Vera Budway is Chief Diversity Officer in Erste Group Bank AG, in Vienna, Austria. By creating new, forward-thinking policies, she helps make the working environment at Erste more diverse, inclusive and engaging. From 2007 – 2013, she was Head of Diversity & Inclusion in Erste´s subsidiary in the Czech Republic Česká spořitelna (Czech Savings Bank) where she built up Erste Group´s first comprehensive Diversity & Inclusion Program “Diversitas”. Prior to joining Erste Group, Ms. Budway spent over 10 years as Senior Political Advisor on Democratization, Cross Border Cooperation and Economic Development to multilateral development organizations in Vienna, Brussels and Geneva. She received Master’s Degrees in Political Science and International Relations from Georgetown University (Washington, DC). In addition to her committed work for the Erste Group, Ms Budway is an active member of Rotary International Vienna (President 2018/19); and serves on the boards of directors of the Open Society Prague and the Institute for Stability and Development. She is Chairwoman of the British Chamber of Commerce´s Working Group on Diversity and CSR, and is a founding member of the Austrian Chapter of the International Women´s Forum (IWF) and serves on its Board as Deputy Vice President.
Ivo Šlaus, honorary president of the World Academy of Art and Science (since 2013, from 2011-2013 president), honorary member of The Club of Rome (member since 1987, honorary since 2017), professor emeritus of physics (since 2005, professor of physics since 1967), member of the Pugwash Council (since 2003), member of the Academia Europaea (since 1988), member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts (since 1977), corresponding member of the Montenegrin and Macedonian Academies of Sciences and Arts (since 2006), member of the European Leadership Network (since 2010), member of the World Innovation Foundation (since 2003), member of Balkan Political Club since 2004, member of its the Managing Board since 2007; fellow American Physical Society (since 1985), fellow of the Institute of Physics, UK (since 1996); co-founder of the European Physical Society in 1969 and member of its Executive committee in two terms (1969-71, and 1987-91). Ivo Šlaus was elected Fellow of the World Academy in 1994, member of its Board of Trustees since 2005, chair of the Board of Trustees (June 2011-Dec 2011), president of the World Academy of Art and Science since Dec 2011; co-founder of Academia Europaea in 1988, and chair of its Physics and Engineering Section during which time most Nobel prize recipients joined AE. Founder of the Croatian Association of the Club of Rome. Former Dean of Dag Hammarskjold University College of International Relations and Diplomacy (2010-2017). Former head Department of Nuclear Research at the Rudjer Boskovic (IRB), and former president of the Scientific Council (IRB). Former visiting professor UCLA, Georgetown University, Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Kyoto University, Universite Laval (Quebec), Universite Catholique Louvain, Free University Amstrdam, anf advisor to Navl Research Lab, Washington, Los Alamos National Laboratory, TRIUMF, Vancouver. Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Croatia (2000-2003), member of the Committees for Foreign Affairs and for Science, Education and Culture; participant of the Stockholm International Forum on Holocaust 2000; president Council of Social-Democratic Party of Zagreb and member of its General Council (1998-2004); co-founder and secretary general of the Croatian Movement for Democracy and Social Justice (1997-2001).
Mr. sc. Gordana Kovačević, imenovana je u treći mandat kao predsjednica i izvršni direktor kompanije Ericsson Nikola Tesla od 1. siječnja 2015. godine. Trenutno, uz odgovornost predsjednice Ericssona Nikole Tesle, obnaša i dužnost predsjednice Nadzornog odbora kompanije kćeri u Bosni i Hercegovini te kompanije kćeri Ericsson Nikola Tesla Servisi u Hrvatskoj. Diplomirala je i magistrirala na Fakultetu elektrotehnike i računarstva Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Svoju profesionalnu karijeru započela je u tadašnjem poduzeću «Nikola Tesla» gdje je kao cijenjeni stručnjak, a kasnije i menadžer vodila niz najsloženijih telekomunikacijskih projekata na domaćima i stranim tržištima te najveće linijske organizacije u kompaniji. Dolaskom Ericssona u Hrvatsku 1995. godine, kada je kompanija postala dio korporacije Ericsson, postaje potpredsjednicom Ericssona Nikole Tesle te potpredsjednicom Ericssonove tržišne jedinice za Srednju Europu. Istodobno je obavljala i funkciju direktorice Centra za komunikacijska rješenja i podršku prodaji. Tijekom svoje karijere bavila se strateškim menadžmentom, restrukturiranjem kompanije i razvojem poslovanja. Na tom putu, njena inovativnost i originalan pristup bili su dio njenog osobnog doprinosa lokalnoj i globalnoj organizaciji što je prepoznato kroz Ericssonove centre izvrsnosti koji su, kao njena ideja, najprije implementirani u Hrvatskoj, a nakon toga u cijeloj korporaciji. Na Sveučilištu Columbia Graduate School of Business, završila je program kojim se osposobljavaju najviše pozicionirani menadžeri u korporaciji Ericsson. Osim rada u kompaniji, Gordana Kovačević uključena je i u rad uglednih institucija u Hrvatskoj. Zahvaljujući odličnim rezultatima u suradnji s vodećim predstavnicima akademske zajednice, imenovana je u savjete nekoliko sveučilišta i fakulteta. Za svoj rad primila je brojna priznanja i nagrade, a proglašena je i najmoćnijom ženom hrvatskog biznisa za protekle tri godine.
Jacques Spelkens was born in Brussels (Belgium) in 1957. After graduating in Philology, in Philosophy and Politic Science at the ULB (University of Brussels), he started his professional career as a teacher and University Professor (Philosophy and Modern Languages) in Belgium and the United States. He’s still teaching Master classes in “Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility” at ICHEC Brussels Management School, and is a regular worldwide lecturer on these topics. He also contributes to several media on a regular basis. He joined the then GDF SUEZ Group in 2003, in charge of Communication and Linguistics in several Belgian affiliates of this multinational Group in the Energy and Utilities sector. In 2008, he became CSR Manager for the Group (based both in Paris and in Brussels) and in 2010 also Head of the Department Social Innovation at GDF SUEZ in Paris at worldwide Corporate level. Within this Department he was in charge of strategic topics : solidarity, diversity/alterity, fight against discrimination and exclusion, international partnerships and innovative policies regarding employment and training. In 2013, he became Member of the Board of CSR Europe and several organizations in the CSR sector like FAPE (Fund for Actions to Promote Employment), the FACE Foundation (Foundation for Acting to Counter Exclusion) where he’s Adviser to the President and Energy Assistance. Within the now ENGIE Group, he’s currently (since January 2016) Head of CSR for the Benelux, in charge of environmental, social, societal issues as well as Corporate Citizenship activities.
Diana Madunic, the Ambassador of Sweden to the Republic of Croatia, took office on 7th September 2018. Before her posting in Zagreb Diana Madunic worked as Ambassador-at-large for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm. She developed the Government’s new and more ambitious policy on sustainable business, and supported the development of corporate social responsibility, including ethical and sustainable business practices, among Swedish and international companies. Before that Ambassador Madunic was the Head of the Foreign Affairs and EU Department at the Prime Minister’s Office including during the Swedish EU Presidency in 2009. During her carrier Ambassador Madunic also served as Counsellor (“Antici”) at Sweden’s largest mission abroad – the Representation of Sweden to the EU in Brussels, and as coordinator to the Political Director at the Cabinet of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. She has a degree in Political Science from the University of Gothenburg and of Public International Law with focus on human rights from the Åbo Akademi University in Finland. She is fluent in Swedish and English, and uses French, Spanish, and Croatian.