The conference “Održivo liderstvo: Od odluke do uticaja”, which translates as Sustainable Leadership: From Decision to Impact, takes place on 24 September 2026 in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel Hilton in Podgorica, beginning at 10:00. Organised by the Montenegrin daily Vijesti, it brings together representatives of institutions, international organisations, the business, academic and financial communities and the civil sector, together with experts in sustainable development, energy, investment and ESG. CROSS-REIS is one of the partners of the project.
The aim of the conference is to open a dialogue on how sustainability is turned from a strategic commitment into concrete decisions, investments and business models. The programme covers partnerships between the public, private and international sectors, sustainable investment, Montenegro’s European future, the energy transition, the circular economy, ESG principles and competitiveness, alongside questions of leadership, the economic empowerment of women, the attitude of younger generations towards sustainability and the role of cities and citizens in building more sustainable communities.
We are pleased to share that our colleague prof. dr Ana Lalević Filipović, full professor at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Montenegro, a CROSS-REIS partner institution, will take part as a speaker in the panel “Cirkularna ekonomija: Od otpada do resursa”, on the circular economy and the move from waste to resource.
The panel runs from 16:10 to 16:40 and is moderated by Ivana Vojinović of the Centre for Climate Change, Natural Resources and Energy at the University of Donja Gorica. Prof. Lalević Filipović speaks alongside Danilo Veljić of the Department for Waste and Chemicals Management at the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro, Nina Bulatović, founder and director of L-DEMA and of the Vodolija concept, dr Verena Jost, senior expert for packaging in science, quality and regulatory affairs at HiPP, and Veselin Popović, director for ESG at Luštica Development AD Tivat.
The discussion asks how waste can be turned into a resource, how materials can be kept in use for longer and what room that opens for new business models, and how ready Montenegro is for such a model. Particular attention goes to packaging and its life cycle: how the quantity of packaging waste can be reduced and its recyclability improved while a product is still being designed, and what the new regulatory requirements and standards mean for companies. The conference applies the same principle to itself through its Zero Food Waste concept, presented in the programme at 13:50.
The day is built around five panel discussions and a series of keynote addresses, and is moderated by Aleksandra Mudreša of TV Vijesti. The conference is opened by Marijana Kadić Bojanić, CEO of Vijesti, and the introductory addresses are delivered by Johann Sattler, Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro, Ekaterina Paniklova, UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, Admir Šahmanović, Minister of Energy and Mining, Damjan Ćulafić, Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North, and Jelena Milošević, director of the MDIF programme for South East Europe.
Participation is free of charge, with prior registration. The number of places is limited to 150 participants and registration stays open until the capacity is filled.
The conference continues the project’s engagement with the regional debate on the green transition, bringing research on regenerative economies and innovation ecosystems into a discussion about the decisions, investments and public policies that shape it.
Read the full announcement on Vijesti: here.
Read the announcement of the circular economy panel: https://www.vijesti.me/marketing/poslovni-marketing/826772/cirkularna-ekonomija-od-otpada-do-resursa-promo