of the National Order of Merit of the French Republic for her dedication to strengthening ties between Montenegro and France.

She is fluent in French and English and has a basic knowledge of Italian and Spanish.

Mia Popić, PhD, is a business psychologist, psychotherapist, and executive coach specializing in leadership development and organizational culture. She is the founder and director of Sinergija Center, where she designs and delivers science-based programs at the intersection of coaching psychology, psychological safety, and performance.

Mia holds a PhD in Leadership Psychology, with research focused on the psychological factors that drive effective leadership. She integrates these insights into her work with leaders, teams, and organizations, helping them move from self-doubt and overthinking to confident, strategic action.

She is a certified practitioner in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (Albert Ellis Institute, New York), executive coaching (Academy of Executive Coaching), and psychological safety (Fearless Organization). Over the past decade, she has worked with leading companies such as Microsoft, Nordeus, Vega IT, Deloitte, and Raiffeisen, among others.

Mia is also the creator of multiple development programs, including training in cognitive-behavioral coaching and corporate platforms for continuous employee growth. Through her work, she supports leaders in building psychologically safe, high-performing teams and making better decisions in complex, fast-changing environments.

Dominik Raškaj is a prominent regional expert and a frequent keynote speaker at leading business and economic summits across the Adria region. With a career defined by his expertise in labor market dynamics and strategic communication, Dominik has established himself as one of the most authoritative voices on workforce trends and migration patterns in the Western Balkans.

Through his professional knowledge and creativity, Dominik has collaborated with numerous leading brands and public figures, helping them achieve their goals through effective communication and public relations strategies. His extensive experience includes a significant tenure as an international expert within the “EU4Employment” project, an initiative implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO). In this capacity, he provided high-level consultancy and developed strategic solutions for organizations aiming to enhance human capital and socio-economic impact.

A seasoned media strategist and frequent commentator, Dominik provides deep analytical insights into wage disparities, talent retention, and the digital transformation of labor. His portfolio spans a wide range of high-impact projects, including branding campaigns, crisis management, and media relations. At the Adria Future Summit, Dominik will draw upon his vast experience to share his vision for navigating workforce mobility and building sustainable employment models amidst global economic shifts.

Mr Davor Sakač serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the TS Ventures Fund, which began operating in August 2021 as the first corporate venture capital fund in this part of Europe. Mr Sakač spearheaded the establishment of the Fund, a pioneering project founded by the telecommunications leader of South-Eastern Europe – Telekom Srbija Group. Under his leadership, TS Ventures completed 26 investments in the first four months and recently established a strategic partnership with the global technology company Microsoft.

Prior to assuming his current role at TS Ventures Fund, Davor Sakač held various senior management positions throughout his more than 25-year business career. During this time, he led the development of numerous business models and their expansion across several continents, guiding product development, scaling strategies, market growth and other key business initiatives.

Mr Sakač holds an MSc in Management from the Faculty of Organizational Sciences at the University of Belgrade, and a PhD in Business and Finance from the Faculty of Business and Financial Studies, University of Business Studies in Banja Luka.

Ludolf von Schöning is the Founder & Executive Chair of Paloneo, a global collective of entrepreneurs and investors dedicated to driving Europe’s new Renaissance. Paloneo hosts the annual Renaissance Forum, where next-generation families, VCs and innovators collaborate to solve Europe’s systemic challenges. Ludolf is a pioneer of the digital asset industry. He helped create Nomura’s digital asset firm, Laser Digital, where he invested in more than 10 blockchain startups on behalf of the global investment bank. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Cambridge.

Vomic Nur Shah is the Global Head of Origination & Client Coverage at UK Export Finance (UKEF), leading UKEF’s international business development activities. In this role, Vomic is responsible for driving UKEF’s business origination and client coverage strategy and manages the department’s international network.

UKEF is the UK’s export credit agency, with a mission to ensure that no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance. It supports long-term economic growth and competitiveness by complementing the private market with insurance for exporters, loan guarantees to banks, and support for, and provision of, loans to overseas buyers of UK goods and services.

Vomic is a seasoned professional in international finance, with a career spanning over 20 years. Before moving to public service in His Majesty’s Government, he held various leadership positions in investment banking within international financial institutions in London. During his career, Vomic has originated and executed cross-border transactions globally and has worked closely with both the private sector and public authorities. He has had a particular focus on delivering strategic advice and structured financing solutions for sovereign and private stakeholders.

Vladimir Simunović is a senior enterprise executive and Chief Technology & Operating Officer at UNIQA SEE, where he serves on the Regional Executive Board, leading Operations, Technology, Cyber Security and transformation across six European markets.

Originally from Belgrade, Serbia, he built further his international career after moving to Austria in the early 2000s, developing a cross-border leadership perspective shaped by both emerging and mature markets. Over more than 20 years, he has established a strong track record in driving innovation, leading complex transformations, and scaling organizations in highly regulated industries.

With Board responsibility and deep operational oversight, Vladimir has delivered measurable impact through profitability improvement, cost discipline, and growth acceleration, while successfully executing large-scale operating model redesigns and digital modernization programs. He is known for bridging strategy and execution—aligning business, technology, and people to deliver tangible outcomes.

His current focus is on harnessing AI and emerging technologies to reshape customer engagement and operational models at scale.

A frequent keynote speaker, Vladimir brings a pragmatic, business-first perspective on leadership, transformation, and the future of AI-driven enterprises.

Aleksandar Skulic is a highly accomplished executive with more than 20 years of international management experience in the energy sector and related industries. With a strong academic foundation in both electrical engineering and business management, he has built a distinguished career leading strategic growth initiatives, complex operational transformations, and high-value investment and restructuring projects.

Aleksandar is a holder of two master’s degrees from the School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Belgrade and Management at Bayes Business School. Based in Belgrade, he is co-owner and President of the Executive board of Meter&Control, the company that is a regional leader in smart solutions in energy and smart metering. Also, a member of the YPO (Young President Organisation), longtime President of the Steering Committee, the Serbian Association of Electrical Engineers and a member of the Executive board of European Smart Metering Industry Group (ESMIG).

Fluent in Serbian, English and Italian. Happily married to Anja, with whom he has two daughters. Passionate about running, hiking and traveling.

Nermina Terzić is a recognised global expert in energy diplomacy, a senior negotiator, and a business executive with extensive experience in national security, economic strategy, and international infrastructure investments.

She has been responsible for multiple government projects and high-level bilateral cooperation initiatives across Europe, with diplomatic mandates covering the People’s Republic of China, Riga (Latvia), and countries across Central and Eastern Europe, with a consistent focus on energy security.
In the private sector, she serves as a Strategic Advisor to companies in the financial, energy, and technology sectors.

With a strong track record in high-level negotiations, global investments, and national security, she is a frequent speaker on critical issues shaping global geopolitics, energy security, infrastructure development, and international economic policy.

Maja Turković is Executive Vice President at CWP Europe, where she plays a key role in shaping the company’s strategic direction and advancing the development of large-scale renewable energy projects across Southeast Europe. She brings extensive experience across policy, markets, and project development, contributing to CWP Europe’s long-term growth and regional leadership in renewables.

She is recognized as one of the pioneers of wind energy development in Serbia, having been a co-owner and director of the country’s first large-scale wind power project. With more than twenty years of experience in the renewable energy sector, Maja combines public and private sector expertise, including senior roles in power utility restructuring, renewable energy policy, and project development. She previously served as Assistant Minister for the Power Sector at the Ministry of Energy of the Government of Serbia.

In addition to her executive role, Maja is engaged in initiatives supporting education, inclusion, and the energy transition. She serves on the Board of the Pexim Foundation, co-founded the WISE SEE network for women in the energy sector, and contributes to regional energy transition initiatives through SE3T.net.

Maja holds a Master’s degree in Power Systems from the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering and an MBA from Imperial College London Business School.

Dr. Ernest Vlačić is an Professor at FEFA and Director of Internationalization at the faculty. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering, a Master’s and PhD from the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb, and the MBA from Henley Management College, UK.

His career began as a development engineer and manager in corporations (Prvomajska and DANIELI S.p.A). In 1997, he founded the start-up Systec DANIELI, which now employs over 300 people in the high-tech industries. He continued his career in research and development at the Brodarski Institute as a Change Manager on a World Bank project. As co-founder and director, in 2008, he launched the Novamina Center for Innovative Technologies.

Dr. Vlačić’s scientific work focuses on innovation and strategic management, particularly in technological innovation in enterprises, with an emphasis on knowledge transfer from academia to industry. In this context, he continuously performs as an international consultant on strengthening national innovation systems in the WB and Adria region. He is actively involved in numerous European projects that are connecting academia and industry, with a focus on global and national trends in industrial development, the use of innovative technologies in business development towards the Industry 4.0/5.0 paradigm, Society 5.0, and in ESG and circular economy segments.

Dr. Vlačić has long been a member of the Innovation Council of the Republic of Croatia and serves as President of the Energy and Environmental Innovation Council. He is also part of the working group for the creation of the National Development Strategy 2030 and the EU Multiannual Financial Framework for Cohesion and Competitiveness.

He has received numerous awards for business, education, and quality development and is a guest lecturer at several universities in Southeast Europe.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Dr. Vlačić is a passionate advocate of the Silver Economy concept, both as a professor lecturing the Global Economy and Tourism modules.

Luke Wilde is the founder and Chief Executive of twentyfifty, a leading international business consultancy focussed on implementing human rights and environmental due diligence, as required by international regulations. Currently, he leads international growth and several larger client accounts across the mining, energy, automotive and FMCG sectors: engaging senior leaders, facilitating industry and multi-stakeholder dialogues and devising responses to particularly challenging situations, including operations in conflict zones.

His knowledge about human rights was gained whilst restructuring the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and working for Mary Robinson in her outreach to business. He believes that in learning to respect human rights, companies can build the social intelligence and adaptive capabilities to navigate what promises to be one of the most challenging periods of human existence; the road to 2050.

Boban Žunić is a consultant in operational risk management with a strong background in programming and project management across international organizations. He began his career in 2012 with the United Nations in Bonn, Germany, and shortly after moved on to support field operations with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Montenegro. Since then, he has contributed to disaster and emergency response efforts, performed the role of UN Country Security Focal Point for Montenegro and served as the Head of Programme Unit of UNHCR Representation for eight years.

As a risk management consultant, he collaborated with the Red Bull aerobatic team, the Flying Bulls, supporting their Tivat Flying Display in 2025 and the record‐setting “Mala Rijeka” aerobatic achievement in 2024. He is also the founder of “Wingman Montenegro”, a local community promoting grassroots aviation initiatives. A regular attendee of the Paris and Berlin biennial airshows, he is a strong supporter of innovative air mobility and alternative propulsion technologies.

Zoran Milovanović was born in Kruševac and, following his studies at the Mathematical Grammar School in Kruševac, graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Belgrade in 1995. His distinguished career began at Telekom Srbija, where he held a series of leadership positions over two decades, driving innovation and leaving a lasting mark on the development of telecommunications in the region between 1996 and 2016.

His visionary approach to project management, responsible stewardship of resources, and ability to identify and unlock the potential of the teams he led consistently delivered outstanding results across every area he oversaw. As Director of the Network Operations and Maintenance Division, he led the implementation of key infrastructure projects, whilst as Director of the Multimedia Services Division he championed the rollout of cutting-edge solutions in the field. As Head of the Fraud Protection Division, he was responsible, among other things, for developing and implementing security procedures across the full range of telecommunications services in Telekom Srbija’s portfolio.

Zoran’s contribution to a vast number of critical projects helped bring many of Telekom Srbija Group’s most ambitious ideas to life. The construction of Telekom Srbija’s international network, the introduction of IPTV in Serbia, and the development of the television signal distribution network are just some of the projects that came to fruition thanks to his expertise and professionalism.

Always one to broaden his horizons, he further enriched his career by serving as Service Fraud Manager at Telenor Serbia.
His extensive leadership experience, combined with a deep understanding of telecommunications trends and regional market dynamics, led to his appointment as Special Adviser to the Chief Executive at MTEL in December 2019. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the company in November 2023, since when he has continued to write new chapters in its business success. He serves on the governing bodies of several of the country’s most prominent business and professional associations, including the Managers Association and the Union of Employers of Montenegro.

Above all, Zoran believes in the power of the team. He embraces challenges as a source of motivation — an opportunity to push boundaries, both personal and professional. He carries the title of leader with responsibility and pride, knowing that true leadership is not measured by figures in business reports, but by the care shown to people — customers, employees, and partners alike. He leads by example, demonstrating that to be a leader means to support and inspire others to pursue their professional vision with courage. As a visionary, he surrounds himself with visionaries, recognising their value to the development of society as a whole.

He speaks English and Russian. He is married and the father of three children.

Jovan Paunović is a seasoned entrepreneur and executive with extensive experience in leading global multinational companies and international teams. As the founder and CEO of TREESURY, an innovative agri-food ecosystem hub, he connects farmers with investors and industrial buyers through regulated tokenized securities and blockchain-powered markets, addressing food security, climate change, and poverty alleviation.

Jovan also works as an independent consultant for Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG) in New York, and AlphaSights in London. He is also the founder of JP ICG, a boutique consulting company specializing in mergers and acquisitions, digital business transformation, and support for startups. Additionally, Jovan has held executive positions across various industries such as IT, manufacturing, private equity, and venture capital.

He holds degrees from the University “Luigi Bocconi” and the “United World College of the Adriatic,” and completed the Technology Entrepreneurship Program at Stanford University.

Mohamed Ali Alabbar is a global entrepreneur with interests in real estate, retail, hospitality, e-commerce, technology, logistics, F&B, and venture capital. A graduate in Finance and Business Administration from Seattle University in the United States, Alabbar also holds an Honorary Doctorate from Seattle University, an Honorary Doctorate from London School of Economics, and a Political Science Honorary Doctorate from Sun Moon University in South Korea.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi is the Chief Executive Officer of Masdar.

Under his leadership, Masdar has evolved into a global leader in renewable energy, growing its portfolio to over 65GW of clean energy capacity worldwide, on the road to delivering 100GW by 2030.

As an internationally recognized industry veteran that has helped shape the global renewables landscape, he brings more than three decades of experience in the energy sector to Masdar, with significant expertise across corporate finance, internal audit, and risk management.

Since first joining Masdar nearly two decades ago, Mr. Al Ramahi has spearheaded Masdar’s unprecedented growth journey, holding senior leadership positions across the C-Suite, including the positions of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer prior to his appointment as CEO in 2016.

As Masdar’s longest-serving CEO, Mr. Al Ramahi has firmly established Masdar as one of the world’s most trusted clean energy partners, with a footprint in over 40 countries across six continents. He has placed partnership and collaboration at the heart of Masdar’s business strategy, forging landmark partnerships with industry peers and delivering some of the largest M&A transactions in the history of the global clean energy industry.

Mr. Al Ramahi holds a number of prominent board positions, both in the UAE and globally. He serves as Chairman of the Masdar Executive Committee, as well as Chairman of Masdar Americas, Masdar’s subsidiary in the United States, and Saeta, Masdar’s platform for growth in the Iberian Peninsula. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the Global Council on Sustainable Development Goals for SDG 7 and as a member of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) and the McKinsey Sustainability Advisory Council.

He is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Hydrogen Council, a global CEO-led initiative that seeks to develop the hydrogen economy. He is also on the Board of Directors for Shuaa 3 and Shuaa 4 — the companies developing the respective phases of the Mohamed Bin Rashed (MBR) solar park, as well as Terna Energy, Masdar’s platform in Greece and Eastern Europe.

Mr. Al Ramahi is a recipient of the Order of National Merit, awarded by H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France, in recognition of his commitment to the UAE-France bilateral relationship. He has also been awarded the “Dustlik” Order of Friendship by H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, for strengthening cooperation between the UAE and Uzbekistan.

He is an Honorary Fellow of the Energy Institute and has been named CEO of the Year twice by S&P Global Platts, among various other international accolades.

Aleksandra Martinović is Director of the Multimedia Division at Telekom Srbija, where she leads the development and implementation of content strategy, production, and distribution within the TS Media ecosystem. A key focus of her work is positioning the MOVE platform as a regional “Netflix” – a unified destination for premium live and on-demand content, combining exclusive titles, premium models, and a carefully curated catalog.

Through international partnerships and content sales, she actively contributes to the placement of regional productions on global platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, HBO, and Disney+, strengthening the international presence of local content.

She is a jury member of the International Emmy Awards, where she participates in the evaluation of leading television and digital projects worldwide.

She holds a degree in Sociology from the Faculty of Philosophy (University of Belgrade) and a postgraduate degree from the Faculty of Organizational Sciences (University of Belgrade).

Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio is the Executive Chairman of Heritage Group, a holding company that operates across diverse sectors such as tourism, biotechnology, medical technologies, energy transition, real estate, information technology, and beverages. Born in Rome in 1953, he is the son of the distinguished jurist Antonio Lefebvre d’Ovidio.

Lefebvre serves as the Executive Chairman of Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group and Quintessential Brands Group, as well as Chairman of AirAsia Move. He is also the Vice-Chairman of Arqit Quantum and holds a board position at Newcleo, showcasing his extensive influence across various industries.

A pioneer in luxury travel, Lefebvre transformed Silversea Cruises into a global leader in the cruise industry. Under his leadership from 2001 to 2020, the company expanded significantly before its sale to Royal Caribbean Group.

In addition to his corporate roles, he is active in public service as the Honorary Consul of Ecuador in Monaco and serves as the Permanent Observer of the Sovereign Order of Malta to UNESCO. He also chairs the World Travel & Tourism Council, contributing to the advancement of the tourism sector.

With over four decades of leadership in tourism, Lefebvre has received numerous prestigious decorations, including the Orders of Saint Charles and Grimaldi, reflecting his commitment and contributions to both the industry and public service.

Milena Argirović is a senior pharmaceutical leader heading operations across five Western Balkan markets at Takeda. She combines strong business leadership with a people-first approach, building agile, purpose-driven teams and fostering a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and continuous improvement.

She leads strategic market development, regulatory alignment, and works to ensure timely, sustainable access to innovative therapies. Passionate about healthcare transformation, Milena champions innovation and digital solutions while empowering teams to deliver meaningful impact for patients across diverse and complex healthcare systems.

Milojko Spajić was born in 1987 in Pljevlja, where he completed Elementary School and High School.

As a scholarship recipient of the Japanese Government, as part of the Monbukagakusho scholarship program, he completed his first year of studies at Osaka University, and then graduated from a regular four-year study program in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics at the Faculty of Economics at Saitama University. As part of the exchange program, he also spent one semester at the best Chinese technical university, Tsinghua.

He obtained his Master’s degree, also as a scholarship recipient, in France at HEC Paris, which is the number one school in Europe for finance, according to the Financial Times.

Having completed his education, he worked in Tokyo and Singapore, in the global banking corporations Citi Bank and Goldman Sachs, after which he was a partner at a Venture Capital Fund in Singapore.

He returned to Montenegro in 2020, in order to help the country with his know-how and experience. In addition to his native language, he also speaks six world languages. Not affiliated to any party, he was a member of the advisory team of Zdravko Krivokapić, the lead candidate on the candidate list of the coalition “For the Future of Montenegro” and the Prime Minister Designate. He held the position of Minister of Finance and Social Welfare from December 2020 to April 2022.

Kristina Mandić was born in Podgorica and holds a Master’s degree in Project and Innovation Management. She began her professional career at MTEL Montenegro within the wholesale division, focusing on voice services, roaming, and interconnection. Over the course of her career, she has actively contributed to key strategic initiatives, including the development of the Mtel Travel eSIM project, aimed at enabling reliable global connectivity for users. Her professional vision is to support the positioning of MTEL not only as a leader in Montenegro’s telecommunications market, but also as a strong regional player. Kristina is strongly committed to sustainable development and ESG principles. She is actively engaged in research and education in corporate social responsibility, ESG implementation, and non-financial reporting. She holds a certification in corporate sustainability management and contributes to projects that connect innovation with the green transition. In June 2025, she was appointed Chief Wholesale Officer.

Gonca Aslan is a multidisciplinary executive with over 15 years of experience spanning the marine industry and academia. In her current role as a Board Member responsible for Business Development and Corporate Affairs at Asmira Group, she leads the company’s strategic growth across business development, corporate relations, human resources, and marketing.

She introduced the concept of a Marina Fuel Station Chain to Asmira Marine and, driven by her vision, brought Frauscher Boats to Türkiye. Her portfolio also includes the management of premium yacht charter operations and brokerage under the Asmira Marine brand.

Her academic background includes a Doctorate in Management and Organization, an MBA, and a postgraduate specialization in Event Management in Switzerland. She also holds a degree in Opera and Vocal Arts. She has published extensively in international journals, books, and book chapters, primarily focusing on innovation, creative industries, and entrepreneurship.
Gonca is actively engaged in social impact initiatives. She is a member of European Women on Boards (EWOB), the TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Council, YBA, TYBA, and several other NGOs. She also contributes to and supports youth development and marine education projects, including international initiatives such as Mirno More and Kids for Freedom.

In addition to her professional achievements, she is highly active in sports. She is a medal-winning half-marathon runner with age-category victories in international races. She is also an experienced tennis player and actively practices sailing, windsurfing, golf, and skiing.

She speaks English, Italian, French, and Slovenian.

Aleksandra (Sasha) Njagulj is an ESG and sustainable investment expert with over two decades of experience in the sustainable built environment. Sasha is the Managing Director, Global Head of Sustainability, Real Estate at DWS Group, where she moved having spearheaded CBRE Investment Management’s Sustainability Vision and strategic ESG integration in investment management in her position as the Global Head of ESG for the firm. She is a Founding Partner at Sustineri Partners.

She is a qualified architect with a Master’s degree in Architectural Design from the University of Belgrade and a Master’s degree in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge.

Sasha is well-recognised for her commitment to sustainability, serving as a chair for several industry committees, and has received several professional accolades, including the EUBIN/MIPIM ESG Leadership Award, GRESB/BREEAM Individual Leadership Award and the global Future Proof Real Estate Woman Award.

Boris Nemsic is a serial entrepreneur and a board member of leading technology companies. He served as Chairman of the Board at Delta Partners (now FTI Delta), a leading TMT advisory and investment firm operating in global markets such as the US, the Middle East, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa, and as Managing Director at Time-Tech GmbH.

He was CEO of VimpelCom OJSC, the second-largest Russian integrated telecom operator, with 65 million customers across Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, and Georgia, as well as greenfield operations in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
Previously, Mr. Nemsic was CEO of Telekom Austria Group (2006–2009) and COO of Wireless Telekom Austria (2002–2006). He is a world-class manager who was named one of Europe’s top five telecom CEOs by Institutional Investor in 2007. As CEO (2000–2009), he built mobilkom austria into one of Europe’s leading mobile operator groups across eight countries in Central and Eastern Europe before taking the helm of the parent company.

Mr. Nemsic holds a PhD in technology, and his landmark paper predicted the growth and direction of the industry more than a decade in advance. He has played a key role in transforming the telecom industry, both through his strategy of promoting innovation and services, and by advocating for a market-driven regulatory environment that encourages investment. He positioned both himself and Telekom Austria Group as thought leaders and key industry voices through his advocacy of market-driven regulation, regular commentaries, forward-looking initiatives, and active involvement in industry bodies, including serving as Chairman of the Public Policy Committee of the GSMA Association.

Boris Nemsic later became an Industry Advisor to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Partners LLP (KKR), providing advisory services in the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. His role includes facilitating introductions to senior management teams and boards, evaluating and supporting new investment opportunities, working with specific KKR portfolio companies, and delivering broader advisory and consulting services.

With his strong technical background, commercial acumen, and extensive managerial experience, Nemsic is a sought-after investor, board member, and chairman in several high-tech companies. He is also a founding member of the Austrian Angel Investors Association.

Lejla is a communications expert with two decades of experience in journalism, media strategy, and stakeholder engagement across Southeast Europe and international organisations. She leads communications, public positioning, and outreach at Sustineri Partners for regional flagship initiatives, including the Adria Future Summit.

Prior to joining Sustineri Partners, Lejla held senior editorial and production roles at Al Jazeera Balkans, where she produced and presented high-profile programming in collaboration with UNESCO, UN Women, IOM, and UNFPA. Her expertise also encompasses moderating high-level events, including the Sarajevo and Belgrade Security Conferences, and AJB DOC Film Festival.

She holds an MSc in International Business Negotiation from the IESEG School of Management in Paris (French Embassy and IESEG Merit Scholar) and a BSc in Journalism and Public Relations from the University of Tuzla. Fluent in English, with strong proficiency in French and Italian, Lejla is passionate about inclusive storytelling and translating complex sustainability themes into accessible, action-oriented messages.

Đina Popović is WOBA’s Director and Legal Representative. She graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Montenegro and began her career in 2013 as a legal adviser in the Office of the Representative of Montenegro before the European Court of Human Rights.

She later worked at the Ministry of Justice and then as an adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister for the Political System, Internal and Foreign Policy. Since 2020, Đina has worked in the civil and private sector, managing projects for the AIRE Centre in Montenegro and serving as an associate with Sustineri Partners.

Her main interests include project management, ESG standards—particularly governance—and the intersection of business and human rights.

Nevena Kostić is a lawyer with fifteen years of experience in policy development, project management, research, and strategic litigation. She has contributed to numerous international projects to introduce and implement EU standards in the Western Balkans, focusing on human rights, due diligence, risk assessments, and reporting.

Nevena serves as the Head of Programmes at Women on Boards Adria and as a Senior Legal Advisor at The AIRE Centre Western Balkans, where she has led initiatives such as the project on combating corruption and organised crime through strengthening regional cooperation in asset recovery. Previously, she worked as a Legal Advisor and Project Manager at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights.

Nevena holds a Master’s degree in European Law from the University of Belgrade, a Master’s in International Business Law from Queen’s University Belfast, and a Certificate in Corporate Sustainability from NYU Stern.

Nedim Jahić is a strategic advisor specialising in communications, public affairs and institutional engagement, with over 16 years of experience across the Western Balkans. He has worked extensively in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania. He currently serves as Strategic Initiatives Advisor at Sustineri Partners, where he supports the development of high-level partnerships and strategic initiatives linked to the Adria Future Summit.

With a background in law, his work has centred on strategic communications, stakeholder engagement and institutional positioning, advising organisations, businesses and public bodies operating in complex environments. He has contributed to policy and advocacy processes in areas including refugee and returnee frameworks, diaspora engagement and institutional reform, working alongside international partners such as USAID, UNDP, GIZ, the World Bank, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the AIRE Centre.

He has provided advisory support to institutions across the defence, government, human rights, transitional justice, judicial and electoral sectors, and has contributed to capacity-building through training and lectures within university settings and international programmes across Europe.

He was born on July 5, 1978, in Tuzla.

He completed his primary education at Džemal Mandžić Primary School in 1992, after which he enrolled in the “Meša Selimović” Gymnasium in Tuzla. Upon finishing high school in 1996, he enrolled at the Faculty of Economics in Tuzla, graduating in 2003. He obtained a Master’s degree in Economics in 2023 from the Faculty of Economics in Tuzla, majoring in Management.
He has published three scientific papers to date. In addition to his regular professional duties, since 2018 he has been continuously engaged as a practitioner-lecturer on several courses at the Faculty of Economics in Tuzla.

He began his professional career in 2003 at the Health Insurance Institute of Tuzla Canton as a trainee, where he remained until 2009 working in finance. He then moved to the newly established municipal company Saobraćaj i komunikacije Tuzla, where he served as Director for nearly four years. After that, he joined the City of Tuzla administration as Assistant Mayor, heading the Department for Economic Development and Social Affairs. He held this position until 2018, after which he became an Advisor to the Mayor of Tuzla, focusing on cooperation with international organizations.

In the period 2021–2022, he served as Minister of Finance in the Government of Tuzla Canton, after which he returned to the position of Advisor to the Mayor of Tuzla. He also spent nearly six months working in the Mayor’s Office on the preparation and implementation of projects with the European Union and international organizations.

As a former athlete, he remains very active in community life and currently volunteers as a sports official, with a strong connection to the Basketball Club Sloboda Tuzla.

He is married and a father of two children.

Amina Hujdur is Programme Coordinator of the Adria Future Summit, one of the region’s most prominent annual platforms for high-level dialogue on sustainable development, resilience, social and economic growth, and European integration.

A researcher and policy professional, she has worked with international institutions, governments, businesses and civil society organisations across the region on issues spanning international relations, human rights, rule of law, security, transitional justice, gender equality, and democratic governance. Her published work addresses some of the most pressing legal and institutional challenges facing societies in transition. Prior to her research and policy work, she worked in media, including N1, CNN’s regional affiliate in the Western Balkans.

She graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Montenegro in Podgorica, where she completed both undergraduate and postgraduate specialist studies in law, obtaining the titles of Bachelor of Laws and Specialist of Legal Sciences in the field of international law. She passed the professional state exam, the bar exam, and the judicial exam.

She began her professional career in the judiciary, working as a volunteer, judicial trainee, and later as an independent advisor at the High Court in Podgorica, including in the specialised department for organised crime, corruption, terrorism, and war crimes. She continued her career at the Office of the Agent of Montenegro before the European Court of Human Rights within the General Secretariat of the Government of Montenegro, where she was involved in representing the state, drafting legal submissions, analysing cases, and monitoring the execution of the Court’s judgments.

She served as Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of Montenegro, actively participating in international initiatives such as the Berlin Process. She served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of Montenegro on foreign policy, actively participating in international processes and the preparation of strategic documents. She also worked as a Senior Legal Advisor at the AIRE Centre and as a consultant at Sustineri Partners, focusing on projects related to the rule of law and public policy. She currently holds the positions of Project Manager at the AIRE Centre and Head of Government Affairs at Sustineri Partners, and is also an attorney-at-law and founder of Radević Legal Counsel.

She is the author and co-author of several publications in the field of human rights and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, including analyses of judicial practice and manuals for the judiciary.

Džihan Abazović, is a physician and researcher working in the field of regenerative medicine, cellular and subcellular therapies, and longevity medicine. His work focuses on the clinical and translational application of advanced regenerative technologies including bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), platelet‐rich plasma (PRP), exosome‐based therapies, mitochondrial transfer, and blood purification protocols. He actively participates in international scientific congresses and collaborations focused on the integration of regenerative medicine into preventive and longevity‐oriented healthcare models.

Scientific metrics: H‐index 11, with more than 800 citations in peer‐reviewed scientific literature.

Barbara Amerio is the CEO and Sustainability Officer of Amer Yachts, the independent Italian shipyard founded by her father, Fernando, in 1993. With over 30 years of experience in the luxury yachting industry, she is recognized as a leader and an advocate for sustainability and gender equality. An expert in negotiation, sales, shipping, insurance, boat shows, charter markets, and maritime safety, Amerio combines entrepreneurial skills with a passion for innovation. With her brother Rodolfo, she has led the family business to international growth through the production of custom-made, eco-friendly superyachts crafted in Italy. Through her expertise, she continues to drive the company’s ecological transition and global expansion, while inspiring the next generation of maritime professionals. At Amer Yachts she has built a dynamic, women-led administrative and commercial team, promoting an empathetic management style focused on human capital, continuous learning, and work-life balance. Barbara Amerio also fosters academic partnerships, bridging education and industry through lectures, research, internships, and onboard experiences, advancing ESG research and shaping the future of the yachting sector.

Nina Angelovska Stankov is a recognized entrepreneur, business leader, and former Minister of Finance, the first woman to hold this position in the Republic of North Macedonia.

She co-founded Grouper.mk, the first deal platform and leading e-commerce company in the country, which launched in 2011 and played a transformative role in shaping Macedonia’s digital commerce landscape. After a decade of leading and scaling the company, she successfully exited Grouper through its acquisition by the Polish group Asseco SEE (Payten).

Driven by her passion for digital transformation and innovation, Nina founded the Macedonian E-commerce Association in 2017, laying the groundwork for the sector’s collaborative growth. She has served on several boards, including the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, the European E-commerce and Omnichannel Trade Association (EMOTA), and Makedonski Telekom.

Committed to advancing gender equality, Nina established the Gender Equality Alliance in the Workplace (GEA) in 2022 and continues to advocate for women in technology, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Her impact has earned widespread recognition – In 2018 she was named Forbes 30 Under 30. In 2019 she was appointed as one of the seven global UNCTAD eTrade for Women Advocates. In 2023, Bloomberg Adria selected her in the list of ‘Top 50 People’.

Most recently, she served as Director of Expansion for Ananas E-commerce (Delta Holding), leading market entries into North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. She currently serves as President of the Macedonian Ecommerce Association, the Balkan E-commerce Alliance, and the Gender Equality Alliance.

Born in Morocco in 1959, Richard Attias completed his studies in civil engineering and earned a master’s degree in mathematics and physics. He began his career at IBM, and his passion for innovation led him to establish several companies in the IT and global communications fields.

Richard Attias also spent over a decade at the media conglomerate Publicis Group, where he served as Executive Chairman of Publicis Events Worldwide. From 1992 to 2008, he was the Executive Producer of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. He also co-founded the Nobel Laureates Conferences and designed more than 1,000 high-level events for governments, institutions, and corporations, including the Jordan Festival, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Conference (Dakar), L’Oréal for Women in Science, as well as exclusive corporate events for Sanofi, LVMH, Lenovo, IBM, and HP, to name a few.

Thanks to his unrivaled reputation for advising international leaders, corporations, and nations on how to lead and drive impact, in 2008, Richard Attias was appointed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to create a strong ecosystem to attract FDI and lead the nation branding strategy of the Emirate of Dubai. Within just a few years, Dubai became the top destination in the region, attracting more than 15 million visitors annually.

In 2008, he founded Richard Attias & Associates, a consulting and advisory firm specializing in nation branding with a special focus on building the right ecosystem to attract FDI. In his capacity as Founder and Chairman of Richard Attias & Associates, he led the communication strategy of multiple countries.

He co-founded the Clinton Global Initiative and, in 2010, founded The New York Forum to relaunch the US economy. This was shortly followed by the creation of The New York Forum AFRICA. Between 2014 and 2019, he was entrusted by President Macky Sall to position Senegal as one of the leading countries in Sub-Sahara, designing the country’s entire event and tourism strategy. Within two years, Senegal became the top destination in sub-Saharan Africa for events, conferences, and international summits, hosting the Water Forum, the Youth Olympics, and the Francophonie Summit.

Since 2008, Richard Attias has been the architect and driving force behind numerous official ceremonies, social and cultural events, as well as iconic nation branding and investment-enabling events. These include the APEC CEO Summit, the Doha GOALS Forum in Qatar and Los Angeles, the Build Africa Forum in Congo (2014), African Development Bank Conferences, the Global Entrepreneurship Forum, the Egypt Economic Development Conference, the Global Competitiveness Forum, the Argentina Investment Forum, the Bloomberg US–Africa Business Forum, the Bloomberg Business Forum, the AGOA Forum, the One Planet Summit in Paris, the President Trump visit to Saudi Arabia in 2017, the Peace to Prosperity Workshop in Bahrain (phase one of the Abraham Accords), and the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, which has since become the world’s leading investment conference.

Through these innovative and memorable platforms, Richard Attias has built outstanding relationships with the world’s leading sovereign wealth funds and private equity funds. He has continuously created opportunities to raise financing for frontier and emerging markets, working closely with heads of state, such as the Republic of Congo (receiving $2 billion FDI in 2014), Egypt ($5 billion FDI in 2015), and Argentina ($3 billion FDI in 2016), among others.

In 2018, Richard Attias entered into a financial partnership with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and, in 2019, became the CEO of the FII Institute, a next-generation not-for-profit foundation dedicated to empowering the world’s brightest minds to shape a brighter future for all. In 2024, he was appointed as a Special Advisor to PIF.

Richard Attias has led several branding strategies for countries and crisis communications, notably for Saudi Arabia and a number of African nations.

Over the past 30 years, Richard’s talent for anticipating and addressing the most pressing issues of our time, activating powerful networks, and inspiring innovation has made him a trusted advisor to many heads of state who have sought his support in building their nation’s brands, expanding engagement, and achieving economic and social goals.

Ivana Bajović is a strategic communications and corporate affairs executive currently serving as Special Advisor to the CEO at Telekom Srbija Group. In this role, she leads strategic expansion initiatives and oversees international media relations and global communications, supporting the company’s positioning across multiple international markets. Throughout her career, she has held senior leadership roles in marketing, public relations, and corporate communications, with a strong focus on executive advisory, reputation management, and international stakeholder engagement.

She is actively involved in global business and technology communities, contributing to cross-market partnerships, public diplomacy, and initiatives related to digital transformation. Her work supports Telekom Srbija Group’s evolution from a traditional telecom operator into a technology-driven digital services company, with investments in 5G, multimedia platforms, artificial intelligence, and next-generation digital services.

With extensive experience in strategic communications and international positioning, Ivana has built a track record of managing high-level projects, strengthening corporate visibility, and supporting business growth across Southeast Europe and global markets. She is particularly focused on innovation, partnerships, and advancing the role of technology in shaping future digital ecosystems.

David is a Managing Consultant at twentyfifty with 15 years of experience leading teams and helping businesses improve their practices, with a particular focus on the Industrials, Energy and Finance sectors. He has experience working across all the areas of Human Rights Due Diligence, from strategy and policy creation ​to practical implementation of risk mitigation measures.

Nikica Mojsoska Blazhevski is CEO of Macedonia2025, one of the Western Balkans’ most influential think tanks driving economic reform, innovation, and EU integration. A former Professor and Dean at American College University and a senior macroeconomic policy adviser at the Ministry of Finance, where she led the delegation in economic dialogue with the European Commission and participated in IMF negotiations, she brings over two decades of experience at the intersection of public policy, institutional governance, and strategic reform. She has advised governments and international organizations, including the World Bank, ILO, OECD, EU Commission, and UN Women, and currently serves on the Economic Council of the Government of Macedonia, the Board of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Council of the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia. Co-founder of the GoDigital Centre for Digital Transformation, she is a leading voice on how small emerging economies can leapfrog legacy systems and build platform-driven digital futures rooted in trust, inclusion, and innovation.

Marijana Kadić Bojanić is the Chief Executive Officer of Television Vijesti and Daily Press, the most influential independent media outlets in Montenegro and the media organizations that enjoy the highest level of public trust among citizens. Television Vijesti, where she previously served as an editor, has for years been the most-watched television station in Montenegro. The independent daily newspaper Vijesti has been the country’s most influential daily for nearly three decades, while its online portal has, since its establishment more than a decade ago, been by far the most widely read in the country.

Kadić Bojanić graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy in Nikšić. She began her media career in 1999 as a journalist for the weekly Monitor.

She is the recipient of several awards. In 2005, she received the Media Institute Award for Investigative Journalism. In 2012, she was presented with the “Iskra” Philanthropy Award. In 2017, she was named Best Manager by the Employers’ Union, and for her business achievements in 2020, she received the Best Manager Award from the Montenegrin Association of Managers. In 2022, the same Association presented her with a special recognition for her contribution to media management. In June 2022, she was elected to the Supervisory Board of the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). She serves as President of the Association of Women Leaders and Vice President of the Montenegrin Association of Managers.

Kadić Bojanić is engaged in humanitarian work and is an environmental activist. For her contributions to environmental protection, she received the Green Star Award and was named an International Ambassador for Environmental Protection. She is committed to advancing media freedom, gender equality, and socially responsible business practices. She is married and a mother of three.

Jovana Bojović was born in 1989. After completing her studies at the Philological Grammar School, she went on to obtain both her undergraduate and specialist degrees in European Studies at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Montenegro. She completed her Master’s degree in European Economic Integration at the Faculty of Economics, University of Montenegro, in 2014, and subsequently enrolled in doctoral studies at the Faculty of Humanities. During her studies, she was awarded scholarships by the British Council and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, of which she is an alumna.

In May 2010, whilst still a student at the Faculty of Political Science, she began an internship in the Public Relations Office of the General Secretariat of the Government of Montenegro as part of an NGO CDT project, following which she completed a traineeship in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet in the field of public relations.

She has been engaged in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet since September 2010, holding the positions of Independent Adviser and Adviser. From 2018 to 2020, she served as Deputy Head of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. In July 2022, she was appointed Adviser to the Prime Minister, a position to which she was reappointed on 9 November 2023. She headed the Government of Montenegro’s Public Relations Service from 2022 to 2026.

Until 2017, when Montenegro became a NATO member, she served on the Communication Team of the Council for NATO Membership. From 2012, when Montenegro’s EU accession negotiations commenced, she was a member of the Working Group for Negotiating Chapter 31 — Foreign, Security and Defence Policy. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she served on the Communication Team of the National Coordination Body for Combating Infectious Diseases. In 2025, as a member of the Organising Committee and part of the management team, she led Montenegro’s participation in the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

Over more than 15 years in public administration, she has contributed to the development of numerous strategic documents governing public communication, including the Government of Montenegro’s Communication Rules, the Government Communication Strategy 2018–2020, an analysis of public relations with communication guidelines, the Strategy for Public Information on Montenegro’s EU Accession 2023–2026, and others.

In collaboration with the British Government Communication Service and the British Embassy in Podgorica, she has, since 2018, delivered a wide range of public communication training programmes, as well as a key public communication skills training programme for the Human Resources Administration. In partnership with the United States Embassy through the Fulbright Programme, she has also conducted training for public relations professionals in the field of crisis communication.

She has completed numerous training programmes both in Montenegro and abroad, including the KAS Political Communication Programme in Italy, the Strategic Communications, National Security and Counter-Disinformation Programme with the Government Communication Service in London, the Human Resources Management and Leadership Programme in Beijing, programmes on freedom of information and digital communications in Berlin, and the NATO Strategic Communication Programme in Rome.

In 2015, she was named to the Crans Montana Forum’s Young Leaders for Tomorrow club. She is a member of the Club of Venice, an informal association of public sector communications professionals.

Since October 2023, Ms. Ivana Markovic Boskovic has been serving as a Senior Expert on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans at the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat. She coordinates regional cooperation activities for the Green Agenda in collaboration with the European Commission, Western Balkans authorities, and other key stakeholders, while also managing budgets and monitoring processes.

Ms Markovic Boskovic brings extensive field experience from South East Europe and Central Asia where she has worked in the past 14 years, in introducing good economic and environmental governance standards compliant with the OSCE, UN, and EU standards, advancing regional dialogue on the pressing environmental and energy challenges, and implementing environmental security and sustainable development agenda.

From 2017 to 2023, Ms. Ivana Markovic Boskovic led the Economic and Environmental Department at the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, where she managed programs and projects in Turkmenistan and Central Asia, advising on economic and environmental issues. Temporarily acting as Programme Coordinator from January to August 2019, she coordinated three departments, supervised staff, and deputized for the Head of Centre, including serving as Officer-in-Charge. She played a crucial role as the Centre’s liaison with the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre and the Programme Evaluation Support Unit, ensuring comprehensive reporting and coordination on programmatic issues. Prior to this, she served as a Democratization Assistant on Good Governance and Environment for the OSCE Mission to Montenegro from 2010 to 2017 and began her career in 2009 at the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro.

Academically, she holds a Spec Sci in International Relations and Bachelor of Arts in Diplomacy and International Relations with high honors, receiving multiple awards for academic excellence. She is currently pursuing an MA in Euro-Atlantic Integrations, focusing on EU environmental policy.Ms Markovic Boskovic contributed to several publications, including a Guide for future environmental activists, Analyses on the Aarhus Convention implementation, The role of parliamentary parties in environmental protection, The work of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment, and an Instruction manual for teachers on sustainable waste management.

Ivan Bulatović is Advisor on International Institutional Relations to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of EPCG. He was born in 1979 in Podgorica. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Montenegro.

He began his professional career at EPCG (2004–2009), where he worked as a Protection Relay Engineer. Following the establishment of the Montenegrin Transmission System Operator (CGES) as a separate joint-stock company, he held the position of Chief Engineer for Protection and Testing from 2009 to 2013.

From 2014 to 2018, he served as Chief Executive Officer of CGES. He subsequently held several senior management positions, including Assistant Executive Director for Development, Assistant Director of Transmission, and Assistant Executive Director for International and Institutional Cooperation (2018–2019).

He later served as Chief Executive Officer of the Coordinated Auction Office in South East Europe (SEE CAO). From 2024 to 2025, he was Chief Executive Officer of EPCG.

In parallel, he has held a number of notable governance and professional roles, including President of the Assembly and Member of the Supervisory Board of the Security Coordination Centre (2015–2018), President of the Energy and Mining Committee of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro (since 2023), and Member of the Board of Directors of Terna Montenegro (since 2022).

Daniel Calderon is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Alcazar Energy Partners (AEP).

Under his leadership, AEP has raised over USD 730 million across two funds, creating one of the largest independent renewable energy portfolios in the MENA region.

Before founding AEP, Daniel developed several gigawatts of renewable energy projects, including the first and second utility-scale wind farms in the Middle East, the first solar CSP plant in the region, the world’s first CSP tower with salt storage, and the world’s largest offshore wind farm as of 2014. He also led investments in platforms such as Fotowatio, Torresol Energy, and Theolia.

Previously, Daniel served as Head of Origination and Investment Management at Masdar, where he led USD 7 billion in renewable energy investments, and held senior roles at GE Energy Financial Services.

Daniel has over 25 years of experience and holds degrees in Industrial Engineering and Finance from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (Cum Laude), and an MBA from London Business School.

Kevin Colgan is a senior Irish diplomat with over three decades of experience in international development, infrastructure, and multilateral engagement. He has served as Ambassador of Ireland to Serbia and Montenegro since 2025, and previously as Ambassador to Uganda and Rwanda from 2021 to 2025.

His career spans leadership roles across Africa and Europe, including Deputy Head of Mission in Maputo and Kampala, Chief Technical Advisor in Zambia, and Director of the Property Management Unit at Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs. Earlier in his career, he worked as a mechanical engineer in Zambia and the UK, bringing a grounded technical perspective to his diplomatic work.

A graduate in Mechanical Engineering and holder of a Master’s degree in Development Management, Kevin has dedicated much of his career to advancing sustainable development, policy effectiveness, and Ireland’s bilateral relationships across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Western Balkans.

Miloš Colić (1982) is the Founder and CEO of New Energy Solutions (NES), a company he has led since 2012, specializing in renewable energy project development, construction supervision, and asset management services.

He began his career in the renewable energy sector in 2009 and since then, he has been actively involved in the development of wind energy projects across Central and Eastern Europe. In Serbia, he led the development of a wind farm portfolio exceeding 500 MW, representing approximately 80% of the country’s operational wind capacity and attracting investments of nearly €1 billion.

Beyond project development, Miloš and his team established one of the leading renewable energy operations and asset management platforms in Serbia. Over the years, NES has cumulatively managed approximately two-thirds of Serbia’s installed wind capacity, with projects entering and exiting the portfolio as management mandates evolved and new projects came online.

Miloš serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association OIE Srbija (Renewable Energy Sources Serbia) and as Vice President of the Renewable Energy Group within the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia.

Prior to his work in renewable energy, he spent four years at UniCredit Bank (formerly HVB), working in the Corporate Credit Department and Private Banking.

Dr. Sanja Damjanovic is a physicist with over 25 years of experience at leading international research institutions, including CERN in Geneva and the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany. She earned her Ph.D. in physics from Heidelberg University.

From 2016 to 2020, she served as Minister of Science of Montenegro, where she led strategic reforms to strengthen national research capacity and foster international scientific collaboration. During her mandate, she initiated SEEIIST (South East European International Institute for Sustainable Technologies), a pan-European research infrastructure and flagship regional initiative advancing cancer treatment and scientific excellence in South-East Europe. She also served as the first Chair of the SEEIIST Intergovernmental Steering Committee.

Since 2021, Dr. Damjanovic holds a permanent research position at Helmholtz Institute GSI-FAIR in Darmstadt. She is also an active member of the EU Science Diplomacy Working Group, contributing to efforts to use science diplomacy to address global challenges in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.

Her work bridges science, policy, and international cooperation, with a strong focus on large-scale research infrastructures, innovation ecosystems, and strengthening Europe’s scientific cohesion.

Alfredo Longo is a Harvard University (USA) educated executive with a postgraduate degree in International Policy Studies from the University of California (USA). Alfredo has two decades of experience overseeing large-scale investments across the globe on behalf of National Champions and Global Firms, able to secure the intended returns to Investors and Stakeholders. Since 2018, Alfredo has been at the helm of Monterock International as their CEO, where he continues leading the company to success.

Boris Darmanović is a media entrepreneur, editor, and a long-time contributor to the development of the media system and digital journalism in Montenegro. He began his journalism career at the age of 16, and took on his first professional role at 18 with the newly established Vijesti.

He served as the editor-in-chief of the MINA Business agency from its founding, worked as an editor at the daily newspaper Publika, and founded and led several media and analytical companies. Twenty-five years ago, he acquired the small portal CdM, which was on the verge of shutting down, and transformed it into one of the most widely read and influential media outlets in Montenegro. He is also the founder of the daily newspaper Dnevne novine. As co-founder and director of Media Nea, he acquired the bankrupt oldest Montenegrin daily newspaper Pobjeda, which was also close to closure and is now considered one of the more influential media outlets in the country.

Darmanović played an important role in the development of media legislation, he was the initiator and coordinator behind the adoption of the first Law on Free Access to Information in Montenegro, participated in the drafting of media laws, and was part of the initiative to create the first Code of Ethics for journalists. He is the founder of the Association of Young Journalists and several projects in the fields of media monitoring, analytics, and digital archiving.

As an international consultant for the National Democratic Institute (NDI), he worked on training media analysts in several countries, including Iraq, Kosovo, and Albania.

His work focuses on media transformation, the development of digital platforms, and improving journalistic standards.

Marie Didier is a scientist, entrepreneur, and founder of MATIS, a Swiss deep-tech company at the forefront of material intelligence. She holds a Ph.D. in Nonlinear Optics from EPFL and advanced degrees in physics and conservation science, with a career spanning research, innovation, and international collaboration.

As CEO of MATIS, she leads the development of portable multispectral imaging and AI-driven solutions that transform physical materials into structured, actionable data. Positioned at the intersection of optics, machine learning, and real-world applications, MATIS operates across three key verticals: art and cultural heritage, where it supports authentication, conservation, and documentation; forensics and counterfeit detection, enabling material-level evidence for investigations and security; and industrial monitoring, focused on early detection of material degradation and risk.

Before founding MATIS, Marie worked at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and at CSEM, specializing in advanced imaging and algorithmic analysis. She also co-founded RestArt Beirut, a cultural diplomacy initiative connecting scientific expertise with local craftsmanship and education.

Her work is driven by a broader vision: building a new infrastructure of material intelligence to enhance trust, traceability, and decision-making across critical sectors.

Born in Florence in 1967, Luca Dini has over 30 years of experience in the nautical world. After beginning his career in 1987 at the studio of Pierluigi Spadolini, he developed a unique style that led him to coin the term “non-architect architect”.

In 1996, he founded LUCA DINI Design & Architecture in Florence. Initially focused on super and megayachts, the firm gained international acclaim for its visionary custom designs. Inspired by the “beauty” of his hometown, Dini has built a prestigious global network, translating clients’ dreams into reality through meticulous craftsmanship.

In recent years, he expanded into urban design and architecture, notably managing the master plan for Sindalah Island (NEOM) in Saudi Arabia. In October 2023, the studio became Luca Dini S.p.A. Today, it is one of Italy’s leading firms by turnover, boasting a team of over 60 professionals. With offices in Florence, Forte dei Marmi, and Saudi Arabia, the firm remains a global beacon of innovation, art, and excellence.

Zdravko Dragaš, Chief Executive Officer of the Montenegrin Electric Entreprise, was born in 1972 in Podgorica. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Montenegro, is a member of the Engineering Chamber of Montenegro, and has more than twenty years of experience in the energy sector.

He began his professional career in 2000 as a project manager and executive director in several companies.

He is the founder and owner of the company CEMA from Podgorica, specialized in the engineering design, execution, and supervision of construction and installation works.

Marija Dukovska-Pavlovska is an Executive Member of the Board of Directors and General Manager of Makstil AD Skopje, a role she has held for the past four years. She brings extensive leadership experience across general management, human resources, and learning and development at a regional level. Her professional background spans the manufacturing sector primarily the electronics industry as well as the banking sector.

Marija has strong international experience gained through her work in the non-governmental sector, where she coordinated Human Resources and Finance for projects across Southeast Europe. In addition, she has served as an expert in Organizational and Financial Performance Improvement (FOPIP) for five water utilities in North Macedonia.

Prior to joining Makstil, Marija held senior leadership roles including Managing Director of an international company based in North Macedonia, as well as HR Director for Eastern Europe and Learning EMEA within the same organization.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, and a Master of Science in Economic Studies (Entrepreneurship) from Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek, Croatia. Her professional development includes leadership programs at Atlanta Tech University, along with certifications as an NLP Trainer and Consultant and Mindset Map Coach.

With broad consultancy experience advising over 25 domestic companies and organizations, Marija is a passionate lifelong learner, certified coach, trainer, and facilitator of programs including SDI and FranklinCovey.

Dorottya Durucsko is Head of Government Affairs and Sustainability at Wizz Air, responsible for public policy, sustainability strategy, ESG reporting, and regulatory engagement across EU, UK, and national frameworks. Her role includes engagement with public authorities and institutions, contribution to the company’s strategic commercial and operational objectives, and oversight of Wizz Air’s approach to aviation decarbonisation within an evolving policy and regulatory environment. She previously held investor relations roles at Wizz Air, where her experience in capital markets communication continues to inform her approach to governance and external engagement. Dorottya holds degrees from Corvinus University of Budapest and Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Mr. Petar Djokic was born in 1961 in Brcko where he completed elementary school. He completed high school in internal affairs in Sarajevo, and earned his degree in economics in Belgrade.

Mr. Djokic worked in the police department in Brcko prior to the war and performed important political functions in Brcko in the municipal assembly of Brcko where he served as a delegate and a member of the municipal Executive Board. Mr. Djokic also held important positions in the RS Refugees Commissariat. Mr. Djokic was the owner and director of the private trading company ‘Intermarket’ in Brcko and chairman of the Managing Board of the UNIS state company from Republika Srpska. During several mandates Mr. Djokic has been elected a deputy in the RS National Assembly and in two terms nominated to the position of the Speaker of the RS National Assembly and also acted as the Chairman of the RS NA Defense and Security Committee.

From 2010 to 2014, Mr. Đokić served as Minister of Labor, War Veterans and Disabled Persons’ Protection in the Government of Republika Srpska. He was subsequently appointed Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining from 2014 to 2018.

Since 2018, he has been serving as Minister of Energy and Mining of Republika Srpska.

He has received numerous recognitions and awards for his public and professional work.

Mr. Djokic lives in Brcko, father of one child.

Milutin Đukanović has been serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of EPCG since 2021. He was born on September 22, 1963, in Nikšić, where he completed his primary and secondary education. He graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Podgorica.

From 1992 to 2012, he was employed at Elektroprivreda AD Nikšić, where he held a number of positions: Information Systems Programmer (1992–1995), Information Systems Designer (1995–1996), Senior Information Systems Designer (1997–2006), Head of Design and Programming Department (2006–2010), Head of the Development and Business Solutions Implementation Sector (2010–2012), and Coordinator for the implementation of a new electricity billing system (2011–2012).

He served as a Member of the Parliament of Montenegro from 2012 to 2020. During the period from 2012 to 2016, he was a member of the Committee on Economy, Budget and Finance, as well as a member of the Commission for the Control of Privatization Procedures. From 2016 to 2020, he was a member of the Administrative Committee. He also served as Head of the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Front from 2015 to 2020.

From 2003 to 2011, he was President of the Nikšić Municipal Board of the New Serbian Democracy party. Since 2009, he has held the position of President of the Executive Board of New Serbian Democracy, where he was also a member of the Presidency. He served as a councillor in the Municipal Assembly of Nikšić in two terms.

He is proficient in several programming languages, including SQL Oracle Navigator, Visual FoxPro, Visual Basic, Clipper, and MATLAB.

Peter Felten is an economist by profession. Having completed his university studies in Augsburg/Germany and Lyon/France, he joined the German Federal Foreign Service in 1993. He served at the German Consulate-General in Saratov/Russia, at the German Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and at the German Embassy in Lisbon/Portugal prior to becoming the first German Ambassador to South Sudan immediately upon South Sudan’s independence in 2011. Later he served as Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Islamabad/Pakistan and Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the German Embassy in Baghdad/Iraq. At Headquarters in Berlin, he worked in the protocol division and on international humanitarian assistance. From 2016 to 2020 he headed the Division for Humanitarian Assistance – Policy, International Organisations and Multilateral Coordination, and served, for a three-year period, as a Member of the Advisory Group to the UN Secretary-General on the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) of the United Nations. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Felten worked as Foreign Policy Advisor to Siemens AG, Munich. He became German Ambassador to Montenegro on 29 July, 2022.

Stefan Frauscher is a leading figure of the Austrian family business Frauscher Shipyard, a premium boat builder renowned for combining timeless design, innovation and high performance on the water. As part of the third generation of the Frauscher family, he has played a key role in shaping the international profile of the brand and strengthening its reputation for craftsmanship, emotional design and pioneering electric mobility. Public company and industry sources describe him as a long-standing member of the management team, with responsibilities including sales, marketing and international market development. Under the Frauscher family’s leadership, the shipyard has expanded its global presence while staying true to its heritage as a specialist manufacturer of exclusive motor and electric boats. Stefan Frauscher is widely associated with the strategic growth of the company and with positioning Frauscher as one of Europe’s most distinctive premium boat brands.

Currently building the dog longevity company, Moe is a multi-time founder with 10+ years building and scaling tech startups across AI and SaaS. Led 30+ product launches globally, with several scaling to multi-million-dollar revenues.

Borko Handjiski is a Partner at Oliver Wyman in the Government and Public Institutions practice, leading the firm’s public sector work in the UAE.

Borko brings more than two decades of experience advising governments on strategy, public policy, and organisational development. He spent the first half of his career at the World Bank, supporting the economic development of emerging economies across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Since 2015, he has been based in the UAE, advising public sector leaders across the country and the broader region, including three years as an internal adviser to the Government of Abu Dhabi (Department of Finance).

Borko is also the author of The Public Sector CEO and a Board Member of Macedonia2025, the largest non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the economic development of his home country, North Macedonia.

Dr Filip Ivanović was born in Podgorica in 1986. He obtained BA and MA degrees from the Department of Philosophy of the University of Bologna, and a PhD from the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Diplomatic Practice from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

He worked as a research/teaching fellow at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the University of Leuven, the Van Leer Institute in Jerusalem and the University of Donja Gorica, and spent research stays at the University of Aarhus and the Norwegian Institute at Athens. In April 2022 he was appointed assistant research professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies of the University of Montenegro.

In February 2020 he was visiting professor at the University of North Bengal in India. Since 2021 he is visiting scholar at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in History of Ideas (CRISI) at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan. He gave a number of invited lectures in Podgorica, Belgrade, Bratislava, Minsk and Paris.

He is expert evaluator of the European Commission, expert of the Agency for Control and Quality Assurance of Higher Education of Montenegro, member of the College of Research Associates of the European Science Foundation, and member of the Committee for Philosophy and Sociology of the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts. From 2018 to 2021 he was member of the Working Group for the Negotiations on Accession of Montenegro to the EU for chapter 25 “Science and Research”. From May 2022 to August 2023, he served as member of the Governing Board of the University of Montenegro.

He participated at over thirty international conferences and symposia in UK, Italy, Russia, Israel, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Argentina, etc. He authored a number of books, scholarly articles and book chapters.

Dr Ivanović is fellow of the Young Academy of Europe and Royal Historical Society, as well as of several other professional and scholarly associations.

From October 2023 to July 2024, he served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Elena Mladenovska Jelenković is a senior executive and strategic leader with more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of sustainability, corporate transformation, regional competitiveness, institutional development, and education. Her work has consistently focused on embedding long-term value creation into business strategy, sector development, and cross-institutional cooperation.

As CEO of WOM, she leads initiatives that advance the wine and vineyard sectors through stronger production standards, sharper international positioning, and the promotion of enogastronomy and sustainable tourism as drivers of economic resilience and brand value. In parallel, through her role at M6 Educational Center, she supports companies and institutions in strengthening strategic, managerial, and innovation capacities to build more future-ready organizations and competitive economic ecosystems.

Her background spans the private sector, civil society, and international development, with expertise in strategy, stakeholder engagement, project leadership, and organizational capacity building. Over the course of her career, she has worked across sectors central to the ESG and transformation agenda, including agriculture, food production, tourism, digitalization, rural development, environment, finance, education, employment, gender equality, and trade.

Elena has also led and supported numerous international technical assistance, and capacity-building projects, many linked to EU regulatory alignment, reform priorities, and accession-related frameworks in North Macedonia. She has collaborated extensively with governments, municipalities, chambers of commerce, public institutions, companies, NGOs, and international partners, including initiatives supported by the EU, USAID, SDC, Erasmus+, the UN, FAO, GIZ, the British Council, and diplomatic missions. Her work is marked by a practical ESG mindset, governance sensibility, and a commitment to commercially sound and socially responsible transformation.

Petar Jovanović is the President of the Executive Board of AIK Banka a.d. Belgrade. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Finance from London Business School.

During his career that spans more than two decades, Petar has accumulated valuable experience in the in the financial and banking industry.

His professional journey includes significant roles at Raiffeisen International Holding in Vienna, Austria, where he played an integral part in overseeing retail operations across 15 CEE countries. Transitioning to Raiffeisen bank Serbia in 2010, he assumed the position of Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, focusing on digital and retail banking activities. From the position of CEO, he led integration process of RBA bank, which was successfully completed in April 2023.

Through strategic investments and advisory roles, including board positions in relevant organizations, he actively supports the startup ecosystem, empowering innovations and supporting entrepreneurs to achieve sustainable growth.

Goran Jovanovski, born in 1976, is an experienced lawyer with more than 16 years of commitment in the public sector, management of institutions and projects and over 10 years in the private sector. Since August 2024, he has been serving as State Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources of the Republic of North Macedonia, where he actively manages administrative officials, contributes to the improvement of energy policy and the management of national resources.

Jovanovski, a law graduate, has more than 16 years of experience in management positions in state institutions, where he successfully coordinated projects and development initiatives. Among his significant previous positions, his appointment as a cabinet officer in the Ministry of Information Society and Administration, as well as the position of secretary in the Municipality of Brvenica, stand out. In addition, he has extensive experience in the Employment Agency, where he managed sectors for active and passive measures for the unemployed, improvement of human resources and rights of the unemployed. Jovanovski is known for his extensive experience in the field of labor and social policy. From 2008 to 2011, he was the Director of the State Labor Inspectorate at the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, where he advocated for the improvement of workers’ rights, safety and health at work.

These positions allowed him to gain a deep understanding of the needs and challenges of the Macedonian labor market, as well as the importance of supporting the unemployed and their social security.

As part of his international experience, Mr. Jovanovski stands out as the Macedonian representative at the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in Bilbao, Spain, where he actively worked on the harmonization of Macedonian standards with EU regulations in the field of worker safety.

Mr. Jovanovski’s competencies include excellent organizational and coordination skills, as well as significant experience in managing teams, projects and budgets. He also possesses strong communication and interpersonal skills, acquired through many years of working in multicultural and complex environments.

With his expertise and dedication, Jovanovski continues to contribute to the efficient management and development of the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources, working to implement reforms and improve energy efficiency and protect the natural resources of North Macedonia.

Dejan Kamenjašević is a European basketball leader and industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in the sport. Originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, he has built an international career shaped by high-performance basketball environments, combining technical expertise with strategic leadership.

Kamenjašević is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sports in Dubai Basketball Club, the first professional basketball franchise representing Dubai and the United Arab Emirates in international competition. Under his leadership, the club was established with a clear ambition to position Dubai on the global basketball map, progressing from participation in the ABA League to competing in the EuroLeague.
He has a proven track record of success, including coaching roles with leading EuroLeague teams such as FC Barcelona and Baskonia, achieving multiple wins across competitions including the Catalan National League and the FIBA Champions League.

In parallel, Kamenjašević has been deeply committed to youth development, demonstrated through founding the Dubai Basketball Club youth programme from the early stages of the franchise. This initiative supports structured pathways for emerging talent and fosters growth aligned with international standards.

Kamenjašević brings a distinctive perspective on the intersection of sport, leadership, and market development, bridging established European basketball traditions with emerging opportunities in new, globally competitive markets.

Neda Maria Kaizumi is a CEO, AI governance expert, and advisor working at the intersection of technology, policy, and business transformation. She is actively engaged in European and international AI standardization efforts, including contributions aligned with the EU AI Act and ISO frameworks for responsible and trustworthy AI.

With extensive C-suite experience, Neda advises organizations across Europe and the Middle East on how to design, implement, and scale AI systems that are compliant, ethical, and business-driven. She specializes in AI governance, risk management, data strategy, and operationalizing standards such as ISO/IEC 42001 and emerging harmonized AI regulations.

As Founder of Min Sone, she develops AI-powered solutions and executive-level programs that enable companies to move from experimentation to structured, scalable AI adoption. Her work spans sectors including finance, energy, and public institutions, where she supports leadership teams in aligning AI strategy with regulatory requirements and real-world impact.

Neda is also a recognized speaker and moderator at international conferences, known for translating complex AI regulations into actionable business frameworks.

Max Kholin is Co-Founder and Chief Corporate Development Officer of Gero — a Singapore-headquartered AI-driven longevity biotechnology company building drugs to slow and ultimately stop human aging.

Gero applies the physics of complex dynamic systems to model biology, and has published several landmark breakthroughs in aging and age-related diseases in Science and Nature Communications, with coverage by Scientific American and Popular Mechanics. Most recently, Nature opened a dedicated Gerophysics collection with Gero representatives serving as co-editors — a formal recognition of Gerophysics as an emerging scientific discipline in its own right.

The company’s proprietary Gerophysics framework enables a drug discovery approach fundamentally unlike conventional biotech. Gero has established research collaborations with Pfizer and Roche/Chugai, the latter carrying up to $250M in milestones and potential multi-billion royalty streams. Gero has achieved systemic rejuvenation in mice and is advancing a pipeline of drug candidates across neurodegeneration, women’s health, and metabolic diseases.

Max holds Master’s degrees in Law and Finance.

Beyond corporate development, Max is a film co-producer whose credits include Immortalist — a longevity-themed feature starring Franco Nero (Django), Sherilyn Fenn (Twin Peaks), and Aubrey de Grey as himself, which received international festival.

A well-experienced professional with a strong leadership track record in energy, environment, climate change, innovation and inclusive local development, she brings a unique ability to connect ideas, people and resources into impactful solutions. Recognized for her creativity, strategic thinking and hands-on approach, she enjoys engaging in open dialogue and exchanging ideas on topics such as just transition, circular economy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport, and innovative, inclusive urban development.

Željko Komnenović, Mayor of Tivat, was born in 1971 in Kotor. He holds a degree in Serbo-Croatian language and Yugoslav literature from the Faculty of Philosophy in Nikšić, where he also pursued postgraduate studies.

Before assuming the office of Mayor, he served as Director and later Executive Director of Radio Television Herceg Novi. He built a distinguished career as a journalist, working for over 20 years at Radio Tivat and contributing to leading media outlets in Montenegro and the region, including Dan, Politika, Vijesti, Blic Crna Gora, Radio Svetigora, and Primorske novine.

Komnenović has received several awards at national radio festivals and has been actively involved in professional organizations, including the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro. He collaborated with the international investigative journalism network SCOOP and participated in the World Congress of Investigative Journalists in Kiev in 2012.

From 2012 to 2020, he served as President of the Management Board of the NGO “Matica Boke,” where he also edited its publications. He was the executive producer of the documentary series Na veslu priča – Boka.

He is married and a father of two.

Hajdi stands as one of the most prominent international contemporary artists coming from the Balkan region.

Her artworks are in private collections of Keanu Reeves, Will.i.am (Black Eyed Peas), Guano Apes, Morcheeba, as well as other prominent collectors.

She is the national recipient of the Red Bull doodle art award. University of Oxford has shared her illustration on their social media for the National Drawing day.

She undertook the “Challenge 365,” producing and publicly sharing one original drawing daily for an extraordinary 800 consecutive days.

Hajdi’s works have been sold in more than fifteen countries worldwide, including the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

She has collaborated with UNESCO as the host of a documentary project focused on activism and critcal thinking.

Hajdi was a TEDx and VISA She’s next conference speaker.

In 2025, she was recognized as a European Young Leader by Friends of Europe, which selects outstanding individuals in different areas.

She organized charity exhibitions where she raised more than 30,000€ for the ones in need.

She is recognized for her talent, originality, and international credibility.

Sonja Kuljača is a finance and governance expert with nearly two decades of experience across public administration, corporate management, and the banking sector. She currently leads the development and implementation of financial plans at the Service for Protection and Sustainable Development within the Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management, where she is actively engaged in in marine protected areas projects, combining financial expertise with a strong commitment to environmental protection .

From 2022 to 2024, she served as Secretary of Finance for the Municipality of Budva, overseeing budget planning, financial management, and institutional cooperation. During this period, she also contributed to projects linking finance and culture, including her role as a member of the municipal team for Budva’s candidacy for the European Capital of Culture.

Her previous experience includes leadership and senior roles as a Board Member at HTP Budvanska Rivijera, Key Account Manager at Mtel Montenegro, Deputy Director at Monteverde M, as well as positions in corporate banking with Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank.

She holds degrees in economics and business administration and is currently completing her PhD research focused on place and national branding, with a particular emphasis on the role of culture and identity.

She is also a member of Women on Boards Adria network.

Davor Kunc is Head of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Representation to Montenegro, where he supports the Bank’s engagement with national stakeholders and contributes to project development and policy dialogue in line with EU priorities.

Prior to this role, Davor built extensive experience across European and international financial institutions. At the European Investment Fund (EIF), he was responsible for developing and maintaining institutional relations with a diverse shareholder base of 39 public and private financial institutions across the EU. Earlier, in the EIF’s Mandate Management Department, he contributed to the design of strategies, policies, and reporting frameworks related to financial instruments and mandates.

Davor also served at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, where he worked as Programme Manager for Energy and Transport in the Western Balkans, overseeing key regional initiatives. His international experience includes a position at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC, alongside roles in government and the corporate sector in Croatia.

He holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Zagreb and an MA in International Economics and European Studies from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Majlind Lazimi is an experienced C-level executive, senior economic advisor, and management consultant with 17 years of experience and professional achievements in complex project management, corporate management, public administration, political and business spheres. His in-depth expertise includes integral economic investment appraisal and project finance related to tourism, infrastructure and energy projects.

Since December 2021, Mr. Lazimi holds the position of the Managing Partner at Horwath HTL – ALBANIA. Previously, he held important positions such as: Economic Advisor to the President of Republic of Albania; Deputy Minister of European Integration; CEO of Albanian Post; Chief of Cabinet to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy. Mr. Lazimi presided over the TAP (Trans-Adriatic Pipeline – gas pipeline) project’s host government agreement (HGA) and international government agreement (IGA) negotiations on behalf of the Albanian government with the TAP AG – for Albania’s largest infrastructure investment project.

In his capacity as Managing Partner at Horwath HTL Albania, Mr. Lazimi has been involved as a project manager in tourism advisory and hospitality projects, working with the public, private, and international donors. Mr. Lazimi has a Master of Science and a B.A. degree from Eastern Mediterranean University, and professional certifications from University of Cambridge (ESG Risk Management), Cornell University, Queen’s University (Canada), Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.

Predrag is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience. He began his career as a telecommunications engineer in the Middle East and in Central and Eastern Europe. He later founded or invested in several companies across different sectors, ranging from information technology and software development to consumer goods sales and hospitality. He has extensive experience working with both the public sector and the business sector in Montenegro and the wider region.

After attending the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno, Italy, Maurizio Magri earned a degree in Maritime Business Administration from Texas A&M University. Since 1985, he has built a distinguished entrepreneurial career in the shipping industry. In 1994, he entered the yachting sector through CBI Navi, where he became CEO and shareholder. Over the years, he has been associated with internationally renowned Italian shipyards, including Tecnomar as a shareholder, and more recently Admiral and Mangusta in senior executive roles, consistently focusing on the construction and delivery of high-end, client-centric superyachts. Throughout his career, he has advised and supported clients in the development, management, and construction of megayachts, as well as military and commercial vessels. His extensive shipbuilding portfolio includes 6 Panamax vessels, 4 pusher tugs, 80 carrier barges, 3 ocean-going supply vessels, 25 fast patrol vessels, 61 motor yachts over 30 metres, and 28 motor yachts between 22 and 30 metres. With more than four decades of experience across the maritime and yachting industries, and as a third-generation maritime professional, Maurizio is the Founder and CEO of MAGRIMAR, a company providing exclusive consultancy services in both the superyacht and shipping sectors.His mission is centered on delivering dedicated, full-service consultancy tailored to each client’s specific needs. His deep expertise in shipbuilding and yachting is complemented by a strong commitment to excellence, ensuring that every project upholds the highest standards of maritime tradition. In addition to his consultancy work, Maurizio is a lecturer at Università degli Studi Link, where he contributes to the Master’s Programme in “Progettazione nautica per il diporto di alta gamma”.

Oskar Marko is the Assistant Director for Innovation and Collaboration with Industry at BioSense Institute and Co-Founder of Cropt, a deep-tech company specialising in AI-driven agricultural intelligence. He holds a PhD in AI for agriculture and has led multiple international R&D and innovation projects, including Horizon-funded projects (€30M in total), industrial projects with World Bank, NLB Bank, Corteva, Syngenta, and other agricultural companies, as well as collaborations with NASA and CGIAR. His work focuses on applying satellite data, big data analytics and machine learning to improve agricultural productivity, environmental impact and risk management, and make food production efficient and sustainable.

Guido Mazza is Co-Founder of ITER IDEA and AIRP (AI Resource Planner). AWS Cloud Engineer with 12 years of experience, focusing on making ERP systems more efficient. With a background in both product and business development, Guido has contributed to solutions used by over 2,000 B2B users. ITER IDEA has bootstrapped $1.4M in revenue over three years.

AIRP is an AI-powered resource planning platform that replaces manual resource planning and scheduling with intelligent, generative optimisation. It enables organisations to efficiently manage complex resource allocation and planning scenarios with greater flexibility and at a tenth of the cost of traditional SaaS scheduler and APS solutions, automating the full process within a 2-to-4-week onboarding period.

The platform serves clients across the UK Public Sector, manufacturing (including moulding, steel, and electrical components), healthcare services, and transport, with live deployments at organisations such as the Scottish Government. Clients using AIRP report savings equivalent to up to 2 full-time employees and cost reductions of $20–$30K per month.

A senior British diplomat with over three decades of service in the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, they began their career in 1995 as a Desk Officer covering Hungary and Bulgaria under the Know How Fund. Following full-time Russian language training, they served as Second Secretary (Political) at the British Embassy in Moscow from 1996 to 2000, before taking on a series of roles in the European Directorate in London covering Cyprus, Malta, EU external and economic policy, and conventional arms and security sector reform.

After full-time Hungarian language training in 2006–07, they served at the British Embassy in Budapest from 2007 to 2011, progressing from First Secretary (Political) to Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires. Returning to London, they led the UK Estate Reform Project before serving as Deputy Head of the Somalia Unit in the Africa Directorate. From 2016 to 2021 they held senior positions in the European Directorate, including Head of the Europe Programmes Unit and Head of the EU External and Security Unit, also serving as Additional Deputy Director for the UK’s future relationship with Turkey and Cyprus.

Since 2021 they have been based in Athens, initially as Deputy Head of Mission and subsequently as Chargé d’Affaires. In 2022 they completed a Master’s degree in International Security and Strategy at King’s College London and the Global Strategy Programme in International Security and Strategic Leadership at the Royal College of Defence Studies.

Ms Dawn McKen took up the position of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Montenegro in August 2023.

Ambassador Johann Sattler serves as the European Union’s Ambassador to Montenegro since 1 September 2024. Previously, he worked as Head of the EU Delegation and European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He graduated from Innsbruck University in 1994 with a Master in Political Science and Slavic Languages and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced International Studies from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. He completed his PhD in Political Science at the University of Vienna in 2008.

Throughout his career, including his more recent experience as Austrian Ambassador to Albania and EU Ambassador in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Sattler had a particular focus on the Western Balkans. In 1996, he joined the Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the Human Rights Department. In 1997, he joined the European Community Monitoring Mission, where he was posted to Sarajevo and Tirana. He worked for the Stability Pack for South East Europe in Brussels and as a political counsellor for the Austrian Embassy in Washington DC. He also served as Head of the Western Balkans Directorate at the Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He took up ambassadorial duties in Albania in 2016. Apart from native German, Ambassador Sattler is fluent in English, French and Russian, and proficient in Bosnian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Serbian and Albanian.