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.

Chivoine Rem is Chief Executive Officer of Belgrade Airport since 2024. Under Chivoine Rem leadership, Belgrade Airport continued its expansion and modernization project undertaken since 2019 by VINCI Airports, affirming its position as a hub in Southeast Europe with an aim of reaching 15 million passengers at the end of concession period. Chivoine Rem is a highly qualified professional with international experience in both public and private sectors, originally graduating as an engineer from Ecole Polytechnique in Paris. Before his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of Belgrade Airport in 2024, Chivoine Rem held various management positions within the VINCI Airports network, most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Rennes and Dinard Airports in France. He joined the VINCI Group in 2019 as Project manager in charge of international projects for VINCI Highways, VINCI subsidiary in charge of road concessions, operations and mobility services. He then joined VINCI Airports as Chief Executive Officer of Toulon-Hyères Airport, located in southern France. Prior to 2019, he held several positions in the French Government, as Head of State debt market operations and investor relations at the French Treasury, as Portfolio manager at the French Government Shareholding Agency and as Finance attaché at the Embassy of France in Washington D.C.

Alisa Adel, a senior director at Airbus, spearheads AI-enabled digital transformation initiatives, optimizing operations and fostering growth. With a rich blend of expertise spanning strategy, operations, R&D, and commercial acumen honed across Europe, North America and Singapore, she successfully led the development and implementation of game-changing innovation through global collaborations with corporations, startups, institutes and academia. A forward-thinking leader, Alisa thrives in dynamic environments, energizing diverse international teams to move mountains and make a meaningful impact. She is passionate about nurturing talent and dedicates her time to advising founders and scaling startups.

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.

With extensive international experience in the energy sector, Alexis Brierre bosats a strategic vision focused on the energy transition. He began his career at Elf in France from 1993 to 2005, and then spent 3 years on expatriation in Africa and 5 years in Singapore. From 2013 to the end of 2019, he managed global operations with both technical and commercial teams in France. He then relocated to China during the peak of the COVID period, just before the borders closed - an experience that was both enriching and challenging. He is now heading the Balkans Hub for TotalEnergies

Vildana Drljević Boljanić is a leadership expert, organizational strategist, communications professional, and sociologist with over 20 years of experience leading high-impact initiatives across the Western Balkans. Since 2013, she has served as Director of the Propulsion Fund. Propulsion is a leading social impact communications group in Central and Eastern Europe, with offices in Bratislava, Belgrade, and Sarajevo, partnering with international institutions, governments, and companies on programs addressing gender equality, youth empowerment, digital rights, and ESG. Vildana’s expertise lies in fostering cross-sectoral partnerships and designing transformative campaigns focused on democracy, human rights, and women’s rights. Vildana has conceptualized and led numerous programs funded by international donors and the private sector, bringing together institutional, corporate, and civil society actors to drive sustainable development.

Maximiliano Frenza is General Manager of L'Oréal Adria-Balkan, overseeing the company's business across the region. With a career at L'Oréal Group spanning since 1999, Frenza brings extensive global leadership experience and a deep understanding of the beauty industry. He has held numerous key positions within the Group, including General Manager of L'Oréal Caribe in Puerto Rico and General Manager of the Consumer Products Division (CPD) in Mexico. Notably, he led the CPD in Central and Eastern Europe from 2018, transitioning in 2023 to Global Manager of NEO Hypercare, L'Oréal's business transformation project. His broad experience, entrepreneurial approach, and proven leadership skills are set to drive L'Oréal's continued success and innovation in the region. L'Oréal Adria-Balkan operates in Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia and Montenegro, managing a portfolio of over 20 popular cosmetic brands, including L’Oréal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline, Vichy, La Roche Posay, Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent Beauté, Armani, L’Oréal Professionnel, Kerastase, and others.

Miloš Vuksanović was born in 1981 in Čačak, Serbia. He spent his early years in Gornji Milanovac, where he completed both primary and secondary education at a school of electrical engineering. During high school, he actively played volleyball - a sport that significantly shaped his character and instilled in him the values of perseverance, composure, and teamwork. In 2000, Miloš moved to Belgrade to pursue a degree in automation at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. In his final year of studies, in 2006, he began his professional journey at Schneider Electric, joining the marketing department with a focus on industrial products. His drive and capabilities quickly stood out. By 2010, he transitioned into developing Schneider Electric’s partner network in the field of industrial automation. In 2016, he stepped into a leadership role as the head of partner network and daily sales development, where he played a key role in shaping and implementing the company’s commercial strategy. In 2021, he took on a new challenge - leading the department for commercial and industrial buildings, with a stronger focus on project-based initiatives. In early 2024, Miloš reached a pivotal point in his career when he was appointed Country General Manager Serbia & Montenegro at Schneider Electric. His leadership philosophy centers on sustainable growth, building high-performing, customer-centric teams, and fostering a culture of trust and accountability. He leads by example and is deeply committed to the professional development and success of his colleagues. From a young engineer to the regional head of a global technology leader, Miloš Vuksanović’s career reflects a journey of continuous growth, strategic vision, and values-driven leadership.

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 was also the first Secretary-General of CEBAC – the Council of European Business Associations and Chambers in Serbia – serving from its founding in 2024 until July 2025. The organization brings together 14 European chambers and business associations operating in Serbia.

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.

Olja Janković Leković is the Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) Programme Coordinator at UN Women Serbia. With more than 15 years of experience in the UN system, she has led numerous regional and national initiatives advancing gender equality, gender-responsive planning and budgeting, and disability inclusion. Throughout her career, she has worked hand in hand with international partners and government institutions at all levels to embed gender perspectives into public finance and policy, helping position Serbia as a recognized European example of GRB implementation. Over the past seven years, she has also forged strong partnerships with women’s civil society organizations, fostering women’s economic empowerment and supporting the growth of women’s entrepreneurship across Serbian cities.

Dr. Sanja Popović-Pantić is the Head of the Science and Technology Policy Research Center at the Mihajlo Pupin Institute, where she has been contributing to the advancement of research and development capacities in Serbia for 28 years. Since 1998, she has served as the President of the Association of Business Women, the largest organization of women entrepreneurs in Serbia. She is also actively engaged in consulting and research on women’s entrepreneurship, leveraging extensive experience in bridging academic insights with real-world practice. Her research on the innovation and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, with a particular focus on women-led businesses, is grounded in daily collaboration and communication with Serbia’s largest network of women entrepreneurs. Through the coordination and implementation of numerous European entrepreneurship projects, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of women’s entrepreneurship in Serbia over the past two decades. Additionally, since 2015, she has been contributing to the development of women’s entrepreneurship on the European stage as the Chair of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Group within the Enterprise Europe Network.

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.