Sarajevo Business Forum

Mr. Admir Kulin

CEO, m.Doc GmbH, Köln, Germany

Admir Kulin moved in the 90s during the Balkan-onflict to Germany, where he started his career as a professional basketball player and trainer. After his career as a professional basketball player, he also preferred the area of sports in his further career – namely as Head of Controlling at Sportswear GmbH. After he worked several years at the Nürburgring Automotive GmbH and collected a lot of know-how in the field of IT. After a leading position in a big IT-project, he decided to place this know-how in the healthcare sector. Last, Admir Kulin was one of the members of the Executive Board at the Vitaphone GmbH. Today, Admir Kulin I works as the Managing Director and Founder of the m.Doc GmbH in Cologne Germany.

Doc.dr.sc. Bruno Bojić

Vice President, Foreign Chamber of Commerce, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dr. Bruno Bojić defended his PhD on the topic International Management of International Organization and their Impact onto the Development of Multinational Corporations/Companies, at the Faculty of International Management Engineering at the European University in Belgrade. Dr. Bojić acts as President/Vice-President of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his successful career, starting from 1991, he worked in many leading capacities, as assistant director, as well as director within various companies in security fields, manufacturing and trade. He is a co-author of several scientific papers published in international journals (Tomson and EBSCO), as well as co-author of books in the field of ethics and human resources.

H.E. Igor Crnadak

Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. Crnadak is a Bosnian politician, and current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina since March 2015 for the Bosnian Serb PDP party. Since 1999, Crnadak has been a member of the Party of Democratic Progress (PDP) and has held numerous positions within the party. He was a member of the European Integration Committee of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska in 2006. Since 2011 he has been Secretary General of the Party of Democratic Progress. Between 2007 and 2009 he was Deputy Minister of Defence and was responsible for the BiH NATO.

Prof. Dr. Anwar Nasution

Chairman, Bank Muamalat, Indonesia

President Commissioner, Appointed as President Commissioner of PT Bank Muamalat Indonesia Tbk since June 23, 2014 and obtained an effective decision from OJK in 2014. Prof. Dr. Nasution holds a degree in Economics, from the University of Indonesia, a Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University-Massachusetts, USA. Chairman of the Supreme Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (2004-2009); Senior Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia (19992004) and Dean of Faculty of Economics (1988-2001). He held many respectful academic positions and published in numerous journals and other academic sources.

Mr. Samir Cerić

UK/China

Samir Cerić is a serial entrepreneur, investor, mentor, philanthropist and mental health campaigner with an Masters in Mathematics, leading award winning businesses. Ceric co-owns businesses in Europe and Asia and has been involved with Chinese networks over the past 15 years. These days Cerić is focused on technology and truly disrupting the fields of art, fashion, media and sport to bring about higher transparency in these industries. He has decided to channel his energy towards his home country as well and build a positive image of Sarajevo and Bosnia in London and the world.

Ms. Madelein Mkunu

President, Leading Women of Africa, Republic of South Africa

Madelein Mkunu is the Chief Executive Officer of Feminar International. She is the Founder and President of Leading Women of Africa, a pan-African forum that seeks to promote economic empowerment, new leadership and unity of women of Africa in order to achieve growth, stability and peace on the continent. Madelein Mkunu has been a guest speaker in many International women and business conferences in Europe, Asia and Africa.

H.E. Hassan Wirajuda

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia

Mr. Wirajuda was the Minister of Foreign Affairs between 2001 and 2009. He earned a Doctor in Juridical Science in International Law from the University of Virginia School of Law, a Master of Law (LL.M) from Harvard Law School (1985), and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University (1984). In 1971, he graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Indonesia and in 1976. He spent a year at Oxford University in the United Kingdom earning a Certificate in Diplomacy. During his diplomatic career, Wirajuda also assisted the establishment of the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

H.E. Shaikha Mariam Bint Hamad Al Khalifa

Vice President, Bahrain Businesswomen Society, Kingdom of Bahrain

As one of the first women entrepreneurs in Bahrain, she understood first-hand the value of owning and operating a business for a woman. This led her to joining and actively participating in the Mother & Child Welfare Society where she launched and headed Bahrain’s first Micro Financing project in cooperation with the UNDP in 1999. She has continued in this role since then and it has been extremely successful. What started out as a small operation, granting loans as small as BD100, has flourished to the extent that it now has an allocated capital of BD 4 Million. The program is considered stronger than those offered by some banks. Having been an active businesswoman, Shaikha Mariam founded and continues to be the active Vice President of the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society. On their behalf she has attended many international conferences. The society has helped build and strengthen relationships between Bahraini businesswomen and facilitated collaborations around the country.

Dr. Duško Knežević

Founder and President, Atlas Group, Republic of Montenegro

Dr. Knežević is the founder and president of the board of directors of Atlas Group Corporation (AGC). AGC is the largest financial group in Montenegro consisting of dozens of companies with far-ranging business interest, including banks and financial companies in Serbia, Cyprus, Russia and Great Britain. In April 2010, Knežević became a member of Clinton Global Initiative. Knežević founded the Atlas Foundation in 2010 with the mission to support the creation of new societal values and economic empowerment of citizens.

Mr. Sanjin Arifagić

Project Leader of USAID/Diaspora Invest Project and Platform, Bosnia and Herzegovina

With over 20 years of professional experience working with private and public sector clients in South East Europe, Sanjin Arifagić currently heads the USAID Diaspora Invest project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, implemented by Financial Markets International Inc. In his capacity as project manager, Mr. Arifagic leads the Diaspora Invest effort on promoting and facilitating investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina by BiH diaspora members.

Prof. Emeritus Dato' Dr. Mohamad Zawawi Bin Ismail

Chairman, NanoMalaysia

Mohamad Zawawi Bin Ismail is currently Chairman of NanoMalaysia Berhad. He is also the Chairman of Sara-Timur Group of Companies, and of Sara-Timur Urban Development Sdn Bhd whose main activities are in engineering, construction and property development. Dr. Zawawi gained both his bachelor and doctorate degrees in electronic engineering from the University of Leeds, England.

H.E. Borut Pahor

President Republic of Slovenia

Borut Pahor was born on 2 November 1963 in Postojna. He has a degree in political science, with a focus on international relations. During his long political career, President Borut Pahor has been elected member of the European Parliament, and has served as President of the National Assembly and Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia. In December 2012, he was elected the fourth President of the Republic of Slovenia by 67.37 per cent of voters. Throughout his political career, President Pahor has remained a staunch believer in the ever closer Union, united, free and in peace. He sees the future in a more closely integrated Europe, competitive in the global market and better equipped for coping with global challenges.

Mr. Ihsan Fehmi Sozkesen

Albaraka Turk Participation Bank, Turkey

Mr. Sözkesen graduated from the Business Administration Department at Marmara University (Istanbul, 1986). He started his banking career at Yapı ve Kredi Bankası A.S of Turkey in 1986. In 2002, Mr. Sözkesen joined Albaraka Turk Participation Bank as Umraniye Branch Manager. In 2004, he was appointed as manager of the International Operations Department and continued this duty until 2011. In February 2017, he was appointed as Head of Financial Institutions and Investor Relations Department.

H.E. Đemila Talić Gabriel

Honorary Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina in New South Wales, Australia

Mrs. Đemila Gabriel was born on 16 November,1968 in Bosanska Dubica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to the war that started in 1992, Mrs. Gabriel became a refugee and went to Germany. Fifteen years ago she moved to Sydney, Australia.In 2010, Mrs. Gabriel was named a director of an Australian real estate company, and soon after that she became a majority shareholder. Since 2015, she has been the sole owner of this company.

H.E. Abdulah Skaka

Mayor of Sarajevo

Abdulah Skaka was born in Sarajevo on December 5, 1983. He graduated from the Sarajevo School of Economics and obtained his master's degree. He came to the Sarajevo City Administration following a successful career in private entrepreneurship. He was elected as 38th Mayor of Sarajevo by the City Council on February 6th, 2017.

H.E. Dr. Bandar M. H. Hajjar

President, Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Dr. Hajjar served as Minister of Hajj between 2011 and 2016. During his term, he introduced 25 initiatives to develop and enhance the services provided to the Hajjis. Dr. Hajjar served as Deputy Dean of the College of Economy and Administration, Deputy Director of the Islamic Economics Research Center and Head of the Committee on Curricula Taught from an Islamic Perspective

Mr. Branislav Miletić

Partner and Director, Horwath HTL-Belgrade Office, United Kingdom/Croatia

Branimir Gvozdenović was born in 1961 in Bar and graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Podgorica. He began his professional career in the Secretariat for Development of Montenegro, where he coordinated a young team of experts that, initiated the IT development of Montenegro on the new ICT platforms. In 2001 he became the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Economic Development and served this duty during three terms of office.

Mr. Mahmut Galijašević

CEO, MANN+HUMMEL, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. Galijašević completed his undergraduate studies in Production Techniques and Cybernetics at the University of Sarajevo. He worked then as production manager at MHBA and contributed to the development of R&D at the MHBA. Since 2014 he has been the VP+ General Manager at MHBA. He shows strong interest and passion for leadership and development.

H.E. Eng. Ibrahim Al Omar

Minister/Governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA)

Mr. Al-Omar is the governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA). He brings over 15 years of private sector experience to SAGIA. He has served on the boards of numerous public and private sector organizations, and as the chairman for three major international telecom projects for various consortiums

Ms. Vedrana Likan

Managing Partner, Colliers International, Croatia

Vedrana joined Colliers in the last quarter of 2006 as Senior Consultant, and swiftly demonstrated her expertise in business management and operational leadership as well as project and team management. In 2007 she got promoted to the position of General Manager. In 2009 Vedrana was promoted to the position of Managing Director while by early beginning of 2014 she took over the position of Managing Partner for Croatia, Slovenia and BiH.

Prof. Emeritus Dato' Dr. Mohamad Zawawi Bin Ismail

Chairman, NanoMalaysia Dato' Syed Isa Syed Alwi, CEO, Algaetech Group of Companies, Malaysia

Dato' Syed Isa Syed Alwi is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Algaetech Group of Companies, that was established in 2004. The Algaetech Group of Companies are committed to providing global solutions in malnutrition and renewable energy with algae technology, and was rewarded with the 'Frost & Sullivan' Green Excellence Award for Service Innovation in Algae Technology' in August 2011. Syed Isa is a strong and passionate contributor to finding a solution for a better tomorrow, as his ethos is echoed in Algaetech's motto: "the Future is Now”.

H.E. Valdis Zatlers

Former President, Latvia

Mr. Zatlers was the President of Latvia between 2007 and 2011. He was an active member of the Popular Front of Latvia and served as a member of its council. The activities of this organization led to regaining the independence of Latvia. After the presidency Mr. Zatlers formed a political party and ministered as deputy in Saeima (Parliament of Latvia) where he chaired the National Security Committee.

Ms. Dragana Djurica

Senior Expert on Competitiveness, Regional Cooperation Council

Senior Expert on Competitiveness in the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), where she is entrusted with the work on the creation of the common investment reform agenda of South-East Europe (SEE), along with the integration of capital markets, and industrial development. In addition, she is in charge of coordinating the activities of mainstreaming gender equality into economic competitiveness and promotion of regional value chains in priority industries of SEE. Before joining the Regional Cooperation Council, she took part in the economic diplomacy of the Republic of Serbia.

Mr. Olivier Jarosz

ECA – European Club Association, Switzerland

Olivier Jarosz is a Senior Manager at the European Club Association (ECA), where he liaises on a daily basis with some of the top football club executives in Europe. He is also Project Director of the newly created Club Management Programme (CMP), a bespoke education programme specifically designed for top club executives.

H.E. Branimir Gvozdenović

Vice President, Parliament of Montenegro

Branimir Gvozdenović was born in 1961 in Bar and graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Podgorica. He began his professional career in the Secretariat for Development of Montenegro, where he coordinated a young team of experts that,initiated the IT development of Montenegro on the new ICT platforms. In 2001 he became the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Economic Development and served this duty during three terms of office.

Ms. Aida Jašarević

CEO, Hotel Pino and Relax Tours Agency, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Aida Jasarević has over 15 years experience in the travel and tourism industry, but tourism has been in her family business for the past 30 years, when her parents established the first private Bosnian travel agency in 1988. Two years ago, together with her family she reconstructed the very famous hotel on the Trebevic mountain just above Sarajevo, Pino Nature Hotel, that already stands for the most awarded hotel in this part of the world. Aida partly educated herself in Australia, Victoria in Woorana Park primary School and Lyndale Secondary College. After 5 years spent in Australia, Aida continues her education in the Second Grammar School and School of Economics and Business at the University of Sarajevo where she graduated from in 2006. In 2014. she got two master degrees, Master of Business Administration in Scuola di Amministrazione Aziendale, Universita degli studi di Torino and Master of Economic Sciences at the School of Economics and Business at the University of Sarajevo.

Ms. Amina Karić

Vice President of Operations, Authority Partners, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Amina Karić studied Computing and Informatics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Sarajevo. Since 1998, Amina has worked in a software development company, Authority Partners. She has extensive experience in the area of IT, software engineering and management, and her expertise includes the field of software development, strategic planning and management in IT industry. She started her career in Sarajevo, and for more than 10 years she has been growing and developing professionally in the USA as a Software Developer.

Mr. Dejan Miklavcic

COO, Monri Group, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dejan Miklavčić is a manager with 18+ years experience in the ICT world. His main knowledge come from both, his economic and IT background, acquired on his business journey that started from being the CIO of largest retail company in BiH, CEO of software development company and currently COO of FinTech group. He has a rich experience with project management, eWallet, payment gateway, payment switching platform, loyalty programs, FinTech, eCommerce, WMS, SAP, Oracle Retail, POS solutions, and agile based development leadership. He is an energetic leader devoted to development of people with great emphasis on recruiting, coaching and retaining the best of the best. He worked for renown companies like Coca Cola, ComTrade, Konzum, mStart and Lupon Ventures (Monri Group).

Mr. Amer Bukvić

CEO, Bosna Bank International, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. Amer Bukvić is CEO of Bosna Bank International and a founder of Sarajevo Business Forum. He has been included on the Islamica 500 list of the world’s most successful individuals in Islamic economy. In 2014, he won the prestigious international Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Award for the Best Entrepreneur and Leader in 2014.

Mr. Zlatan Faik Uzunović

Supply Chain Manager for Central and Eastern Europe, Prevent Group, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. Zlatan is a young Supply Chain Manager at Prevent Group since 2015. He has Master´s Degree in Production/Operations Management and Industrial Business Administration (MSc) and a BA in Economics. Apart from this, he has 5 years of experience in European automotive, furniture and supply chain industries. At the moment he manages 60 employees in the BiH SCM sector, as well as 10 employees in Romania and Slovenia.

Ms. Maja Miljević

CEO and Founder Zdrava Logika, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ms Maja Miljević was born on 23.10.1989 and lives In Banja Luka. She is the founder and CE of Zdrava Logika (Healthy Logics), a start-up that deals with the production and market placement of organic food. It encompasses 40 co-operant manufacturers, and online shop and a land shop in Banja Luka. It also conducts educational processes related to organic production. Apart from this she worked as a project manager and marketing manager and was the director of BiT Lab doo between 2016 and 2017.

Mr. Umur Gökçe

Policy Analyst, OECD

Umur Gökçe is a Policy Analyst at the OECD, where he currently manages the Small Business Act Assessment for the Western Balkans & Turkey Project. Prior to that, he worked as a Senior Project Officer at the Islamic Development Bank. Mr. Gökçe specialises in economic development policies with a particular focus on private sector development. His experience also includes providing guidance on the implementation of structural reforms in the South East Europe. Mr. Gökçe holds an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.

H.E. Sahib Mammadov

Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan

Mr. Mammadov obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degree in International Law from the Kiev State University and graduated in 2008 from the faculty of Finance and Credit (Azerbaijan State Economic University). Between 2004 and 2009 he worked as chief adviser, head of division, Deputy Head of Department and Head of Department of Sustainable Development and Regional Policy of the Ministry of Economic Development. Since 2016 he has been the Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, according to the Presidential Degree he was awarded with the “Medal for distinction in civil service” according to the Presidential Decree.

Mr. Mirsad Ćatić

Enterpreneur, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mirsad Ćatić is the president of the Board and General Manager of Securitas in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Sweden, he was the Chief of Technical Operations for Eastern Europe Region part of Securitas AB (2013 – 2015) and the CEE Development Director. In 1996 he founded the Alarm West GROUP company and was its director until 2010.

Mr. Branislav Vujović

New Frontier Group Vienna, Austria

Mr. Vujović, apart from overall responsibility that he is exercising for the group, is leading investor relationship, M&A and group strategy with special focus on innovation and digital transformation. Before New Frontier Group Mr. Vujovic was managing strong growth of two multinational companies in Central and Eastern Europe: from 2000 to 2006 EMC as Area Manager and from 1986 to 2000 Computer Associates (CA) as Senior Vice President. He has IT background; he graduated from the University of Belgrade at Faculty of Organizational Sciences. Mr. Vujović is for a while focusing on subject of the digital revolution and impact on industrial enterprises especially on digital business model and innovation. He is teaching Digital Business Models at IEDC school in Bled, Slovenia and in PwC Academy in SEE.

Mr. Ian Brown

Head of Office, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development , Bosnia and Herzegovina

EBRD's Senior Banker Ian Brown has been a head of the Bank’s office in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2014. Mr Brown has been a senior member of the Power, Energy & Utilities team since 2008. Between May and October 2012, he was acting head of office in Belgrade. Mr Brown has a degree in Economics and Business Administration from Sheffield University and an MBA from the University of Greenwich.

H.E. Lars Gunnar Wigemark

Head of EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ambassador Wigemark graduated from Harvard University in 1984 and holds a Master’s Degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in International Law and Economics. From February 2011 to March 2015, he served as the Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to Pakistan. Since April 2015, Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark is the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mr. Jan Z. Kulenović

Social Innovation Imcubator MUNJA and Hocu.ba, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jan Zlatan Kulenović is the CEO of the Social Innovation Incubator “MUNJA”, one of the leading NGOs in the field of youth empowerment in Bosnia-Herzegovina with more than 85.000 young people involved in its program.He is founder of HOCU.ba – the leading youth info platform in Bosnia-Herzegovina with over 750.000 site visitors and 105.000 followers. He coordinates the national competition for youth in entrepreneurship BUSINESS CHALLENGE with over 800 students from 100 schools who have taken part.

Dr. Elma Agić Šabeta

Head of Strategy, Bosna Bank International, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dr. Elma Agić Šabeta is a Head of Strategy at BBI Bank. She leads the Special Projects Department at BBI and took over the Program Director role in Sarajevo Business Forum.Her professional background includes extensive experience with integration and transformation projects in the local banking industry. Dr. Agić-Šabeta earned her PhD at the University of Sarajevo in investment management and risk modelling. She has been engaged as a lecturer and guest lecturer at the University of Sarajevo and Sarajevo School of Science and Technology. Her main research interests include financial markets, asset management, risk management, risk modelling, life insurance, and banking.

H.E. Lahcen Daoudi

Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in Charge of General Affairs and Governance, Kingdom of Morocco

Mr. Daoudi is a Moroccan politician and member of the Justice and Development Party. Since 3 January 2012, he holds the position of Minister of "Higher Education and Scientific Research" in Abdelilah Benkirane's government. Mr. Daoudi served also as Minister of Higher Education of Scientific Research of Morocco

H.E. Mirko Šarović

Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relationship, Bosnia and Herzegovina

From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Šarović served as the Vice President of Republika Srpska. In 2000, he was elected as the President of the Republika Srpska. From 2002 to 2003, he was the Serb Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and served also as Chairman of the Presidency until April 2003. He served for two terms as a member of the National Assembly for Republika Srpska.

H.E. Sofyan A. Djalil

Minister of Land and Spatial Planning, Indonesia

Born on 23rd September 1953 in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Sofyan obtained his doctorate in law and diplomacy at Tufts University Medford in Massachusetts in 1993. He has held various positions in academia and was an expert staff at the Ministry of Justice. Sofyan was a commissioner with several enterprises, including PT Pelindo III and PT PLN. Currently, he is also a managing partner at Sofyan Djalil and Partners.

Mr. Martin Gaber

Deputy Director, German Delegation of Economy, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Martin Gaber is Deputy Director at the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For the last two years he was active in promoting bilateral business relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany. Before that Martin Gaber was an expert for Central and Eastern Europe at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Lower Bavaria in Passau (Germany). In his third participation at Sarajevo Business Forum Martin Gaber will speak about the supply chain of EU companies and its impact on the Western Balkans.

H.E. Iztok Mirošič

State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Slovenia

Mr. Mirošič serves the Ministry of Foreing Affairs since 2017. He was previously an Ambassador and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia and has an impressive diplomatic history. Mr. Mirošič served the Foreign Ministry of Slovenia in different capacities and served also the Office of the Prime Minister, State Secretary and Foreign Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister.

Ms. Tajma Kapić

Project Director, Cradle, Republic of Ireland

Ms. Kapić has a rich academic and professional background. She holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from the University of Sarajevo and graduate degree in Development Studies from the University College Dublin. She undertook also an education in Human Resource Management at the Dublin Business School and has been a post-doc and lecturer at the Dublin City University. She is the Director of Cradle and undersees all of its projects, and is a Senior Officer at the Children’s Embassy. Apart from this she is a freelance journalist and liaison officer between Cradle and local NGOs in Mostar, BiH. She is dedicated to the improvement of children’s lives and contributes both, professionally and academically to humanitarian activities

Mr. Ekrem Turajlić

Corporate Sales Director, Bosnalijek, BiH

Mr. Turajlić holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the Eastern Mediterranean University and an MBA from the Bled School of Management. He worked as Assistant to the Regional Manager for CIS and Russia for Bosnalijek and was upgraded as Director of Sales for SE Europe. Since 2013 he has been the Director of Corporate Sales.

Mr. Rudi Kesić

Director, Advantage Business Group, United Kingdom

Rudi Kesić is a Bosnian-born British businessman, lawyer, investor and philanthropist. He is the primary shareholder and chairman of Advantage Group of companies, United Kingdom. Rudi's latest business venture in South East Europe (SEE) is the recent establishment of Advantage Law Balkans (ALB) in partnership with the MDC Group, headquartered in Sarajevo, which offers unrivalled regional and sector specific legal and business advice to new investors coming to the SEE region, as well as supporting manufacturers and exporters from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia with their international exporting transactions.

Mr. Marc Dillard

Director of Office of Economic Policy Analysis and Public Diplomacy, U.S. State Department Bureau of Economic and Business Affa

Marc Dillard is Director of the Office of Economic Policy Analysis and Public Diplomacy in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, There he leads a team to execute the bureau’s strategic planning, policy evaluation, internal and external communications, and promotion of responsible business conduct. His office also manages Washington’s relations with the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. A member of the Senior Foreign Service, Marc was Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria immediately prior to returning to Washington. His previous diplomatic postings include stints in Japan, Korea, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

H.E. Bakir Izetbegović

Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Went to primary and secondary school in Sarajevo where he also graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Sarajevo in 1981. Izetbegović contributed to numerous social activities. In 2000 Izetbegović entered politics and after serving in two regional assemblies was elected to the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006. In May 2015, he was elected as president of the Party of Democratic Action.

Mr. Mirsad Jašarspahić

President, Chamber of the Economy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mirsad Jašarspahić graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Zenica. He began his career in PD Rudstroj d.d. in Kakanj, where he advanced to the post of the Executive Director of Commercial and Technical Affairs.Currently, Mr. Jašarspahić is the President of the Chamber of Economy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a business association which actively promotes the interests of companies and fosters economic activity. He was given the Special Award at the 2015 Manager of the Year event for exceptional engagement and improvement to the Chamber of Economy of FBiH. In December 2017, he established the representative office of the Automotive Industry Group of the Chamber of Economy of FBiH in Wolfsburg.

H.E. Mehmet Şimşek

Deputy Prime Minister, Republic of Turkey

Mr. Mehmet Şimşek is a Turkish politician and economist who currently serves as the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey since 24 November 2015. He previously served as the Minister of Finance from 2009 to 2015, serving in the cabinets of Prime Ministers Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ahmet Davutoğlu. As the Finance Minister, Şimşek has formulated fiscal policy that has helped Turkey recover strongly from the global financial crisis in 2008.

Prof. Dr. Danica Purg

President, IEDC-Bled School of Management and President of CEEMAN, Slovenia

Professor Danica Purg is the President of the IEDC-Bled School of Management, Slovenia, and the President of CEEMAN, the International Association for Management Development in Dynamic Societies, that brings together 225 management development institutions from 54 countries. Her special field of interest is looking for inspirations for managers from art and other professions. Prof. Purg is President of UN Global Compact Slovenia, as well as member of several international advisory boards at management schools around the world, including University of Stellenbosch Business School (South Africa), School of Management Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China), and ESSCA School of Management (France).

Mr. Şekib Avdagiç

President of İTO, TOBB Representative, Turkey

Şekib Avdagiç has recently been elected as the new chairman of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO), which is one of the five largest chambers in the world in terms of the number of members. Since 2005, he has been an executive at various levels in the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. He is currently serving as ICO Assembly President

Mr. Mujo Selimović

President of the Supervisory Board, Media Group Oslobodjenje/TV1, BiH

Mujo Selimović was born in 1969 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He graduated in Law from the University of Sarajevo. In 1989, he founded MIMS Co., then as a trading company. The MIMS group increased steadily in growth. As a result, the MIMS group became the largest private company in Bosnia and Herzegovina, involved in trade, investments, energy, media, real estate, food and beverage production as well as other activities. He is the publisher of Oslobođenje, one of the most respected daily newspapers in Bosnia and Herzegovina that received numerous national and international awards for journalism standards.

Ms. Fatma Eser Çinar

Head of International Banking, Kuveyt Turk Participation Bank, Turkey

Ms. Çinar has a degree in Business Administration and Industrial Engineering from the Istanbul University and has extensive experience in international banking. She was the Vice President of the Kuveyt Turk Participation Bank between 2006 and 2015, after what she became its Strategic Project Manager. Since 2016 she has been the Head of International Banking Department of the Kuveyt Turk Participation Bank.

Mr. Guido Clary

Senior Banker responsible for lending operations in the Western Balkans, European Investment Bank

Mr. Clary Has been a Senior Banker at the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Luxembourg since 2010. He serves as a country manager for Albania and is in charge of originating, structuring and executing transactions within the public sector, the corporate sector and banks in the Western Balkans. In 2013, Mr. Clary structured the first Trade/Export Finance Facility in the history of the EIB and led a number of working groups on trade and supply chain finance.

Dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović

Specialist of Orthopedic Surgery, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Prof. Ismet Gavrankapetanović is a full-time professor of Orthopedic and War Surgery at the Medical Faculty, University of Sarajevo. In 1998 he completed his doctoral dissertation on Estimation of therapy effects in chronic long lower limb bones infection caused by high energy projectiles treatment, at the Medical School of University of Sarajevo. Since 2007 he has been a Head of the Department of Surgery, Medical Faculty University of Sarajevo.

H.E. Stjepan Mesić

Former President, Croatia

Stjepan "Stipe" Mesić is a Croatian politician who served as the second President of Croatia from 2000 to 2010. After Croatia’s first multi-party and free elections he was appointed as the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia (May 1990 - August 1990) and pursuant to the resolution of the Parliament of the Republic of Croatia. On 7 February 2000 elected President of the Republic of Croatia and subsequently left the party wanting to be the President of all the citizens of Croatia. On 16 January 2005 re-elected for the President of the Republic of Croatia.

Ms. Karin Hörhan

Programme Manager, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Karin Hörhan holds a degree in Commerce from the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. With 15 years of professional experience in leading GIZ's Economic Development Projects in Croatia, Montenegro and Palestinien Territories, Ms. Hörhan currently heads the Programme for Local Self-Government and Economic Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The blend of extensive international and management experience makes Ms. Hörhan a Specialist in Private Sector Development with deep understanding of diverse business practices and cultural settings.

Ms. Snježana Derviškadić

Team Leader Tourism Project, Regional Cooperation Council

Ms. Derviskadic has over 30 years of experience with a specialisation in tourism and travel industry and development of emerging and sustainable travel destinations. She has lived and worked in a number of international markets from the US and the UK to Turkey, and has for the past 14 years has focused on developing tourism in the Western Balkans region. Her experience spans the gamut from customer service, to travel operations and to destination development and promotion.

Ms. Maša Čampara

CEO and Founder, eMediaPatch, Bosnia and Herzegovina/United States

Ms Maša Čampara has 14 years of online media experience with top publishers and agencies. Prior to starting eMedia Patch, Masa worked at iVillage as Sales Planner and Marketing Associate, after what she became the media manager at MediaCom and a media supervisor at Optimedia in New York. She worked on brands such as Staples, Keds, Cartier, Lancome and Sanofi brands. Today she is the head of eMediaPatch that she founded in April 2009 and provides customers a broad range of consulting services.

Dr.h.c. Doris Pack

Former President of the Delegation for SEE, European Parliament, Germany

Doris Pack was born in 1942 in Schiffweiler / Saarland (Germany). She served between 1981 and 1989 as a Member of the German Bundestag (CDU/CSU) and is an honorary Member of the PACE and WEU. She was also a Member of the EU Parliament between 1989 and 2014, whereby she also served as the President of the Delegation for South Eastern Europe (2004-2009).

Mr. Armin Osmančević

CEO, MyBazar Global Ltd. Dubai, UAE

Armin is an entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, award-winning advertising professional and a co-founder of MyBazar. He successfully delivered several global product launch campaigns for brands such as Adidas, Mercedes, H&M, BMW, Pepsi and others. Recently, Armin was recognized among 500 most influential figures in the global Islamic Economy. Armin has a Master's degree from the Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, Sweden.

H.E. Semiha Borovac

Ministar for Human Rights and Refugees, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Semiha Borovac was born 2 March, 1955. She is a Bosnian politician who served as the Mayor of Sarajevo, holding office from 2005 until 2009. She is Sarajevo's only female mayor to date and serves currently as the Minister for Human Rights and Refugees.

Mr. Takahiko Makino

Advisor for Regional Tourism, JICA – Japan International Cooperation Agency, Japan

Having both, tourism management and heritage conservation in his education background, Mr. Makino worked at UNECSO as a Programme Specialist for Culture in implementing projects and programmes related to the field of cultural heritage conservation. Upon completing his last mission in Myanmar, Mr. Makino worked at JICA HQs as a Special Advisor for Tourism for two years, and has currently been working as JICA Advisor for Tourism for the Balkan region since May 2016.

H.E. Zdravko Počivalšek

Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Republik of Slovenia

H.E. Zdravko Počivalšek was born in 1957 and has a degree in Agricultural Engineering. He headed Terme Olimia for the last 15 years. He won the Chamber of Commerce and Industry award in 2004 and was declared Manager of the Year 2010. On 4 December 2014, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia appointed him Minister of Economic Development and Technology.

H.E. Rasim Ljajić

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, Republic of Serbia

Mr. Ljajić entered politics in 1990 when he was elected as the secretary of the Party of Democratic Action of Sandžak. In December 2009 he founded the Social Democratic Party of Serbia and became its president. He was also a Minister of Human and Minority Rights at the SCG Council of Ministers. In April 2014, he was elected as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications. He remained on that post after the elections in April 2016, Republic of Serbia.

Ms. Marijela Margeta Hašimbegović

Director of the National Theater Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Marijela Margeta-Hašimbegović is an accomplished woman and the current general Director of the National Theatre of Sarajevo. Since January 2000 she has been involved in the organization of the Sarajevo International Winter Festival and was the Technical Director of the National Theatre between 2000 and 2015, after what she took over her current role as General Manager of the Theatre.

Dato’ Paduka Syed Isa Syed Alwi

CEO Algaetech International Sdn Bhd, Malaysia

Syed Isa Syed Alwi is founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Algaetech Group of Companies, which was established in 2004. The Algaetech Group of Companies are committed to providing global solutions in malnutrition and renewable energy with algae technology, and was rewarded with the 'Frost & Sullivan' Green Excellent. Syed Isa comes from a background in the food service industry, working in Europe and Asia for public listed companies, and has previous experience in the renewable energy industry, having spearheaded research into jathropa for bio-fuels.

Mr. Armin Talić

Bit Alliance, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Armin Talic is creative r-thinker and transdisciplinary strategist with strong passion for strategic planning. He is alsoa leader in implementing complex projects leading teams and organizations. Currently he works as the General Manager at Bit Alliance. He was the Chairman of Organizing Committee of the CEO Conference at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Sarajevo. During the last decade he worked at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Sarajevo as a business operator for the development of courses for e-learning. He is also an expert in e-learning for clients from the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, several UNDP projects, BH Telecom M: tel, Sparkase, Intesa etc.

Mr. Branimir Muidža

President, Foreign Investors Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. Muidža is the director of a cement factory in Kakanj and general director of the Heidelberg Cement group in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. He is also member of the Steering Comittee of TBG Beton d.o.o. Zagreb and Dunav - Drava cement d.o.o. as well as the attorney of TBG BH d.o.o. He is the President of the Council of Investors in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2011, and a member of the Council of Investors of the Association for Improvement of Economic relations between Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In November 2012, the International League of Humanists awarded Muidža with the Golden Charter.

Mr. Amer Kapetanovic

Head of Political Department, Regional Cooperation Council

Mr. Amer Kapetanovic has been a career diplomat for the last 17 years and is currently serving as the Assistant Minister for Bilateral Relations and Economic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. During his diplomatic career he was serving as the Spokesman of the MFA BiH, Head of Policy Planning Department, Head of the EU Department and the Deputy Ambassador of BiH in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Mr. Zdenko Lucić

Representative of the Prime Minister of Croatia, Head of Investment and Competition Agency, Croatia

Zdenko Lucić is the managing director of the Agency for Investments and Competitiveness created by the Croatian Government in order to promote Croatia and help the investors. In his professional career, Zdenko Lucić has more than 10 years of experience in both the private and the public sector in the areas of investment realization, strategic development, national and regional development as well as business processes. He has graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, USA, and completed his MBA studies at the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb in 2017.

Dr. Šadi Matar

Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Telecommunications, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dr. Šadi Matar is serving as the Advisor to the Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with duties in the domain of electronic communications, information society and software development industry, as well as national and international cooperation and initiatives. Dr. Matar is the sub-coordinator for Digital Integration component of the Multiannual Action Plan (MAP) of the Western Balkan, also he is the head of delegation and representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to NATO group for Telecommunications Services.

Dr. Ashraf Ali Mahate

Chief Economist, Dubai Exports, Dubai

Dr Ashraf Mahate is currently the Chief Economist for Trade and Export Market Development at Dubai Exports, part of the Government of Dubai. In his current capacity, Dr Mahate provides econometric analysis, information and advice to key decision makers that promotes a structured as well as detailed understanding of trade and trade policy's role in economic growth, diversification and development of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. Dr Mahate is responsible for overseeing thought leadership within Dubai Exports in the areas of trade, trade policy, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation.

H.E. Dr. Denis Zvizdić

Chairman, Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dr. Zvizdić graduated in 2007 from the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Sarajevo, where he worked as an associate professor. He has been elected several times to cantonal and federal legislatures and was also the Prime Minister of Canton Sarajevo (KS). He received a large number of awards and recognitions from the field of social life and professional activity (individual and collective) awards from the City of Sarajevo (Government of the KS) and the Golden Plaque of the International League of Humanists.

Mrs. Slavica KORICA

Executive Director for Promotion and Analysis Foreign Investment Promotion Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina - FIPA

Mrs. Korica graduated at the Faculty of Economics of the University in Sarajevo. In the beginning of her professional career she was working on import/export and co-operation jobs with foreign companies in the BiH companies “Feroelektro” and “Orao”. During the period of two years she worked as Assistant/ Translator for reconstruction programs in few NGO-s (INTERSOS; EQUILIBRE, REFUGEE TRUST IRELAND) that worked in the eastern part of BiH , and after that as adviser to the general manager of construction company ODGP “Buducnost”. She started to work at FIPA immediately after the establishment of the Agency in 1999 where she worked as project manager, deputy director and now executive director for promotion and analysis. She is also a Member of the Country Economic Team of BiH and member of the RCC South East Europe Investment Committee and the SEEIC-CEFTA Joint Working Group on Investments. She is married and has two children.

Ms. Cornelia Meyer

Chairman & Chief Executive, Meyer Resources (MRL Corporation), United Kingdom

Ms. Meyer is an international economist, independent energy expert and media commentator.In 1998 Meyer joined General Electric in America and in 2004 she moved to London to as an executive with BP. Since 2008, she has been an independent expert, Chairman & CEO of the MRL Corporation.

Mr. Jawad Yousuf Al Hawaj

Yousuf A.Wahab Al Hawaj & Sons Co. W.L.L. / Bahrain - Bosnia and Herzegovina Friendship Society, Kingdom of Bahrain

Mr. Jawad studied economics and political science at the Lebanese University in Lebanon. He established the Al Hawaj group as the prime player in the field of luxury retail in the country apart the strong business interests in hospitality, electronics and education sector. He is a marketer, visionary, philanthropist and true statesman. Mr. Jawad Alhawaj was recently awarded by the Ministry of Labour for his outstanding contribution to the Bahrain Economy and his valuable contribution to the private sector.