Speakers

Olivier Cadic has been Senator for French Citizens Abroad since 2014, re-elected in 2021. He currently serves as Vice President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces, President of the France–Gulf States Interparliamentary Friendship Group, and Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). He is also Vice President of the Study Groups on Francophonie and on French Citizens Abroad, member of the Study Group on Veterans and Remembrance, and President of ANEFE. In addition, he sits on the boards of AFD, AEFE, Institut Français, and Worldskills Lyon 2024, and on the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum. Born in 1962, he became an entrepreneur at the age of 20, founding the electronics company Info Elec, later transferred to the UK. He created the association La France libre d’entreprendre to support French entrepreneurs abroad, and went on to launch an online marketplace for printed circuits and a publishing company that promoted Franco-Belgian comics in English. His career as an entrepreneur and publisher established him as a prominent advocate for innovation and cultural promotion. Elected as a representative of French citizens in the UK in 2006, he was awarded the National Order of Merit in 2011. In 2012, he co-founded the Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI) before being elected senator for French citizens abroad in 2014. As senator, Olivier Cadic has conducted more than 500 missions across 114 countries and is engaged in over 60 interparliamentary friendship groups. He chaired the France–Luxembourg group, the France–North Korea contact group, and, since 2020, the France–Gulf States group. He was Vice President of the Senate’s Business Delegation (2014–2020), reporting on entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and Brexit. He has also contributed to laws improving the daily lives of French citizens abroad, including agreements on transport and driver’s license recognition. A recognized expert on cybersecurity and cyber defense, he has been rapporteur since 2017 on related budget credits and authored several reports, notably on disinformation and cyberattacks. His initiatives have inspired key government measures: creation of a cyber offensive force, a cyber response unit against information warfare, the future “17 cyber” emergency number, and the inclusion of the fight against fake news in the Military Programming Law. In 2024, after being targeted by Chinese hackers (APT31), he called for an international cyber deterrence force. He was also vice president of the 2023–24 parliamentary inquiry into drug trafficking, taking part in field operations in Bolivia. Since 2021, he has presided over ANEFE, aligning with the national goal of doubling the number of students in the French education network by 2030.

Aleksandar Bojanic is leading Airbus' Defence and Space business in the Eastern European region. As the company's regional director, with over 15 years of experience in engineering, marketing and sales, he is leading Airbus' projects and supporting the region to enter the EU defence and industrial framework.

Christian Di Lizia is a seasoned professional in the nuclear energy sector with over two decades of experience spanning engineering, project management, international development, and advocacy. Currently serving as Senior Business Developer at EDF's International New Nuclear Development Division, he leads nuclear program development in Serbia, Slovakia and Latin America. He also manages strategic relations with global organizations such as the IAEA, OECD-NEA, and WNA. Christian has driven key initiatives, including EDF's engagement with international multilateral agencies and the development of nuclear roadmaps in prospective countries. His work focuses on creating robust frameworks for nuclear energy adoption, including supply chain enhancement and competence building. Previously, Christian has held diverse roles at EDF, ranging from process transformation in nuclear engineering to interface management for the Hinkley Point C project. Notable achievements include rationalizing engineering processes, improving interface resolution times, and driving knowledge-sharing platforms for new nuclear projects. Earlier in his career, Christian was seconded to Slovenské Elektrárne as a Project Leader, where he achieved operational savings through radioactive waste management optimization and reduced outage durations by implementation of work management best practices. At WANO Paris Centre, he led over 20 international peer review missions, fostering global safety and reliability standards for nuclear plants. Christian holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Rome “La Sapienza,” where he also contributed to the development of propulsion technologies. Passionate advocate for nuclear energy, Christian's strategic vision and leadership underscore his commitment to advancing safe, efficient, and innovative nuclear energy solutions worldwide.

Jovana Raković, MBA, leads Forvis Mazars’ Financial Advisory Services across the Adria region, where she helps businesses navigate complex financial challenges and seize growth opportunities through M&A, valuations, and due diligence processes. With prior experience at a Big Four firm and a leading telecommunications company, she has worked extensively on corporate finance, strategic planning, digital transformation, and digitization of financial processes. Her insights center on how companies can adapt growth strategies to global disruptions and leverage innovation to enhance competitiveness and resilience. She is a CFA Level II candidate and holds an International MBA.

MIHAILO VESOVIĆ was born on 3rd of May 1972, in Belgrade.He graduated from the Mechanical Engineering Faculty in Belgrade University, and earned a degree of Master of Science in Industrial Engineering.He was a Secretary of the CCIS Association of Metal and Electric Power Industry, after which he was appointed to the positions of Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Economy and Privatization and in the Ministry of Trade and Services. In 2008, he was elected CCIS Vice President, for two terms of office, where his main focus were international economic relations.In his multiannual work for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, he was also Director of the CCIS Centre for Innovations, and CCIS Deputy General Manager, and Director of the Division for Strategic Analyses, Services and Internationalization. Today, he is Deputy President of CCIS responsible for development and international cooperation.He is also the President of the Governing Board of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia.He is married and father of two children.

Dragana Djurica is the Secretary General of the European Movement in Serbia (EMinS), a renowned civil society organization established in 1992 and promoting EU integration and European values in Serbia and the Western Balkans. She also serves on the Board of the European Movement International and is a member of the European Economic and Social Committee’s advisory body under the Enlargement Candidates Initiative. In addition, she chairs the National Selection Committee Serbia in cooperation with the College of Europe. Ms. Djurica is a senior professional with extensive experience of Western Balkans cooperation, development and EU integration. Having served for nine years at the Regional Cooperation Council, where she spearheaded efforts to improve the economic competitiveness of the region, which included investments, industrial development and financial markets. She was also directly involved in shaping the Common Regional Market Agenda for the Western Balkans Six — now one of the main pillars of the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Prior to that, she served as economic diplomat of the Republic of Serbia, and in Government’s Investment Agency. She holds a Master’s degree in Economic Integration and Development from Vrije Universiteit Brussel and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of La Verne.