On 14th November 2019, the first Congress Ambassadors of Slovenia were awarded honorary titles at the Ljubljana Castle.
The main goal of the initiative is to acknowledge and honour the individuals who have successfully hosted many international congresses or other business events and have been largely contributing to the promotion and development of Slovenia as a congress destination.
This year’s main event of the Slovenian Ambassador Program was held at the Ljubljana Castle, where the first 25 Congress Ambassadors of Slovenia were awarded. The patron of the event was the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Borut Pahor.
Slovenian Congress ambassadors for 2019 were doctors, scientists, professors, researchers and other experts in various fields who have contributed to the internationalization of Slovenia on the meeting’s industry stage. The criteria for being nominated for the Slovenian Congress Ambassador 2019 title was the organization of scientific-professional or business event with a minimum of 100 attendees (where at least a half of participation is international). The events taken into account were those that took place in the period between 2014 and 2018. Priority was given to meetings of regional, European and international associations or was of exceptional international importance.
The Slovenian ambassador program is managed by Slovenian Convention Bureau and affiliates 6 destination ambassador clubs (Ljubljana, Maribor, Nova Gorica, Portorož, Bled, Kranjska Gora) which connect selected providers with local congress ambassadors and further contributing to the promotion of a specific destination, a more efficient event acquisition and stronger support for professional institutions.
THE FIRST CONGRESS AMBASSADORS OF SLOVENIA 2019 ARE:
(in alphabetical order of their last names):
1. Prof. Ph.D., Marko Anderluh, M.Sc. Pharm., University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy
2. Monika Ažman, BSc, Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia – Association of Professional Associations of Nurses, Midwives and Health Technicians of Slovenia (Chamber – Union)
3. Prof. Ph.D., Marija Bešter-Rogač, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
4. Andrej Bibič, Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning
5. Ass. Prof. Ph.D., Alenka Fikfak, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture
6. Peter Grk, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia
7. Prof. Ph.D., Marko Hawlina, M.D. spec. opthalmologist, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Eye Hospital
8. Prof. Ph.D., Sandi Klavžar, University of Maribor, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
9. Prof. Ph.D., Radko Komadina, M.D., President of the Slovenian Medical Association
10. Prof. Ph.D., Janez Kovač, Jožef Štefan Institute / Slovenian Society for Vacuum Technique
11. Assoc. Prof. Ph.D., Samo Kropivnik, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences
12. Ass. Prof. Ph.D., Aleš Kuhar, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty
13. Prof. Ph.D., Klavdija Kutnar, University of Primorska, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies
14. Štefanija Lukič Zlobec, BSc Economy, Spominčica – Alzheimer Slovenia – Slovenian Association for Dementia Assistance
15. Prof. Ph.D., Mojca Matičič, M.D. spec. infectologist, University Hospital Center Ljubljana, Clinic for infectious diseases and febrile conditions
16. Prof. Ph.D., Nives Ogrinc, Jožef Štefan Institute
17. Sabina Otoničar, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences
18. Ph.D., Rado Pišot, Science and Research Center of Koper
19. Prof. Ph.D., Iztok Podbregar, University of Maribor, Faculty of Organizational Sciences
20. Assoc. Prof. Ph.D., Anja Podlesek, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
21. Prof. Ph.D., Danica Purg, IEDC-Bled Business School
22. Prof. Ph.D., Maja Rupnik, National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food (NLZOH)
23. Assoc. Prof. Ph.D., Vasilka Sancin, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Law
24. Prof. Ph.D., Nataša Tul-Mandić, Maternity Hospital Postojna
25. Prof. Ph.D., Tatjana Welzer Družovec, University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science (FERI), Institute of Informatics
Director of the Slovenian Convention Bureau, Miha Kovačič, MBA, emphasizes the reason for the launch of the program: “Slovenia has a good reputation in the international scientific, professional and business, as well as sports environment. Many individuals, with their knowledge and dedication, are helping to increase this reputation every day, thus raising the profile of Slovenia. We are extremely pleased and proud to have successfully presented the first Slovenian Congress Ambassadors in 2019 and that Slovenia has taken a step further and offered all these individuals the tools and solutions to be even more successful in their work. We want to establish a platform of Slovenian ambassadors covering various scientific, professional, business and other fields that work closely with the Slovenian Convention Bureau and local ambassador clubs. It is only through creative cooperation that we can be successful in a very competitive international market.”
MSc. Karmen Novarlič, Head of Business Communication Department at the Slovenian Tourist Board, emphasized the importance of congress tourism, as it is one of the key products defined by the Strategy for the Sustainable Growth of Slovenian Tourism 2017-2021, and the congress guests rank at the top of the list of visitors with the highest consumption. »The Slovenian Tourist Board is pleased to be partnering with the Slovenian Ambassador Program. The establishment of the program provides a systematic and effective approach for connecting the best Slovenian intellectual capital in the field of science, business and sports with the Slovenian congress industry. According to the congress ambassadors, many individuals, with their knowledge and dedication, will make a crucial contribution to increasing the recognition of Slovenia, and in particular to the successful acquisition of reputable scientific, professional and business events in our country. “
MSc. Petra Stušek, Managing director of Ljubljana Tourism, emphasized the importance of international scientific and professional meetings for Ljubljana as the leading Slovenian congress destination:“Ljubljana’s strong scientific and research potential, which is also reflected in the organization of numerous congresses and professional events, will gain additional momentum through the Slovenian Ambassador program. We are proud to collaborate with the Slovenian Convention Bureau from the very beginning, while at the same time establishing closer cooperation with the University of Ljubljana and its members – the crucial partners of the Ljubljana Ambassador Club, especially during 2019 which marks the centenary of this prestigious institution.”
For additional information you can contact:
Azra Botonjic, Manager of Slovenian Ambassador program
azra.botonjic@slovenia-convention.com
+386 1 569 12 60
