People & CultureHorizons.

Tome Barić

Director of Human Resources | INA Group

Tome Barić is the Director of Human Resources at INA, with over 18 years of experience in the field of human resource management.

Since 2024, he has been leading the HR function of the INA Group, managing a team operating across four countries in the region and supporting nearly 10,000 employees.

He began his career as an employee development specialist and soon transitioned into HR partnering. Over the years, he has held several director-level positions within INA and the MOL Group, gaining extensive experience in strategic consulting and support for key business segments – from Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, Retail, Industrial and Corporate Services, to IT and corporate functions. 

His work is characterized by a strong focus on developing organizational culture, increasing productivity, client-centricity, and implementing innovative programs for talent development and employee well-being. Tome is deeply committed to professional development and excellence. He has completed prestigious international programs such as CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) and SEED (School for Executive Education and Development), further demonstrating his dedication to continuous learning and leadership development.

INA has received numerous regional and international awards in the field of human resource management. 

Mario Miličić

Senior ICT Presales Specialist | A1 Hrvatska

Mario Miličić's professional career began in Spain, where he worked for four years as an operations analyst in the logistics sector. At the same time, he completed a degree in data analysis at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). During this time, he participated in numerous projects related to data analysis, including the implementation of an ERP software solution.

He currently works as a Senior Specialist for ICT Sales Consulting, while he previously held the position of Senior Specialist for HR Data Analysis for a year, and before that, he spent three years as a Senior Data Analyst in the financial sector.

He is in charge of developing new reports, creating application solutions and digitizing business processes, both for users and for the company's internal needs. In his daily work, he uses tools such as Microsoft Power Platform (Power BI, Power Automate, Power Apps), Excel, Pentaha and SQL. Continuously improves knowledge and skills in the field of analytics, digital transformation and artificial intelligence.

Antonija Kapović

Human Resources Director | Bugatti Rimac

Antonija Kapović is one of the most prominent HR leaders in the region with over 20 years of experience in human resources management, primarily in international IT companies in Central and Eastern Europe. She currently serves as the Human Resources Director at Bugatti Rimac, where she leads post-merger HR processes and team and organizational development in one of the world's most innovative automotive companies.

She started her career in the pharmaceutical industry, and from 2005 she devoted herself to the IT sector through key HR positions in Microsoft, S&T, Atenta and the Span group. At Span, as a member of the Management Board and CHRO, she led a team of 16 HR professionals, enabled the growth of the company from 70 to 850 employees in 10 countries, and implemented numerous innovative HR practices - from digitization of processes, a development program for managers, to the first ESOP program among Croatian IT companies.

Antonija is known for her strategic approach to developing organizational culture, transforming company values, and achieving measurable results in attracting, developing, and retaining talent. Under her leadership, Span has received multiple awards for excellence in employee experience, healthy work environments, and innovative HR practices, and the company has been awarded the prestigious “Employer Partner” certificate for three years in a row.

Her role in reducing the gender pay gap, increasing employee diversity, and increasing employee engagement and satisfaction is particularly noteworthy. She has actively participated in post-merger integrations, the design and implementation of key HR strategies and projects, as well as in the development of internal communications and employer branding initiatives.

Antonija has a master's degree in organizational behavior at Birkbeck University of London. Her expertise includes strategic HR, transformation of organizational culture, development and rewarding of employees, as well as digitization of HR processes. As a leader, she is known for her creativity, practical approach and mentorship of HR teams.

Sonja Trajanovski Marszalek

People & Culture Director | ENTRIO

Sonja holds a Master of Science in Sociology and a Bachelor’s degree in Croatology from the Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb. During her studies, she co-founded the "Sociology in Practice" program, bringing together renowned speakers from the fields of sociology and psychology, demonstrating an early commitment to understanding and shaping group dynamics and human behavior. As a student, she worked as a field researcher on a project at the Ivo Pilar Institute, gaining hands-on experience in data collection and social research methodologies.

Her professional journey spans nearly a decade within the ticketing and event industry, with a strong focus on People & Culture. She built her career at SnapTap and Entrio, progressing from a student intern to P&C Director, a role in which she has been instrumental in shaping high-performing, purpose-driven teams. Over the years, she has held roles such as Social Media Specialist, Marketing Manager, Brand Manager, and COO, gaining a deep understanding of cross-functional team dynamics and organizational development.

Sonja’s expertise lies in recruitment, organizational culture, leadership development, talent management, and employee engagement. Following a significant VC investment in Entrio in 2024, she played a key role in integrating multiple teams, scaling organizational culture, and building a resilient workforce during a period of rapid growth.

Known for her entrepreneurial mindset, Sonja has also co-founded and managed businesses alongside her husband, further strengthening her ability to nurture and lead teams with a shared sense of purpose. She is deeply committed to fostering inclusive, supportive work environments that empower individuals to thrive.

Privately, Sonja is a proud mother of one and a dedicated rescued dog owner.

Szabolcs Annus

Senior Director for Human Resources and Corporate Affairs | OTP bank d.d.

Szabolcs Annus started his career in 2000 at OTP Bank Hungary, where he had the opportunity to work in various positions in controlling, corporate management and group management. He was also a member of the Supervisory Board in several OTP subsidiaries, including OTP Building Society, OTP Travel, OTP Bank Romania and OTP Bank Hrvatska.

In 2017, he joined OTP Banka Hrvatska as an advisor to the Management Board, participating in the leadership of the project team responsible for the integration with Splitska banka. Since 2020, he has held the position of Executive Director responsible for human resources, corporate governance and communications.

He graduated from Corvinus University in Budapest, and received additional education at the International Center for Banking Education. He also earned a certificate in Human Resource Management from Cornell University and completed the Business Leadership Program at the SEED School for Executive Education.

Barbara Galić Pavlović

Product Strategy & Operations Manager for Google Learning | Google

Barbara Galić Pavlović works as Product Strategy & Operations Manager for Google Learning. With a Master's degree in Economics, she began her career in finance at fast-growing technology startups Microblink and Photomath. At Photomath, she took on the leadership of a team responsible for a wide range of business operations, including finance, administration, legal affairs, and customer support. Her focus eventually shifted to strategic management, culminating in the role of Chief of Staff to CEO Damir Sabol. In this role, she had the opportunity to closely contribute to the growth and development of the globally recognized Photomath (with more than 300 million downloads and over 150 employees at the time of acquisition), whose success was recognized and acquired by Google.
As Chief of Staff, Barbara worked closely with leadership on strategic initiatives and operational excellence, gaining valuable experience in managing complex organizational challenges and driving team growth.
Today at Google, Barbara uses her extensive experience in the role of Product Strategy & Operations Manager, where she actively contributes to the development strategy of Google's learning products.

Matej Trbara

Co-founder | Farseer

Matej is a tech entrepreneur with a Master's in Computer Science and over a decade of experience in building and scaling software companies. He co-founded Kod Biro, a software agency launched in 2013 and which was acquired in 2022. Since 2016, he helped build DeepAR, an AR technology company acquired by Zalando in 2025. Today, he's a Co-founder and Sales Executive at Farseer, where he previously led the Professional Services team. When he's not working with clients, you'll probably find him on a cycling trail.

Matija Nakić

Co-founder & CEO | Farseer

Matija Nakić is the co-founder and CEO of Farseer, a business modeling, planning, and analysis platform helping business teams break free from the limitations of Excel. With 15+ years in software, she says building Farseer often feels like the only thing she’s ever done.

Farseer empowers mid-market and enterprise companies to turn financial and business planning into an automated, accurate, and transparent process—used across finance, marketing, HR, ESG, and beyond.

Matija writes about finance, tech, business, and culture, and is on a mission to turn business teams into proactive strategic partners—and Farseer into the foundation of the next generation of enterprise software.

Ivan Paić

Member of the Board | KONČAR Group

During his rich international professional career, Ivan Paić has leadership positions in France and the United Arab Emirates and professional internships in Japan and Norway, improved on the topics of people management, increasing the efficiency of sales teams, digital transformation and sustainable development.

He graduated in 2003 from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing in Zagreb, and is an Associate Professor of Digital Transformation at the Swiss School of Business and Management Geneva in Zagreb. He started his business career in 2003 at KONČAR - Measuring transformers as a scholarship holder in the project department and later as a manager of R&D projects. 

In 2008, he joined the international company Schneider Electric as Product Manager for medium and low voltage equipment. In 2011, he assumed the position of Operational Marketing Director for user software in Grenoble, France, and after more than three years he returned to Zagreb to the position of Country General Manager for Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since 2020, he has been living in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.  He joins the KONČAR Board at the beginning of 2024 from the position of vice president at Schneider Electric in charge of project sales at the global level.

Lidija Kralj

Obrazovna analitičarka, neovisna stručnjakinja za AI & podatke u obrazovanju | EduConLK

Lidija Kralj is an international analyst and expert in data and AI in education, she is a member of the European Commission’s working groups on Artificial intelligence and data in education and training, High-quality Informatics, AI Literacy, digital education, and safer internet; UNESCO and Council of Europe workgroups on AI and education and Digital citizenship; author of digital learning resources and textbooks, as well as an advisor and teacher trainer, researcher and analyst of education area and regulations for JRC. She had been working at the Ministry of Science and Education in Croatia, where she led curriculum reforms. Lidija is an eLearning and project manager for several international projects, and a lecturer in Mathematics and Computer Science with 30 years of experience.

Iva Penezić

Human Resources Director | Nexi Croatia and Nexi Slovakia

As the Director of Human Resources at Nexi Croatia, she leads strategic initiatives in the area of ​​people management, collaborating with business leaders to ensure success through talent, organizational culture and development. With more than 20 years of experience in various industries – most notably in the payments sector – she brings a global perspective, shaped by working in international companies and participating in transformation projects at the organization-wide level.

In recent years, her passion has expanded to the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), which she sees as a natural extension of the HR function. She believes that both areas are essential to building inclusive work environments where individuals can thrive – and to achieving sustainable business results.

Ema Menđušić Škugor

Odvjetnica za korporativna, komercijalna i regulatorna prava | Divjak Topić Bahtijarević & Krka Law Firm

Ema Menđušić Škugor, with a Master's and Doctor of Laws from the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, leads DTB's corporate law team and the regulated industries law team, and often researches technology law in her work. As a corporate lawyer, she is familiar with a wide range of legal topics in the field of commercial law and company law and advises some of DTB's largest corporate clients. Her in-depth knowledge of the legal framework and internal corporate processes enables her to effectively advise clients on all their daily needs. In addition, Ema actively participates in complex transactions and project-type assignments. Her knowledge of European Union law already directed her early in her career towards advising clients operating in various regulated industries.

Her expertise also includes public procurement law. In her work, Ema frequently advises local and international corporate clients on all aspects of the public procurement process. She actively participates in shaping applicable policies and regulations through her work on the Public Procurement Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Croatia. She helped lead and chaired the Committee for two terms as Vice-Chair, and currently chairs it.

Gordana Kastrapeli

Leadership Consultant | Mynd

Gordana Kastrapeli is an experienced business trainer and coach with more than 20 years of experience in the development of leaders and teams within various organizations. As a certified NLP Master trainer, Brain Based Leadership trainer, Attention Shifting coach and Systemic coach, she specializes in the development of leadership skills, leadership coaching and influential communication.

Through her work, Gordana helps managers and teams better understand themselves and their associates, improve communication and leadership skills, and achieve success aligned with their own values. She places special emphasis on systemic principles, working with the inner state of leaders, and developing present listening as key components for effective leadership and influence.

Gordana leads workshops and coaching programs that are tailored to the needs of individuals and organizations, including training for leadership development, presentation skills, communication and team dynamics. Her lectures are interactive, practical and focused on the real challenges that leaders face in today's business environment.

Maja Bušljeta

Voditeljica internih komunikacija i korporativne kulture | Erste&Steiermärkische Bank d.d. Hrvatska

Maja loves her job and does it with a smile on her face. She has been employed at Erste Bank for the past 17 years in jobs related to internal communication and corporate culture. He deeply believes in the unbreakable bond between the company's top management, HR and internal communications as the basis for creating a healthy environment for everyone's pleasant daily work and coexistence at the workplace, necessary for achieving great results.

In her years at the bank, Maja will tell you that the capital is expressed in the trust, contacts and knowledge of the organization in a way that cannot be learned from a fact sheet. Strategic projects, internal events, interesting human stories, successful teams, business during the pandemic, sports successes, new ways of working, changes in organizational structure, new products and services, integrations ... Maja has the privilege of observing from the front row, and as a rule actively participating in changes, exciting milestones, but also everyday events that make up the living organism of an organization. And she will be happy to share with us what creating a culture of open communication looks like from her shoes.

After completing the Journalism Studies at the Faculty of Political Sciences, he enrolled in the Executive MBA at the Cotrugli Business School, and transformed the original idea of ​​working in the media into working on the niche Erste TV and Erste News Portal for the group's employees in Croatia.

Romina Ivančić Maćešić

People and Culture Director BU Adria | Coca Cola HBC Hrvatska

Romina Ivančić Maćešić is a values-driven and commercially oriented HR leader. She has a proven track record across four industries with experience in various international companies and fast-paced, constantly changing environments. With over 15 years of experience covering HR leadership and business oriented roles, Romina brings a unique blend of business acumen and deep HR expertise.

Her strategic approach, entrepreneurial mindset, creativity and genuine people-centric approach have led to significant achievements in employer branding, talent management, culture transformation, wellbeing and employee relations, consistently delivering business results through people, processes, and portfolio. Her passion is building inspiring, high performing organisations that enable people to thrive. Combining business and HR experience, she successfully bridges commercial objectives with people strategies.

She currently serves as People and Culture Director for Adria region at Coca Cola HBC, overseeing the people agenda for Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia. Romina’s previous roles include Sales Director and HR Director at Heineken Croatia, and her experience also includes HR leadership at Lidl Croatia and A1 Telecom, as well as foundational HR roles at Addiko Bank.

Even though she is a psychologist by education, she likes to point out that she gained deep insights into human behavior and customer orientation already prior to university - in her childhood and early adulthood - coming from an entrepreneurial family environment. Curious by nature, Romina is committed to continuous self-improvement which she achieves through formal education and career choices that give her wide perspective and personal growth opportunities. She is an educated coach and CBT therapist in training. Romina’s commitment to challenging the status quo and going the extra mile has made her a sought-after leader in the region, and her insights promise to enrich any discussion on the future of HR and business transformation.

Gordan Kožulj

Director of Business Consulting | Deloitte

Gordan Kožulj is an expert with more than 15 years of experience in strategic and operational business consulting. He bases his work on the successful implementation of complex projects for clients, focusing on clearly defined goals and measurable results. By providing support to organizations in maximizing existing business potential and recognizing upcoming market opportunities, Gordan contributes to strengthening their competitiveness and long-term sustainability. Within the Deloitte Consulting practice, he is responsible for team development in Central Europe, with an emphasis on capacity building, technical excellence and allocation of high-quality resources. He graduated from the American University of California, Berkeley, and completed his post-graduate specialist study in Business Management – ​​MBA at the Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb. He is an authorized project manager with an internationally recognized Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI), USA.

doc. dr. sc. Nikolina Borčić

Assistant professor | FPZG

Nikolina Borčić is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb. She graduated in German and Russian language and literature at the University of Zagreb and completed a Master of Science in European Studies: Languages ​​and Cultures in Contact. She has two doctorates – the first in linguistics, with a focus on the informative-persuasive function of language in political interviews, while the second in communication sciences was dedicated to the research of argumentation and non-verbal communication in political speeches, again from the perspective of persuasion through information. In her teaching and scientific work, she systematically deals with the informative-persuasive function of media texts, both at the level of language and at the level of public appearances in the media, within various thematic and niche frameworks. At VERN’ University, she taught courses from the perspective of the informative-persuasive function of communication, exploring the connection between identity and image, strategies of persuasion and information in political and business communication, and the creation of content and image in popular culture and celebrity discourse. Storytelling, as a tool for shaping image in public communication, continues to be taught. After working at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, she focused on courses dealing with communication strategies and language tactics in the media context, analysis of media language, and stylistics and design of short journalistic forms, with a special emphasis on the possibilities of artificial intelligence language modeling within these areas. She has published more than 40 scientific papers and has presented at more than 30 scientific conferences. She is the author of the scientific and professional book The Devil is in Detail: Image and Discourse in Politics (2023). She is a regular columnist on the mixer.hr portal, where she writes about the image of influential women and analyzes elements of public communication in the media. 

assoc. prof. Ph.D. Ana Belajdžić

Department of Psychology | University of Osijek

Ana Belajdžić, born on January 19, 1986, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek. She currently serves as the Deputy Head of the Department of Psychology and the Head of the Chair for Developmental and Applied Psychology. During her four-year term, she also held leadership positions as the Vice Dean for Study Programs and Lifelong Learning, as well as the Vice Dean for Teaching and Student Affairs at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Osijek. Professor Belajdžić teaches courses such as Introduction to Work Psychology and Organizational Psychology, Work Psychology, Organizational Psychology, Career Management, and Justice in Organizational Contexts. Her primary research interest lies in justice in organizational contexts, and she also conducts research on work attitudes, leadership, and the psychology of entrepreneurship. She applies her expertise in the broader field of work psychology and organizational psychology to organizational practice and utilizes it in her consulting work in the area of human resource development.

Goran Šaravanja

Chief economist | HGK

Goran Šaravanja has been the Croatian Chamber of Economy's Chief Economist since June 2022. He has over 25 years of experience in following the Croatian economy as well as global and regional economic trends. In his professional career, Goran has worked in the Ministry of Finance, investment banking, was the Chief Economist of Zagrebačka banka (2007-2011) as well as Croatia's largest oil and gas company INA (2012-2017). Prior to joining the CCE Goran worked as an economic consultant.
Goran holds an Honours Degree in Economics from Macquarie University in Australia with majors in economics and German language and Literature. He began his career in Australia at the NSW Treasury as an Economist before migrating to Croatia in 1999.

Ivan Vrdoljak

Osnivač & vlasnik | EFFORT

Ivan Vrdoljak is the founder and owner of Effort, a specialized public and media performance training. He helps leaders become persuasive speakers who communicate clearly, interestingly and confidently in front of an audience – achieving business goals with less stress and more confidence. He focuses on developing presentation skills in top management, with an emphasis on the clarity, persuasiveness and memorability of the messages they convey in public and media appearances. As an experienced television journalist, editor and presenter, he has 17 years of experience working in leading Croatian and regional TV companies – Bloomberg Adria, RTL, Nova TV and Al Jazeera Balkans. He graduated in journalism from the Faculty of Political Science in Zagreb. He is a university lecturer, speaker or moderator at numerous business conferences.

Tanja Pureta

HR Expert & CEO | Ramiro

Tanja Pureta has a Master of Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Specialist (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University in Zagreb, Croatia), certified NLP Trainer and HNLP Coach (2004. at Neuroenergetics Institute, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA), 8-year’s working experience in two respectable international organizations: Pliva JSC (pharmaceutical industry) as Marketing Specialist from 1994-1997., and IBM Croatia Ltd. (subsidiary of IBM Corporation) as Integrated Marketing and Communications Manager from 1997-2002. Owner of various business skills certificates gained worldwide (Organizational Management, Human Resources Management, Marketing and Communications Management, Leadership Management, etc.). Since 2002. Owner and General Manager of Ramiro Ltd. for business consulting in Human Resources Management and Organizational Development (psychological selection; psychological development assessment; counseling in organizational development; business skills trainings (communications skills, leadership skills, creativity skills, emotional intelligence, etc.); teambuilding activities; management coach; mediation and facilitation processes for improving business excellence). In 2011, Tanja won a prestigious award Primus – Business consultant of the year in category Human resources, education and training. In 2014, Tanja received reward Marulić: Fiat Psychologia by Croatian Psychological Association for distinguished contribution to applied psychology development.

Iva Rogović Lekić

Executive Board Member - CEO | GrECo specialty GmbH

Iva Rogović Lekić was born in Pazin, she is a professional pilot and graduated in air traffic engineering. After a successful career in aviation and brokerage in business aviation, she "accidentally" ended up in insurance - first in Triglav, where she ran a brokerage channel, and then held management functions in brokerage companies.

She is a successful business leader with extensive experience in the aviation and insurance industries. She began her career by participating in the launch of the first Croatian business airline, where as co-owner, executive director and pilot she laid the foundations of a modern approach to aviation.

She then turned her energy towards the insurance sector. As CEO at Marsh McLennan, she achieved significant results – under her leadership, Marsh Croatia experienced a fourfold increase in revenue. Her recognition of market opportunities and implementation of effective strategies resulted in her winning the 2023 HUM CROMA Award, recognizing her as one of the most respected women in the Croatian business world.

Today, he leads a new phase of his professional story as CEO 𝐆𝐫𝐄𝐂𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲, in charge of specialty business in the 21st country. The portfolio includes the fields of energy, aviation, food and agriculture, transport and logistics, credit insurance, financial lines, cyber security and other specialized segments. With more than 20 years of experience, he has proven that an innovative approach and adaptability to market challenges can lead to business success and leave a significant mark on the market.

In addition to her business successes, she also emphasizes her versatility in her private life. She is a passionate summer kite surfer and winter skier. To make sure she always has the situation under control, she reserves her mornings for a good kickboxing workout. She leaves her "calmer" side to enjoy interior design, through which she also releases her creative energy.

Andrija Vrhovnik

Senior People Analytics Specialist | A1 Hrvatska

Andrija Vrhovnik is a psychologist who works at A1 Croatia in the position of Senior People Analytics Specialist. He started his career at A1 Croatia as a student, and through the A1 Start professional development program for the jobs of the future, he turned to data science. Today, his professional path encompasses the integration of his two greatest interests, organizational psychology and data science, in order to analyze, understand and improve HR processes. With a special interest in the application of data science in HR and digital transformation, Andrija is committed to improving employee engagement, optimizing workforce potential and modernizing HR.

Through his work, Andrija enables HR to make informed decisions through data analysis and employee satisfaction and engagement research. In parallel, Andrija is also involved in automating HR processes through low-code/no-code applications in order to reduce the operational burden of colleagues in the department through digitalization and improve the employee experience with internal HR practices.

Ingrid Tena Grgić

HR Consultant | DeeP Project

Ingrid Tena Grgić has a master's degree in psychology with extensive experience in the field of human resources, which she built up through work in the IT industry and in various organizational contexts, from startups to large corporations. Throughout her career, she worked as a Talent Acquisition Specialist, HR Manager and People Partner, where she developed a wide range of knowledge and skills in the field of recruitment, employee development, management consulting and performance management and relations at work.

He currently works as an HR consultant at DeeP Project, where he collaborates with various organizations on the development and improvement of their HR strategies, processes, and competencies.

Her experience in strategic HR consulting, organizational mergers, and HR process development and implementation forms the foundation of her contributions in various business environments. She has participated in numerous initiatives aimed at strengthening diversity and inclusion and developing organizational culture.

She graduated in psychology from the Catholic University of Croatia, and in her work she combines a scientifically based understanding of human behavior with a pragmatic approach to HR, adapting to diverse teams and business needs.

He regularly cooperates with internal clients and management, leading workshops and trainings, providing support in the challenges of everyday business and contributing to the development of a positive and sustainable work culture.

Dubravka Štefanac Vinovrški

Director of Corporate Communications | A1 Hrvatska

Dubravka Štefanac began her career in 2002 during her studies at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, working at Europapress Holding, then the leading media company in the region. She gained experience at Siemens, where she managed, among other things, B2B marketing communications, before moving on to lead marketing and PR in the FMCG sector. For ten years, she served as Marketing and PR Manager at dm-drogerie markt, achieving notable results in brand reputation management, strategic communication, and the development of successful projects such as loyalty and CRM programs, as well as employer branding. Since 2019, she has been Director of Corporate Communications and ESG at A1 Hrvatska, overseeing internal and external communications, leading teams and agency partnerships, and driving sustainability initiatives.

Ivan Bartulović

Chief Operating Officer & Board Member | Hrvatski Telekom

Ivan Bartulović is Management Board Member and Chief Operating Officer for Human Resources and Customer Operations in Hrvatski Telekom, leading Croatian telecommunication company and part of Deutsche Telekom Group.

During his professional career Ivan gained experience working as a financial consultant in banking industry from where he moved to the position of Executive Director of Strategic Human Resources in CEMEX Group, global manufacturer of building materials, being responsible for operations in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.
Before joining Hrvatski Telekom in 2019, he worked in A1 Group as Member of Leadership Team and Senior Director of Human Resources & Corporate Communications for business segments in Croatia and Macedonia.

Ivan graduated in Business Economics and gained a master's degree in Financial Management from the Faculty of Economics. He continued his studies abroad completing the MBA degree at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management in Germany and at EADA Business School in Spain. During the MBA studies he also attended Georgetown University in the USA and Lingnan University in China. He took his education further at Harvard Business School, specializing in the area of Business Transformation Management.

prof. dr. sc. Nina Begičević Ređep

Full professor | FOI

Nina Begičević Ređep is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb (FOI), and the Head of the Laboratory for Strategic Planning and Decision Making. Her academic journey began at FOI, where she completed her doctoral studies in Information Science, followed by specialization at the University of Pittsburgh's Katz Graduate School of Business, USA. Her career at FOI is distinguished by significant leadership roles, including her tenure as Dean from 2019 to 2023, making her the first woman to hold this position. She also served as Vice-Dean for Research and International Relations, and Vice-Dean for Business Affairs.

Her scientific contributions are extensive, encompassing authorship and co-authorship of more than 90 research articles, books, book chapters, and conference papers. Her research interests span a wide range of topics, including business decision-making, strategic planning, innovative entrepreneurial solutions, and the innovative application of digital technologies in education. She has led and participated in numerous national and international projects, solidifying her position as one of a leading expert in her field. In addition to her academic and research endeavors, she serves as the President of the Board of Science, International Cooperation, and Art at the University of Zagreb, highlighting her commitment to promoting scientific research and international collaboration. Nina has received numerous awards and recognitions for her scientific work and contributions to society. Her involvement in editorial boards and as a reviewer for prestigious journals underscores her dedication to the dissemination of knowledge and the promotion of scientific excellence.

She was one of the founders and initiators of the establishment and operation of the Career Support and Development Center, making a significant contribution to connecting the faculty with the IT community. She also founded the FOI Economic Council and launched the Pre-incubation Center in Smart Industry project.

Professor Begičević Ređep has delivered numerous invited lectures at international universities in the USA, Hungary, Maldives, Slovenia, Morocco, and other countries. She has developed and conducted dozens of workshops and professional training sessions focusing on strategic planning and decision-making, as well as the introduction of digital technologies in education.

She is a member of the Supervisory Boards of Erste&Steiermärkische Bank d.d. and the Varaždin Technology Park.

Sara Ferberuš

Business Development Expert | DeeP Project

Sara Ferberuš is a Business Development Expert at DeeP Project. With a strong background in sales, key account management, and lifelong learning strategies, she shifted her career in the direction of strategic planning and growth initiatives that are driven by the need for a modern twist in HR practices.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zagreb. During the academic years, she participated in exchange programs and informal learning initiatives through the Erasmus Student Network and served in a Zagreb Local Board, gaining experience in cross-cultural communication, coordination, and youth development.

Her professional career started at Algebra University as a Sales Administrator, and she progressed to the role of Key Account Manager, where she focused on long-term partnerships with corporate clients. Her core responsibilities included identifying organizational skill gaps, developing tailored training plans, and aligning educational solutions with clients’ strategic goals. The focus of her work was understanding market dynamics and future workforce trends, particularly in the context of digital transformation and upskilling initiatives. Committed to lifelong learning and continuous professional development, she is currently completing MBA in e-Leadership at Algebra Bernays University.

Ivan Bilać

Human Resources Director | Adris Group

Ivan Bilać is a passionate leader in the field of human resources management, with a unique combination of experience in HR and business management. Through years of working in dynamic, multinational environments, he has developed a deep understanding of how to connect business strategies with the people who make them happen. He believes that talent and leaders are the heart of any organization and that success comes when culture, development and business goals are aligned in the right way.

His path was not typical for an HR professional – with experience in the position of CEO, he gained an invaluable first-hand understanding of the business. He led teams, made strategic decisions and was responsible for growth and profitability, which enabled him to bring HR processes closer to real business needs. He understands the challenges leaders face and knows how to build HR strategies that don't just work on paper, but bring concrete results and real business value.

Throughout his career, he has transformed organizations – modernizing HR departments, implementing talent development systems, creating strong employer branding strategies, and redefining organizational cultures. His ability to see the bigger picture and connect business goals with people has made him a key partner for leaders at all levels.

He is focused on HR innovation, developing future leaders, and establishing systems that enable long-term sustainability and growth. His goal is clear – to ensure that the companies he works for become synonymous with excellence in talent development, leadership, and business results.

Marija Felkel

Adriatic Cluster HR Director | Nomad Foods

Marija Felkel is a senior HR leader with more than 25 years of international experience in various management positions in high-tech, innovative and manufacturing industries. She graduated in law from the Faculty of Law in Zagreb and is certified in the application of the SDI method - Strength Deployment Inventory. During her long career at Siemens Corporation, she participated in numerous trainings in the field of leadership and management. He is an HR thought leader and expert in the application of strategies focused on the development of employees and organizations by designing an innovative approach to the employee experience in the workplace. She achieved successful results in encouraging organizations to grow and make organizational changes. Through his work, he encourages organizations to make data-based decisions about how to attract, hire, promote, engage and retain top talent. As a former member of the Management Board and Chief Human Resources Director of Hrvatski Telekom, she is experienced in performing C-level tasks, managing large systems, and has proven herself as a strategic HR partner to senior executive directors. Always actively involved in several projects such as mentoring young HR managers, teaching leadership and human resources management at several HR and Leadership academies in Croatia, etc. She is the winner of the 'Prometej' award - HR Manager for the year 2016, the highest professional award for human resource management in Croatia. She is the founder and owner of the company LET, 'lead empower transform' - people business consultancy, which advises individuals and organizations on how to use and develop their potential and design the best employee experience. In her current position as the regional HR leader for the Adriatic Cluster of Nomad Foods, she is responsible for the development of the best practices of human resources in 8 countries of the region. He participates in company transformation by partnering with businesses in achieving excellent results with a special focus on attracting, retaining and developing talent.

Marija Šimunić

Psychologist | Logopedsko rehabilitacijski centar BLAŽI

Marija Šimunić, Master of Psychology, currently works at the Blaži Speech Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, where she conducts psychological diagnostics and assessment of children, youth and adults, as well as psychotherapy and psychological counseling. She is a psychoanalytic psychotherapy educator at the Croatian Society for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy.

She completed the initial level of psychotherapy in Transactional Analysis, the first level of Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy, and Mindfulness education. She has also completed numerous training courses for the implementation of various psychodiagnostic tools that she uses daily in her work with clients, along with writing clinical findings. She was recently invited to join the network of counselors within the EAP program (Employee Assistance Program), which cares for employees of various organizations throughout the region by providing psychosocial support, psychological counseling, and education in the field of mental health in the workplace.

She gained her previous work experience working in non-profit organizations as a program development manager for numerous psychosocial projects and as a psychologist counselor at the Counseling Center for Youth and Adults. Since 2017, she has been covering psychological topics on the Kreni Zdravo portal, and since 2021, she has been teaching psychology courses at the Magistra Lifelong Learning Institution. She regularly participates as a guest in various media content (newspaper articles, radio and TV shows) when it comes to topics in the field of mental health, and since she herself is part of that world as an author of media content, she believes that it is extremely important to build a good relationship with the media that convey important messages to a wider audience in various ways. Thanks to her long-standing writing career, she regularly participates in writing publications and manuals in the field of mental health.

Thanks to ten years of music education, she acquired the profession of a theoretician musician with the piano as her main instrument, and also plays the guitar. She has been dancing since elementary school (standard and Latin American dances), and for several years she was active as a competitive athlete in sports dance and as a recreational dance coach for adults. She enjoys photography, music, reading, summer, long walks and cycling, and recently she has been enjoying motherhood the most.

Sandra Šućurović

Founder and educator | Q-peak Performance

Sandra is an educator and founder of the PeakIQ Academy for employee development. She has many years of experience in the fields of personal development, sales psychology and mental health, which she has translated into trainings that help employees develop communication skills, strengthen stress resistance and build authentic leadership. She is particularly interested in topics such as anxiety, burnout and psychological safety, topics that often remain unspoken, but strongly shape everyday life in organizations. 

During her career, she has worked in the business, military and sports sectors, which gives her a broader perspective and the ability to adapt to different contexts. She is a long-time associate of GNK Dinamo, one of the most famous sports clubs in the region, and as an external associate she teaches at the psychology department of the Croatian Catholic University. In addition to practical work, she is also actively involved in scientific research, which includes authorship of professional and scientific publications, books and participation in domestic and international research projects. 

In her work with business teams and managers, she emphasizes the development of authentic leadership, psychological safety, and healthy relationships that support results. She is particularly interested in how emotions, communication, and internal patterns influence everyday business decisions, team dynamics, and organizational resilience. In addition to the business sector, she also builds experience in sports and academia, which provides her with a broader perspective and additional sensitivity in working with different profiles of people. 

doc. prim. dr. sc. Sandra Morović

Chief Medical Officer | Arsano Medical Group

Assistant Professor Sandra Morović, MD, PhD, a specialist in neurology, graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb, where she also received her PhD. She began her scientific career at the Clinic of Neurology, KBC Sestre milosrdnice, under the mentorship of Academician Vida Demarin, on projects related to ultrasound diagnostics of cerebral circulation.

During her rich career, she trained at prestigious institutions in Germany and Italy, and in 2008 she was awarded the prestigious American Academy of Neurology award. From 2016 to 2023, she served as Medical Director of the Aviva Polyclinic, and is currently the Chief Medical Director of the Arsano Medical Group.

She is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Pula, a senior research associate, an acupuncturist, and a permanent court expert. She is the author of numerous scientific and professional papers and book chapters, actively participates in national and international congresses and courses, is a reviewer in scientific journals, and is a member of domestic and international professional societies.

Alen Akšamija

Chief Financial Officer | Arsano Medical Group

Alen Akšamija is the Chief Financial Officer of Arsano Medical Group. He has 25 years of experience in the financial sector, mostly in banking. He has participated in numerous financial restructuring models and innovative financial solutions.

He started his career in the Adriatic oil pipeline in the position of planning and analysis, after which he moved to banking. He worked in Bank Austria Creditanstalt/HVB group, and later in Societe Generale Splitska banka in various positions, first in risk management and then in corporate banking, holding managerial and executive roles. In 2007, he moved into investment banking, working for Deutsche Bank AG, covering several countries in the region.

He graduated in economics from the University of Rijeka and received his master's degree from the University of Zagreb.

Ana Belin Šimić

Senior Manager in Field Enablement | Camunda

Ana Belin Šimić is a long-term manager and expert in instructional design, specializing in training programs, retraining and the development of global enablement strategies. He currently holds the position of Senior Manager, Field Productivity at Camunda, where he leads a global team responsible for the creation and implementation of a unified enablement strategies. Focuses on developing internal scalable training programs, and on continuous improvement processes based on metrics and feedback, ensuring alignment with the company's global business goals and market changes.

Before Camunda, Ana worked in the Learning and Development department and then led the team for Customer-Facing Enablement at Infobip, where she developed and implemented initiatives for training existing and integrating new employees, especially in the context of acquisitions. She has played a key role in onboarding programs, knowledge management and readiness initiatives for sales teams and managers/leaders globally, with an emphasis on workforce flexibility and adaptability. During her work at Algebra, Ana led the team for the development of school educational programs and acted as editor-in-chief on more than 30 titles of manuals and textbooks. 

Ana has experience in large national digital transformation projects such as  E-škole, where she worked as an instructional designer, editor, and key expert in the development of educational content focused on the development of digital competencies. 

The programs developed by Ana are continuously aimed at training employees and trainees to work in digitally transformed environments - whether it's about onboarding, leader development or continuous professional development.

Ana has a master's degree in English language and literature and pedagogy and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in andragogy (her registered topic is The Effectiveness of Reskilling and Upskilling Learning Programs on Closing Skill Gap in IT Industry: A Comparative Study). He is passionate about creating learning strategies that support organizational growth, talent development, and sustainable employee development on a global scale.

Vjekoslav Golubović

Sales & Account Managment director | SD Worx Adriatic

Vjekoslav Golubović is the Sales & Account Management Director at SD Worx Adriatic. For the last few years, he has been intensively dealing with the digitization of the human resources management process, connecting HR experiences from practice with current trends in digital HR solutions. As an HR manager with more than 20 years of experience in the development and transformation of human resources management systems, he led a large number of transformational projects related to the development of reward systems, performance management and organizational design, HR controlling and planning. He gained experience in large business systems such as A1, INA - MOL Grupa and Hrvatsko Telekom where, among other things, he was responsible for the digitization of performance management and competence development systems, reward systems, and managed IT solution development projects for basic HR processes. The successful implementation and continuous development of the HRnet application as a central HRIS platform has been his mission throughout most of his career. For the last 2 years within SD Worx, he has been dedicated to improving the user experience of existing and new HRnet users, and through the transfer of his own user experience, he strives to contribute to finding the best solutions for the digitization of the HR process of users.

He is a member of the CIPD, the world's most important HR institution based in London, where he completed his specialization in Human Resources Management. He is active as a lecturer at specialized HR programs and as a speaker at a number of HR conferences. He has broad interests in the field of human resources, from the topics of organizational design, reward systems and performance management to organizational culture and employee engagement. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to transformational projects with the aim of balanced development of individual competencies and increasing the level of performance and success of the organization.

Dunja Vorkapić

Human Resources Director | Arsano Medical group

Dunja has more than 17 years of experience in human resources management, with extensive experience from various industries. She began her career at Atlantic Grupa, where she gained extensive knowledge and experience in various areas of human resources and laid the foundation for further professional development. She continues her career and training at A1 Croatia as an HR business partner and employee development expert. She joins the global pharmaceutical company Sandoz, where she was responsible for all segments of human resources management.

Currently, Dunja holds the position of Director of Human Resources at Arsano Medical Group, the leading group of the private health sector in the Adria region. After completing her studies at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Dubrovnik, and after obtaining an MBA degree at Staffordshire University in Stoke on Trent, UK, Dunja is continuously improving herself through numerous educations.

As a certified executive coach and Hogan interpreter, she is dedicated to the professional development of leaders and transformational processes in organizations. She is passionate about developing talent and organizational culture, actively contributing to the creation of innovative and stimulating work environments.

Petar Čalić

CEO | DeeP Project

Petar has a master's degree in computer science and is the owner of DeeP Project. Through a multi-year career in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia and large private IT companies, he acquired key knowledge and skills in successful leadership and management of human resources. It is additionally improved through professional seminars in the field of relationship dynamics and understanding of human behavior. In addition to computer science studies and other "civilian" education, he also acquired an adequate military education in the field of leadership and management of people. He is an occasional columnist and guest in various Croatian ICT and business e-magazines and podcasts. 

Ph.D. Dario Car

Senior HR consultant | DeeP Project

After spending a short period working at a hospital in Zagreb, he continues his career in a telecommunications company, where he progresses from an expert to a manager position. Subsequently, he works as a lecturer in a higher education institution and eventually returns to what he loves most, which is working with people. He holds a doctoral degree in social sciences and is primarily focused on working with the Z-generation, mostly within the fintech sector. He is the author of several manuals on customer relationship management and leadership development and a regular columnist in Croatian business and ICT magazines in the field of human potential development. 

Dario Perak

HR consultant | DeeP Project

He realizes his desire to work with people by studying psychology, where he is currently a graduate student. He is a certified LEGO SERIOUS PLAY facilitator. He demonstrates knowledge of communication and presentation skills by leading group workshops in the field of soft skills.During his studies, he deepened his knowledge of organizational psychology. He enjoys statistical analyses, and in addition to organizational psychology, his main areas of interest are psychometric tests and creativity tests. He is an occasional columnist and guest in various Croatian ICT, and business e-magazines and podcasts.