GREEN HQ
KNOWLEDGE HUB FOR GREEN AND DIGITAL TRANSITION.
GREEN HQ – philosophy
Through its mission, GREEN HQ works on awareness raising, knowledge sharing, capacity building, and encouraging regulatory, administrative and business staff and experts, and broader public towards high-quality green and digital transition that is in line with the European Union's requirements and standards.
The vision of the knowledge hub is to proactively drive positive changes and foster resilience and sustainability in diverse systems, including but not limited to business, education, healthcare, residential infrastructure, tourism, and other sectors. This will be accomplished through a tailor-made educational initiatives, expert consulting services, and active engagement with relevant stakeholders
GREEN HQ – values / approach
GREEN HQ, as a knowledge hub, brings together the most experienced experts and lecturers from all fields relevant to successful green and digital transition, as well as the development of social, organizational, and economic resilience. The goal is to make knowledge and expertise readily available in one place, along with expert advisory services.
GREEN HQ operates at the regional level, both in Croatia and its neighbouring regions, including Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, with the possibility of expanding into new markets.
GREEN HQ – initiators and co-founders
Vedrana Likan, EMBA, MRICS
Managing Partner, Colliers
Vedrana Likan name in the business world of Croatia and the wider Adriatic Region is synonymous with real estate and investments, sustainable economy, resilience and intellectual entrepreneurship, as well as women's leadership and systematic efforts to educate and empower women in business.
Vedrana holds a position of Managing Partner of Colliers - a leading global consultancy firm whose business for Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina she has been running since 2006. Prior to joining Colliers, Vedrana spent 10 years of her career in production and advertising, advocacy and communication management.
During last 15 years, she holds President and Board positions in various organisations, among which are British Chamber in Croatia, American Chamber of Commerce, and Croatia Green Building Council, where she holds a lifetime position of Honorary Member.
She is a Member of the Management Board of APR – Academy for political development that promotes engagement of young leaders from different fields in creating better society, and which operates under the auspices of European council.
In 2022, together with leaders of worldwide associations of Croatian women across the world, she initiated the establishment of Croatian Women’s Alliance to connect and unite female leaders of Croatian networking associations across the globe into one powerful voice and to create a platform for future generations of leaders.
Vedrana is a frequent guest lecturer at colleges, institutes and universities (Croatian Institute of Finance, Faculty of economics, Vern, Financial Club, etc.). She actively participates as advisory board member, program advisor, moderator and panellist in the leading conferences in Croatia, region and Europe on the real estate, investments, women empowerment and advocacy, ESG and resilience. She has been active as a mentor in numerous domestic and foreign programs dedicated to the promotion of entrepreneurship among women and youth. She actively participates in the establishment of new and innovative educational and mentoring programs such as AmCham talents, and the most recent one "Women in the lead" under the auspices of the US Embassy in Croatia.
She is giving her professional contribution as the member of the juries and judging panels of prestigious European awards. In 2022. Vedrana has been elected for a jury member for Europa Property CRE. Vedrana is also a member of World Green Building Council initiative as the #BuildingLife Campaign Ambassador.
For professional achievements and commitment to the empowerment of women in business, in 2012 magazine "Women in business”, Vedrana has been recognised as "The Woman of the Year”. What followed is her author project "21 paths to success" (2012) and LeaderSHEtm conference (2013) - projects that from today's perspective can rightly be called a milestone in promoting women's leadership, raising awareness of the challenges that women face on the path to success in Croatia, and empowering women in the Croatian business environment. In 2021, she re-launched her project in collaboration with Universities and Faculties from five cities in Croatia, consisting of 15 panel discussions and LeaderSHE conference in June 2022, this time addressing and focusing on inclusion, diversity and equality among young professionals in Croatia. In June 2022 she has organised LeaderSHEtm conference as the crown event of this project phase, hosting some of the most prominent female leaders in Croatia.
In June 2022 in Brussels, Vedrana has been awarded Female Business Leader by Emerging Europe Awards. This award identifies women in leadership roles across 23 emerging European countries who made a significant and inspirational contribution to the success of their organisations and who are working to encourage other women to develop careers, as well as made mentoring the next generation of leaders in business a significant component of their own success. In addition, Vedrana has been granted this prestigious award for her long-lasting commitment towards promoting positive changes in society, as well as systematic efforts to empower women in business.
After Political Sciences in Zagreb, Vedrana graduated from the New York Institute of Finance with a degree in Mergers and Acquisitions, the Academy for Political Development and the UN Academy. In 2016, she obtained an EMBA title at an International business school in Zagreb, while in 2018 she became a certified expert according to RICS standards, which is the greatest professional recognition in the segment of investments and real estate in the world.
In 2022, she got her degree on University of Oxford at Organisational Resilience Programme, becoming the first formally educated specialist for that area in wider Europe, with final thesis on “Governmental, social, organisational and individual resilience”.
Feel free to contact me via email for more information.
Snježana Turalija, univ.spec.oec
GREENiKA, CEO and Owner
Snježana Turalija is an advisor in the fields of sustainable development, circular economy, sustainable construction, and international sustainability certification in construction - DGNB. She is also a DGNB trainer and an advisor for aligning investment projects with EU taxonomy guidelines.
As a consultant for the DGNB international sustainability certification system in construction, she is currently working on certification projects for various tourism and industrial projects according to the DGNB system.
She completed her studies in Tourism and Hospitality Management at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Opatija, educated herself in destination management at Wirtschaft Universitaet in Vienna, completed the London School of Public Relations, and participated in numerous lifelong education programs in marketing, branding, entrepreneurship, leadership, and, finally, energy efficiency and sustainable construction - LEED, DGNB, nZEB, project management, and facility management. In an international context, she worked with a focus on marketing and business strategy related to sustainable architecture and construction. She was the first director of the Croatian Green Building Council with over 120 reputable members from institutional, real, educational, and civil sectors. In the 2017/2018 term, she was a member of the board of the World Green Building Council (www.worldgbc.org).
In a two-year term, she was the head of the Administrative Department for EU Funds, City Development, Economy, Agriculture, and Tourism in Karlovac, where she led and participated in the implementation of a large number of projects funded by EU programs - HORIZON 2020, Interreg, URBACT, Life, ESI.
Now she is in the entrepreneurial consultant role, where, through her business entity GREENiKA, she engages in business consulting for the implementation of the DGNB international certificate, certification of buildings, urban blocks, and business-industrial zones according to the DGNB system, education, marketing, EU funds, and designing concepts and strategies to strengthen the circular economy in Croatia, with a focus on sustainability in investments in construction and architecture.
She is actively involved as the chief expert collaborator in the ArhiBau.hr project - a fair and conference on building culture and sustainable development organized by the Society of Architects of Zagreb.
She often serves as an organizer, participant, or moderator of expert studies, organizes expert conferences and roundtables, as well as webinars related to circular economy segments and the European Green Plan. She is a guest lecturer and collaborates with institutional and academic communities and the media scene, both in the country and in Europe.
She is an honorary member of HSZG, HUP – construction / designers, an active member of the Green Croatia working group, and a member of the International Business Women's Network and the IFMA Croatia Association for Facility Management. She is also a co-founder of the Green HQ knowledge hub (2023-).
Feel free to contact me via email for more information.
Doc.dr.sc. Vlasta Zanki, dipl.ing.stroj.
Sveučilište u Zagrebu Geotehnički fakultet
Dr. Vlasta Zanki, PhD, has been a strong advocate for the application of environmental standards in the construction sector and reducing environmental impact through energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources from the beginning of her career. She is also one of the leaders in the application of green transition and decarbonization principles in Croatia.
She graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture at the University of Zagreb and obtained her master's degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering in Stockholm at Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan - KTH. She earned her doctoral degree in the field of energy management and energy efficiency in tourist facilities from the same university in 2006. She furthered her education through specialized courses, seminars, workshops in energy efficiency, energy management, renewable energy sources, green construction, and project management. She is a certified international trainer in the DGNB Academy for the implementation of the green DGNB certificate for buildings and urban districts and is a certified DGNB consultant.
From 1998 to 2007, she worked as a research assistant at the Department of Thermal and Process Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture. Afterward, she was employed at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and worked as a national consultant for HVAC systems from 2006 to 2008. Afterward, from 2008 to 2012, she served as the head of the Government of the Republic of Croatia's program "Get Your House in Order" through the national project "Promoting Energy Efficiency in Croatia." From May 2012 to April 2019, she was the director of HEP ESCO d.o.o., and for the next two years, she held the position of assistant director in the same company. Since September 2021, she has been employed as an associate professor at the Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Zagreb, where she teaches courses in Energy and Environment, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy Sources, and Law and the Environment. She was a visiting lecturer at KTH, Stockholm, in the international program "Sustainable Energy Engineering" for four years (2002-2006). She is an external lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka, and the Technical College in Zagreb. She is the author, co-author, or editor of seven publications and more than 25 scientific articles. She has participated in six national research projects and over 15 EU and international scientific research and professional projects. As a leader, supervisor, or collaborator, she has been involved in over 50 professional projects in Croatia in the field of implementing energy efficiency measures, energy management, and renewable energy sources in construction and industry. She is an invited lecturer and panelist at numerous conferences in Croatia, the EU, and the region. She has received several awards and recognitions for her work.
Since 2013, she has been a member, and since December 2020, she has been the president of the Board of Directors of the Croatian Green Building Council. She was involved in the founding of the Croatian Association for Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Heat Pumps (2012) and is a co-founder of the Green HQ knowledge hub (2023-). She has dedicated her career to the development and implementation of efficient, green, and smart innovative systems and services that contribute to sustainable development, green transition, circular economy, and ultimately environmental protection and climate change mitigation.
Feel free to contact me via email for more information.
Monika Kordić, univ.spec.oec
Direktorica, CORDION Ltd.
Monika is an a senior consultant with over 20 years of consulting experience in Croatia, North Macedonia, Turkey, Italy, and other countries within EU. Her work and expertise are recognized in various key areas, including EU project preparation and EU funds management, sustainable rural and local development, agricultural policy analysis, support to investors, innovation and business models development, CBA and investment studies. Monika is also a frequent volunteer in various initiatives initiated by the local community.
In 2023, she has funded a consulting company CORDION Ltd., specializing in supporting the private and public sectors in the preparation and implementation of research, investment, and development projects in Croatia and the region.
From September 2015 to March 2023, Monika was a member of the management board of two Croatian consulting companies. During this period, in addition to being responsible for management, development, and positioning on an international level, Monika successfully led a series of significant projects for clients from the public and private sectors. Some of these projects included EU project management for the infrastructure project ,,Construction and equipping of the Modra Špilja Visitor Center on the island of Biševo“, a project that fully integrates green and digital technologies with the preservation of natural heritage, the research project CAMEL-MILK funded by the H2020 program, education delivering related to green and digital transition for the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the reform of the forestry sector, and the preparation for EU integration processes for the Macedonian Ministry of Agriculture, as well as various projects aimed at opening new markets and the preparation and implementation of more than 250 investment projects co-financed by Structural and Cohesion Funds, the Rural Development Program, the Investment Promotion Act, and more. Monika also organized several professional training sessions and participated in various panels and conferences.
From 2018 to 2023, Monika served as an advisor in the Council of the Macedonian National Minority of the City of Zagreb, Croatia where she had the opportunity to contribute to society through the development and implementation of various projects in the fields of culture, education for children and youth, and entrepreneurship.
From 2012 to 2015, Monika held the position of Project Manager and Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department within the biggest Croatian consulting company, where, in addition to managing a team, she led more than 50 investment projects.
From 2001 to 2012, she has collaborated with lot of international experts. Monika gained experience in international consulting firms such as Agriconsulting Europe S.A. (AESA) from Belgium, Vakakis Development Consultants from Greece, NIRAS from Sweden, and EBRD from Poland. Some of the key projects she worked on include the construction of administrative capacities in the Macedonian Ministry of Agriculture in preparation for EU integration processes, the establishment of the Department for Agricultural Policy Analysis and the Rural Development Sector, the development of the Agriculture Development Strategy, the IPARD program, and the establishment of the Agriculture Payment Agency. She also worked on SAPARD procedure revision projects at the Croatian Agriculture Payment Agency.
Monika is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Business at the School of Economy and Business at the University of Ljubljana, focusing on Entrepreneurial behavior. She has Master's degree in Local Development in the Balkans at the University of Trento, Italy, in 2004, with a master's thesis titled "EU Policies and Measures for Sustainable Rural Development." She graduated in Finance and Banking from the Faculty of Economics at St. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia, in 2001.
Today, Monika is the President of the Committee for EU Funds, Sustainability, and Ecology at the Association of Interior Designers, ZADIN. She is also a member of the International Business Women's Network and a co-founder of the Green HQ knowledge hub.
Feel free to contact me via email for more information.
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