Titles of Slovenian Congress Ambassadors 2021 awarded to 17 exceptional individuals

The Slovenian Ambassador Programme that was established in 2019 is today managed by Slovenian Convention Bureau with support of Slovenian Tourist Organisation and in cooperation with Ljubljana Tourism and 12 other partners. In total there are 67 ambassadors involved. The Programme functions on the basis of close cooperation with 6 destination ambassador clubs, working on a local and regional level (Ljubljana, Maribor, Viprava & Nova Gorica, Portorož, Bled, Kranjska Gora).

This year's event

Due to the epidemiological situation, this year's award ceremony again took place mostly online. This year's titles' recipients were announced from the studio in Štih Hall at the CD Congress Centre. Online participants were greeted by Tadeja Pivc Coudyser, director of Slovenia Convention Bureau,  M. Sc. Petra Stušek, managing director of Ljubljana tourism, and M. Sc. Maja Pak, director of the Slovenian Tourist Board. 

Short interviews with all of this year's Ambassadors were broadcasted, in which they discussed their professional motivation and focus as well as the importance of hosting prestigious scientific events in Slovenia. Interviews will soon be available on the website of Slovenian Ambassaodr Programme.

The recipient of the title of Honorary Congress Ambassador of Slovenia 2021 is Prof. Pavel Poredoš, PhD who joined live in the studio, and who has - in his long career - organized numerous prestigious international medical congresses in the field of vascular medicine.

This year, 17 titles were awarded to outstanding individuals, among them there was also the titles of Sport congress ambassador, the Congress Ambassador for Economy and the "Rising Star" Congress Ambassador.

The following are Slovenian congress ambassadors 2021 in alphabetical order. We sincerely congratulate all the winners:

Honorary Congress Ambassador of Slovenia 2021

Prof, PhD, Pavel Poredoš, Senior Councilor, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Clinical Department of Vascular Diseases

Congress ambassadors in the field of scientific events

Darko Brlek, Ljubljana Festival

Prof. Helena Burger, MD-PhD, University Rehabilitation Institute, Republic of Slovenia - Soča

Prof. Leon Cizelj, MD-PhD, Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Reactor Engineering

Prof. Ivan Eržen, MD-Ph., National Institute of Public Health

M. Sc Jelka Janša, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Department of Neurology

Prof. Marko Krevs, MD-PhD, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts, Department of Geography

Prof. Damijan Miklavčič, MD-PhD, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering

Prof. Lili Nemec Zlatolas, PhD, University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Informatics 

Prof. Majda Pajnkihar, (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), University of Maribor, Faculty of Health Sciences

Prof. Irma Potočnik Slavič, MD-PhD, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts, Department of Geography

M.Sc Črtomir Remec, Housing Fund of Republic of Slovenia, public fund

Prof. Mojca Volk, PhD, B.Sc., University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering

Prof. Petra Zupet, PhD. IMŠ Institute of Medicine and Sport

Congress Ambassador of Slovenia "Rising Star"

Assist. Manca Matičič Zver, M.Sc., Faculty of Design, Associate Member of the University of Primorska

Congress Ambassador of Slovenia in the field of sport events

Mr Emir Haskić, B4SPORT CAMPS d.o.o., Sports Tourism Agency

Congress Ambassador of Slovenia in the field of economy

Mr. Marino Furlan, Intra lighting d.o.o. Nova Gorica

Slovenian Ambassador Programme as a meetings industry cornerstone

The Programme promotes Slovenia as a destination for organisation of international scientific events, as well as a destination suitable for hosting business events that create excellent networking opportunities, sharing knowledge, innovations and experience. With the Programme, Slovenian scientific, economic and sports sector is being promoted in the international market.

M. Sc. Petra Stušek, Man. Director of Ljubljana Tourism, has put the role of Congress Ambassadors of Slovenia 2021 in a broader context: “These exceptional individuals with their active and long-term work in the international scientific and business environment strengthen the position of Ljubljana and Slovenia as one of the centers of intellectual capital and innovation in the wider region. I am proud that this year's 12 congress ambassadors work within the members of the University of Ljubljana or nationally important scientific research, economic and cultural institutions based in our city."

Ms. Tadeja Pivc Coudyser, director of the Slovenian Convention Bureau, says: “We are proud that the Slovenian Ambassador's Programme currently includes 67 exceptional individuals, covering various scientific, professional, business and other fields. Despite the difficult situation we've been facin globally, we believe that together we will be able to continue to create positive stories, organize international events in accordance with new guidelines and help to further promote Slovenia as a competitive destination for all types of business meetings."

M. Sc Maja Pak, Slovenian Tourist Board, pointed out: “The Slovenian Tourist Board has been supporting Slovenian Ambassador's Programme since its beginnings. The project connect the most prominent Slovenian intellectuals in the field of science, economy and sports with providers of the Slovenian meetings industry in a systematic and efficient way. The importance of business tourism for Slovenia is crucial as it significantly contributes to higher added value in tourism, de-seasonalization, longer stays, diversification of tourist flows and economic growth. With high standards and green initiatives, it promotes the development of Slovenia towards a sustainable boutique destination of 5-star experiences. Congratulations to this year's title recipients!"

The  video of the online ceremony is available at the following link - www.congress-ambassador.si, where the interviews with the recipients of this year's awards will be published shortly.

 More info on the Ljubljana Ambassador Club is available here.