Creating Opportunities for Croatian Women: Australia-New Zealand Croatian Women in Leadership Summit – Biograd na Moru, 14-16 July 2023 

Creating Opportunities for Croatian Women: Australia-New Zealand Croatian Women in Leadership Summit 

Creating Opportunities for Croatian Women: Australia-New Zealand Croatian Women in Leadership Summit – Biograd na Moru, 14-16 July 2023 

Women of Croatian heritage from Australia and New Zealand are descending on the Ilirija Resort in Biograd na Moru, Croatia from July 14 to 16, 2023, for what is being deemed “an event by women for women”. 

With a number of high profile speakers already confirmed, organisers are expecting a contingent of approximately 100 professional women of Croatian heritage to travel from Australia and New Zealand for the 2023 AUS-NZ Women in Leadership Summit where they will discuss how global connections are creating opportunities for Croatian Women in the Homeland and abroad. 

Organisation co-founder Sonja Palic from Sydney, Australia noted: 

The theme of this year’s Summit, Innovation, resilience, achievement: Croatian women leading, is a reflection of what we have witnessed among and learned from women of Croatian heritage, from the time of our grandmothers and mothers, through to the most recent challenges we have all faced. 

Croatian women around the world are truly innovative and resilient leaders whose achievements are often overlooked. Our organisation is dedicated to celebrating and empowering Croatian women and partnering with them to advance our common interests in Croatia, as well as Australia and New Zealand. We look forward to connecting with likeminded women in Croatia at the Biograd Summit. 

Mrs Palic and Croatia’s Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, H.E. Betty Pavelich, a returnee to Croatia from Canada, founded the AUS-NZ Croatian Women in Leadership organisation in 2019 with the purpose of uniting professional women of Croatian heritage from across Australia and New Zealand under one organisation and subsequently connecting them with likeminded professionals in Croatia. 

The group, comprised of female entrepreneurs, professionals, business owners, corporates, university students and graduates, has grown into a significant business networking initiative of more than 500 women, all the while fostering the common goal of supporting and empowering women of Croatian heritage as they move through their careers. 

Since its inception, the organisation has registered as an official, not for profit entity in Australia, with a Board of Directors representing members from every state across Australia and New Zealand. In their endeavour to leave a legacy for the next generation of leaders, they have also started a Young Women’s Network that mirrors the Board with member representation in all states, as well a Mentor Program. 

The organisation hosts a series of regular events for members across Australia and New Zealand, including the annual Women in Leadership Summit, the most recent of which took place in February 2022 at the Parliament of Australia and the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia, with Croatia’s former President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, as its keynote speaker. 

The keynote speaker for the 2019 Summit was the Police Commissioner of the State of Queensland, Katarina (Bošnjak) Carrol. 

Australia’s Ambassador to Croatia, H.E. Richard Rodgers will host a welcome reception for members of the delegation at his official residence in Zagreb on July 13th, while Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality, Stephanie Copus Campbell will address the Summit virtually. 

The Ilirija Resort in Biograd na Moru, which represents the most significant Australian investment in Croatia, will host the Summit 14-16th July 2023 — AUS-NZ Croatian Women in Leadership (ausnz-croatianwomen.org). Organisers are particularly grateful to Ilirija d.d. and the State Office for Croatians Abroad for their ongoing support of this event, as well the efforts of the AUS-NZ Croatian Women in Leadership Organization since its inception.