Speakers

Mrs. Cvetkovic is in charge of managing the MPC Development, TO and Innovation department and serves on the company’s strategy, leadership and valuation committees with her vast retail and office experience. Prior to this, Jovana held the position Head of Operations and Head of Retail, where she managed complete technical, operational, leasing, commercialization and marketing departments for Retail and Office portfolios. Her 19 year experience in the industry encompassing deep market knowledge, strategy execution, results and network of industry relationships, has made her one of the leading real estate experts in the region.

Neda holds a degree in economics and has over 17 years of experience in Human Resources, having worked across various industries. She is currently focused on the software and energy sectors. Her first professional experience was in sales and retail, where she worked as a manager in a large retail chain. At the very beginning of her career, she led a team of over 30 employees. Her passion for working with people and her desire to support their development naturally guided her toward a career in HR. Over the past ten years, Neda has enriched her experience by working in a software company, where she served as the HR Director of a joint venture, and later as the HR Director for Schneider Electric Serbia. This year, she expanded her role to lead HR across the region, taking on the position of Western Balkans HR leader, where she oversees HR operations in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of her greatest achievements is the integration and transformation of the joint venture company, a multi-year process in which Neda led the overall HR strategy and organizational transformation. Today, the company boasts impressive results in employee satisfaction, retention, and employer branding. Neda’s HR expertise shines in areas such as talent acquisition and development, reward programs, employer branding, and organizational development. She also holds numerous certifications. Throughout her extensive career, Neda has placed special emphasis on talent development. As she says, talent represents the foundation of a company’s future growth. Diversity and inclusion are also of great importance to her, as they are key to fostering new ideas, innovation, and organizational agility. At Schneider Electric, the percentage of women in the workforce increases each year, thanks to a strong strategy and collaboration with universities, as well as numerous programs aimed at inspiring young women to pursue engineering careers. Neda is also a board member of the Schneider Electric Foundation’s Center for Young Talents, which provides free math and programming classes to support children aged 12 to 18 in pursuing careers in engineering. She is passionate about leading transformations and developing teams, always guided by the belief that the world is full of opportunities—but also imbalances—and that only through mutual support can we truly move forward

Born in 1969 in Belgrade, Lazarević graduated as the top student in 1991 from the Faculty of Business Economics and Finance at Webster University in Geneva and Vienna. She was awarded a graduate degree in economics from the University of Belgrade in 1996 . Between 2008 and 2012, she served in the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, and at the Ministry of Foreign and Domestic Trade and Telecommunications on bilateral economic cooperation with Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. From June 2013 to April 2014, she was Special Advisor for Foreign Economic Relations to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Domestic Trade and Telecommunications, and from April 2014 to October 2020, she was Special Advisor for Foreign Economic Relations to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications. From October to November 2020, she headed the Department for Europe and Transoceanic Developed Countries in the Ministry of Trade, Tourism, and Telecommunications. In December 2020, she was appointed Acting Assistant Minister for Bilateral Economic Cooperation. Since November 2021, she was Deputy Assistant Minister and Acting Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Economic Diplomacy Sector. On June 11, 2022, she was appointed Acting Assistant Minister for Economic Diplomacy. In 2023, she was awarded the title of ambassador. In April 2025, Lazarević was appointed Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade. Lazarević served as the Commissioner General of the Republic of Serbia at Expo 2020 Dubai from September 2018 to February 2021. She played a pivotal role in negotiating Serbia’s free trade agreements with Turkey (2019), the Eurasian Economic Union (2019), and the United Kingdom (2020/21). Additionally, she co-chaired the Serbia-Turkey Joint Committee for the implementation of the FTA and the Joint Expert Committee for Economic Cooperation with Austria . Lazarević speaks English, French, and Italian, with a good command of German.

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Since 2001, I have been leading Mikroelektronika, a company dedicated to standardization, innovation, and time-saving solutions. With a global reach, 99% of our products are exported to over 130 countries.Over the years, I have spearheaded the implementation of a four-day workweek, achieving remarkable improvements in productivity. I have introduced groundbreaking concepts such as the "one new product per day" initiative, remote access to development boards, and a multi-language, multi-architecture integrated programming environment. Additionally, I am the creator of four industry standards and hold three patents.Currently, I am focused on research in the field of organizational efficiency, leading a team of over 90 talented individuals through a unique platform that integrates a four-day workweek, automation, and a focus on daily achievements.Our collective goal is to foster greater tolerance and contribute to building a better society.

After completing his master's studies in Germany, Nikola Janković worked as a journalist for German state radio. Upon returning to Serbia, he commenced work at the investment promotion agency, transitioning through various roles - from PR to FDI advisor to director. He actively contributed to the implementation of numerous investment projects, primarily in the automotive sector, including Nidec, Continental, and Brose. In recent years, his focus has been on international cooperation and enhancing Serbia's reputation globally.Mr. Janković gained vast experience in the field of economic development, attracting FDI and international cooperation. With expertise in automotive industry, he was facilitating investment projects in Serbia of companies such as Nidec, Continental, and Brose. Fluent in German and English.

Irena Petrović is an experienced professional in marketing and communications, with a career shaped by leadership roles in some of Serbia’s most prominent media companies. She holds a degree from the Faculty of Philology at the University of Belgrade and an MBA from the University of Sheffield, combining a strong foundation in humanities with advanced business acumen. Since 2018, Irena has dedicated her career to sustainability, integrating her strategic communication skills with a genuine commitment to driving positive social and environmental change. Her work is defined by a forward-thinking approach that bridges innovation, purpose, and responsible business practices. She currently serves as the Director of the WMG Foundation, where she oversees several impactful projects. Among them, the most prominent is EUpravo zato—an initiative designed to enhance mutual understanding, build trust, and strengthen partnerships between Serbia, the Western Balkans, and the European Union. Irena views her professional path as a platform for advancing sustainable development and believes in the transformative power of collaboration, education, and long-term vision.

In 1995 he obtained a Magister Artium in Slavonics and Industrial Business Administration at the University of Hamburg. From 1996 until 2001 he was the head of the Moscow office of Gaulhofer & Partner and from 2002 until May 2006 he was team leader Mobility, Industry with Berlin Partner, the regional development agency of the German capital.From May 2006 until 2007 he worked as an EU expert on regional business development in four Ukrainian regions: Zhytomyr, Rivne, Chernihiv and Kyiv. In 2008 he became COO and CFO of the newly founded German-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Moscow. In October 2011 he returned to Kyiv with the task to set up a German-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Kyiv, where he became the first Chairman of the Board in 2016.After 10 years in Ukraine, in December 2021 he applied for a new assignment in Serbia and was appointed Executive Member of the Board of the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce in Belgrade in Spring 2022.

After a career as a lobbyist in France, Sanja Ivanic arrived in Serbia in 2011. She has been the General Director of the French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry since its admission to CCI France International. The French-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry now covers several countries in the Western Balkans. She is also the Secretary-General of CEBAC - Council of European Business Associations and Chambers in Serbia, organisation which unites 14 European chambers and business associations in Serbia.

Darko Soković is a strategic communications leader focused on equipping people and institutions with the "new literacies" needed to face the challenges of a rapidly changing world. His work spans preventing violent extremism, ethical use of AI, and sustainability, helping partners from the public, private, and development sectors respond with clarity and purpose. As Founding Partner at Propulsion, he leads the design of impactful campaigns that build community resilience, strengthen public trust, and drive meaningful social change through communication.

Biljana Braithwaite is the Founding Partner of Sustineri Partners and a leading voice in sustainability and governance in Southeast Europe. Through Sustineri, she advises companies, investors, and governments on how to integrate sustainability into core strategy and operations. She is the creator of the ESG Adria Summit and leads numerous initiatives focused on ESG, responsible business, and systemic reform. Drawing on over 20 years of international experience, Biljana brings a unique blend of strategic vision, policy expertise, and regional insight to her work.