The PR Summit: “Trust is PRiority” is a gathering of communication professionals from the region and the world, organized in honor of the most significant global gala awarding ceremony, the IPRA Golden World Awards 2024, which Belgrade is hosting this year.
The summit is intended for communication professionals across all spheres of the profession – from integrated communications to digital communications, from strategic communication to product and/or service launches. From companies, institutions, civil society organizations, and entrepreneurs – to every individual aware that communications today are crucial on both personal and professional levels. And that they are no longer the exclusive privilege of professionals – good and top leaders and managers continually improve and use their knowledge and skills, precisely in communication.
That’s why they belong here too. Because the dilemmas are shared:
What does the near future hold for us? How will we cope with growing challenges, increased responsibility, and the rapid development of new technologies and artificial intelligence? – these are some of the questions we will seek answers to together.
We will also expand the network of contacts and support – through direct introductions via Icebreaker: Speed meetings.
This is a unique opportunity for participants of the PR Summit to join the IPRA GWA Gala ceremony – known worldwide as the ‘PR OSCAR’ – and experience the excellence of colleagues from around the world, the ovations for the best, and the joy of victory – not only because of received recognition but also because of the changes their campaigns have brought to their communities.
12:00 – 12:15
Gathering – conference room “Lavander”
12:15 – 12:20
Welcome: Bojana Stanković, Owner and Head of communications / Smart Vision
12:20 – 12:30
Opening: Nataša Pavlović Bujas, IPRA President 2024 / Founder&CEO at Blumen Group, Serbia
12:30 – 13:15
Keynote speech: “PR 2024: Naturally intelligent and artificially stupid public relations” – prof. Dr. Dejan Vercic, IPRA ABA Chapter Cofounder&Chairman and Founder of Bledcom PR Conference
13:15 – 14:00
Icebreaker introduction: Speed meetings led by Marina Bolanča, Founder&CEO of “Abeceda komunikacije”, Croatia; IPRA GWA Winner
14:00 – 14:15
Break and refreshments
14:15 – 15:00
Panel: „Does AI make generation gap deeper?“
Description: Will AI deepen the generational gap in the PR profession? Are strategic approaches and integrated communications making a comeback? How much, and in what way, has the accelerated development and easier access to social media over the past decade harmed the true purpose of the PR profession? Why are young people finding it difficult, or not collaborating at all, as communication professionals? How will we maintain the prestige and value of the profession in the age of AI, when communication is no longer the exclusive privilege of PR professionals?
Moderator: Sanja Milaković Kolundžija, Partner in “Executive Group”, Serbia, IPRA GWA Winner
Participants:
Gordan Turković, Founder and CEO of “CTA communication”, Croatia, IPRA GWA Winner
Aleksandra Vuković, Entrepreneur/Director of “NURA* digital”, Serbia
James McQueeny, IPRA Board Member&UN Representative
15:00 – 15:45
Panel: Vanda Kučera sa gostima: PR and Media Challenges: New Age
Description: In an era of growing public distrust, fear of the rapid development of artificial intelligence, and the uncertainty it brings – are we ready for a new redistribution of responsibility? Do we share the same problems, or will everyone deal with their own? Do we truly understand the “public interest” and our role in shaping public opinion? Do we need to redefine our collaborations for the benefit of the public, as well as the advancement of the profession? Do the media and PR professionals have the strength and power they are credited with – or even greater?
What is new in the new age?
Moderator: Vanda Kučera, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Communication Director McCann Belgrade, Serbia
Participants:
Krešimir Macan – Founder&CEO of “Manjgura”, Croatia; IPRA GWA Winner
Jasmina Koprivica – Director of digital operations at Euronews.rs and TVArenasport.com
Aleksandra Kosanović Strižak – Head of Marketing and Communications at Erste Bank Serbia
Radiša Kričak – PR Manager at I&F McCann Grupa
15:45 – 16:00
Final speech: Ivan Jakšić, Founder of “Avala Media” & Co-Founder of IPRA ABA Chapter
Nataša Pavlović Bujas
Nataša Pavlović Bujas
IPRA President 2024 / Founder&CEO at Blumen Group, Serbia
Curious explorer and inexhaustible performer, passionate about behavioral sciences.
BSc of Chemistry, with deep roots in science - but born to be entrepreneur, communication expert, coach and consultant. With 30+ years in entrepreneurship, 25+ years in strategic communication and brand development, and 25+ national and international awards – she firmly stands for female touch in business.
Nataša is International Public Relations Association (IPRA) President 2024 and proud alumna of the Fortune Most Powerful Women - U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership Program.
She describes herself as: Creative thinker. Problem solver. Business coach. Mentor. Entrepreneur. Communication Expert. Internet fun. Mom non-stop.
Gallup says about her: Futurist. Strategist. Learner. Individualist. Connected
prof. Dr Dejan Verčič
Prof. Dr Dejan Verčič
IPRA ABA Chapter Cofounder&Chairman and Founder of Bledcom PR Conference
Dr. Dejan Verčič is Professor and Head of Centre for Marketing and Public Relations at the University of Ljubljana, and Partner and Knowledge Director in Herman & partnerji d.o.o., Slovenia. He received his PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK.
Dejan has published 20 books (the most recent:Internal Communication and Employer Brands (2023) and he is among the top ten most cited researchers in public relations and the second most quoted in the field of global public relations. He is a consultant and an entrepreneur with 30 years of experience. He has built and sold at that time the largest communications agency in Slovenia, Pristop, and is currently developing a new advisory firm specialized in strategic communication, digilogue creativity and virtual platforms – Herman & partnerji. Since 1994, he organizes the annual International Public Relations Research Symposium – BledCom.
Prof. Verčič received many special awards – from Alan Campbell-Johnson Medal by the UK Chartered Institute of Public Relations (of which he is a Fellow) and Pathfinder Award, the highest academic honour bestowed by the Institute for Public Relations (IPR) in New to a Distinguished Public Relations Scholar by the European Public Relations Education and Research Association (EUPRERA).
, Dejan Verčič is the first recipient of a new Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Public Relations Society of Slovenia (PRSS).
Sanja Milaković Kolundžija
Sanja Milaković Kolundžija
Partner u "Executive Group", Srbija, IPRA GWA Winner
Sanja Milaković Kolundžija is a partner at Executive Group, a leading integrated communications agency in Serbia. Sanja has over 25 years of experience in communications and has advised some of the largest international companies operating in Serbia and the region. In her work with clients, she is particularly focused on corporate and crisis communications and sustainability. Sanja graduated from the MBA program at the University of Sheffield, UK, where she was awarded the "Distinguished Alumna" honor in 2015, and in the same year, she also received the "Kapetan Miša Anastasijević" award for the Best Woman in Business in the City of Belgrade.
Gordan Turković
Gordan Turković
Founder and CEO of "CTA komunikacije", Croatia, IPRA GWA Winner
Gordan Turković is the founder and CEO of CTA komunikacije, with many years of experience in strategic consulting and creating successful integrated marketing campaigns.
In Croatia and the region, together with the CTA team, he manages projects for clients from various industries, including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, IT, FMCG, architecture and construction, energy, and tourism. He regularly collaborates with NGOs and associations to promote various social causes.
He is the recipient of numerous prestigious national and international communication awards. He led the CTA team when the campaign for the Association Brački pupoljci titled This Truly Matters was named the best campaign in Europe among 350 finalists in 60 categories at the European Excellence Awards. He is a multiple winner of the Grand PRix ot the Croatian Public Relations Association (HUOJ) and the Golden World Awards for Excellence from the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) for various projects, as well as Effie, Eventiada IPRA GWA, Polaris, Balcannes, Mixx, and IdejaX.
Aleksandra Vuković
Aleksandra Vuković
Entrepreneur/Director of "NURA* digital", Serbia
Aleksandra Vukovic is a strategic thinker and entrepreneur, currently serving as the Director of nura* digital, a collective of digital marketing professionals recognized for their expertise in strategy, design, and digital advertising. She is the creator of Singular Advantage, a strategic marketing program designed to help internal teams achieve clarity in their communication with the market, investors, and employees.
Aleksandra and her team had successfully guided over 200 startups and SMEs toward remarkable growth in European and American markets. Recognised for her knowledge and expertise in strategic narrative creation, Aleksandra has shared her insights with startup founders at the New York Tech Week 2023. She is also a resident marketing lecturer at the FEFA faculty, a mentor in a pre-seed program at the biggest Science Technology Park in South East Europe, she is a startup mentor in Founder Institute, Univerzum accelerator in Southeast Europe.
Vanda Kučera
Vanda Kučer
Head of Corporate Affairs
Vanda Kučera has more than 40 years of experience in marketing and communication. She has been working at McCANN and I&F Group, one of the leading marketing communications networks in southeastern Europe since its foundation in 1997: from the position of Research & Planning Director, followed by two years of being Managing Director at McCann Macedonia, through developing the Montenegro office and becoming the first New Business Director at the whole McCann Group and including managing the first digital agency in Serbia – MRM.
For the past thirteen years, Vanda has been the Head of Corporate Affairs, responsible for corporate relations with various stakeholders (state institutions, professional associations) and all CSR initiatives and strategies.
As a Board member and active member of the most prominent business and professional associations (SAM, IAA, UEPS, Serbian Chamber of Commerce, ASMEDI, AmCham Serbia...) Vanda contributed a lot in creation and implementation of legal regulations in marketing, advertising and communication in Serbia.
With the IAA, Vanda was the initiator of an advertising self-regulatory body, responsible for communication with the EACA and EASA on these topics, the coordinator of the working group in charge of drafting the National Code of Ethics in Advertising. Now she is the President of the Board of the first national self-regulation body - National Association of Ethical Standards in Advertising - NAESA.
Bojana Stanković
Bojana Stanković
Co-owner and Head of the Communications Department at Smart Vision Agency
IPRA GWA Winner
With over 20 years of experience in the IT sector and communications industry, Bojana
Stankovic is recognized as an expert in integrated communication, including PR, digital,
ATL, and BTL strategies. Since the founding of Smart Vision agency, she has participated
in numerous domestic and international projects in the field of external and internal
communication. Bojana led the team that won the award for Best Project in Internal Communication from the PR Society of Serbia for a campaign implemented in 17 countries for the client Adecco. Additionally, she managed the project with Dr. Gabor Mate in the Balkans for the Novak Djokovic Foundation, and her PR team won the IPRA Gold Award 2024 in the NGO category for this project. She is also an ambassador for the Woman.Comm Club in Serbia, a regional association that brings together successful women in the communications industry.
Ivan Jakšić
Ivan Jakšić
Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief at Avala Media Group
Ivan Jakšić built his career in public relations - first in the judiciary, then as Director of Communications at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, and later in the public sector as a media advisor to ministers in the Government of the Republic of Serbia (in the fields of economy, Kosovo and Metohija, and foreign affairs).
After twenty years of successful career in public relations, he stepped into the unusual - and founded a media house and news agency -
Avala Media Group, where he also holds the positions of Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of all the media within the group (Kosovo Online and TV Dankos).
From 2012 to 2014, he served as President of the Public Relations Society of Serbia (PRSSRB), the national organization of professionals in the field of public relations, which he has been a member of since 2005. In the PRSSRB, he was also a member of the Board of Directors from 2008 to 2010 and Vice President from 2010 to 2012.
Krešimir Macan
Krešimir Macan
Founder&CEO of “Manjgura”, Croatia
IPRA GWA Winner
Krešimir Macan is a prominent Croatian communications expert with over 30 years of experience in crisis communication, political strategic communication, and digital media. He is the owner and founder of Manjgura, one of Croatia's first PR agencies, established in 1997, and has successfully led communication strategies for numerous domestic and foreign investments, as well as election campaigns at all levels in Croatia and the region.
He has advised two Croatian prime ministers and several prime ministers in the region. In his career he was the first Director of Corporate Communications at Croatian Radio Television (HRT) – public service broadcaster.
Macan is a regular lecturer at VERN' University and Experta Business School, and as CIPR certified lecturer a guest lecturer at various other universities and institutions. He is a member of several domestic and international public relations associations, including HUOJ, IPRA, CIPR, EAPC, and IAPC. His work has been awarded with numerous international awards, including the prestigious Croatian PR association HUOJ Grand PRix in 2019. for his life career achievements and overall contribution to the profession.
Croatian and regional public know him also as regular media expert with comments on current social and political events in leading Croatian and regional media outlets.
Marina Bolanča
Marina Bolanča
Founder&CEO of "Abeceda komunikacije", Croatia
IPRA GWA Winner
A master of economics with over 20 years of experience in the communication industry, specializing in strategic and creative communication. She is the owner of the agency Abeceda komunikacije, operating in all markets of the Adria region, and is the only agency in Croatia with 5 awarded IPRA Gold World Awards for excellence.
In its 10 years on the market, Abeceda komunikacije has proven to be one of the fastest-growing communication agencies. They have developed their own tool for measuring the impact of ESG strategies on reputation – the Better Company and they place significant importance on consulting in communication with Generation Z.
Marina is a great enthusiast of literature, theater, and film. She doesn't miss a good rock or jazz concert and she is proudest of her daughter Tia, freshman student.
Jasmina Koprivica
Jasmina Koprivica
Director of digital operations at Euronews.rs and TVArenasport.com
Jasmina is expert in the development of digital media in Serbia and the ex-YU region. She developed business models and managed the newsrooms of the most visited Serbian websites Blic.rs, Kurir.rs, B92.net, Prva.rs, Telegraf.rs. Currently she is director of digital operations at Euronews.rs and TVArenasport.com.
She is oriented towards creating media platforms that attract mass audiences and provide a first-class digital advertising experience, and she actively participates in IAB Serbia as a member of the Board of Directors since 2011.
Jasmina is a consultant for digital media in Serbia, BiH and Montenegro in projects to strengthen local digital media and integrated newsrooms of large media houses. She is lecturer in numerous schools and workshops of Digital Journalism. She has an EMBA degree after completing her studies at Cotrugli Business School.
Aleksandra Kosanović Strižak
Aleksandra Kosanović Strižak
Head of Marketing and Communications at Erste Bank Serbia
Aleksandra wanted to be a sports journalist specializing in ice skating, or at least an opera singer. Instead of realizing her youthful dreams, she became an expert in marketing communications and PR both on the local and international marketing scene.
She was a long-time head of the marketing agency Nova Communications, where she honed her knowledge and experience in working with renowned local and foreign brands. Since 2017, she has been the head of the marketing and communications sector of Erste Bank, and is one of the biggest advocates of the necessity of financial education of citizens, especially children and youth, and considers one of her greatest successes and the success of the team she manages, the launch of a financial education platform #Ersteznali.
Aleksandra graduated from the Belgrade Faculty of Dramatic Arts in the field of Culture and Media Management and Production.
She is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Ethical Standards in Advertising (NAESO) and the Chair of the Marketing and PR Committee at the Association of Serbian Banks.
Radiša Kričak
Radiša Kričak
PR Manager at I&F McCann Grupa
Longtime editor/producer of the morning program on RTV B92, first of the television "Dizanja", and then of the radio "Dizanja with Gorica and Dragan". He started his career at Studio B, and then moved to BK TV, where he was the editor of the first entertainment morning program in this region, "Budilnik". Freelance correspondent and producer of numerous projects produced by BBC World Service in Serbian, DW, etc.
Before becoming a journalist, he collaborated on the implementation of media projects for several non-governmental organizations and foundations (Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, etc.). Completed BBC training for journalists. After more than a decade of working in the media, he continues his career in the field of PR within the I&F Grupa, and today, Two Rivers. Born in Belgrade, studied Law Faculty and Media Management.
James McQueeny
James McQueeny
IPRA Board Member&UN Representative
James McQueeny has started several communications companies over the years, including the largest state-based lobbying firm in Washington D.C.
He recently sold his public affairs company of 22 years. Winning Strategies was a multiple IPRA global award winner, among other awards and commendations, and became a board member more than a decade ago.
The agency represented multi-national corporations, conducted national advocacy campaigns, marketing initiatives, political campaigns, and specialized in government relations and strategic/ competitive positioning.
Jim is IPRA's NGO representative to the United Nations' Department of Global Communications and is credentialed with the UN's Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
He is also a member of the social justice advisory board at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government/
A former chief of staff to a United States Senator, Jim was a White House newspaper bureau chief, a television reporter and political show host for three New York television stations. He is also a long-time board member of the prestigious New Jersey Institute of Social Justice.
While remaining active with clients facing competitive challenges and government awareness campaigns, Jim has taught communications at Rutgers University, and is a fellow at Sacred Heart University where he teaches "Politics, Press and Policy: How They Are Sequenced To Create Social Justice And Change."
His articles have been published in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Newsday, and the New York Daily News, among many other outlets. Jim's commentary has been on network and regional television and radio.
