Lighting up London: Bosnia & Herzegovina Professionals Business & Networking Forum
On the evening of June 18, 2025, nearly 100 professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and community leaders gathered at the Embassy of Bosnia & Herzegovina in London for the second annual Professionals Business & Networking Forum, co-organised by the Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation (BHFF) in collaboration with the Embassy of Bosnia & Herzegovina to the UK and Northern Ireland. The event brought together members of the Bosnian diaspora and friends of the country for an inspiring evening of dialogue, celebration, and connection.
A sincere thank you goes to our event partner HTEC, whose generous sponsorship of the evening’s catering helped create a welcoming and engaging atmosphere.
An Evening of Insightful Dialogue
The event opened with a warm welcome from His Excellency Osman Topčagić, Ambassador of Bosnia & Herzegovina to the UK. In his remarks, the Ambassador highlighted the Embassy’s ongoing commitment to engaging the professional diaspora and the importance of fostering closer ties between Bosnia & Herzegovina and its global talent pool. He expressed pride in collaborating with BH Futures Foundation for a second consecutive year, recognizing the role such partnerships play in connecting young people, businesses, and academics with opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the development of their homeland.
Industry Insight and Youth Empowerment
The evening featured several impactful speakers from HTEC, a global technology company with deep roots in Bosnia & Herzegovina and a strong commitment to supporting the next generation of talent.
Dino Selimbašić, Director of Engineering & Delivery at HTEC, gave a snapshot of the company’s global operations and its work on large-scale engineering and innovation projects. He also shared HTEC’s ethos of investing in youth, mentoring, and long-term development in Bosnia & Herzegovina—values deeply aligned with BH Futures Foundation’s mission.
Joining Dino on stage was Azra Sarić, Country Director of HTEC and Executive Board Member of BH Futures Foundation. Azra emphasized the vital role the Bosnian diaspora plays in building sustainable change by investing in the future generation of leaders. She shared success stories and practical ways the community can give back—through mentorship, collaboration, and belief in youth—without feeling overwhelmed by obligation.
Voices of the Next Generation
A particularly heartfelt moment came from Adnan Ferhatović, a third-year Software Engineering student and BH Futures Foundation scholar. Adnan shared how the Foundation has transformed his academic and professional journey, offering him not just financial support, but mentorship, community, and a sense of purpose. His story was a powerful reminder of the ripple effect that investing in one young person can have on a broader scale.
Reflecting on a Decade of Impact
Closing the formal program was Edhem Čustović, Founder of the Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation. Edhem marked 2025 as a milestone year—celebrating a decade since the Foundation's inception. He spoke passionately about the Foundation’s journey, its incredible achievements, and its unwavering vision: “To transform Bosnia & Herzegovina into a prosperous nation by investing in young people and ensuring they are globally competitive and equipped for the 21st century.” Edhem credited the thousands of individuals—mentors, donors, volunteers, and partners—who have contributed to building a movement rooted in collective effort and hope.
A Night of Meaningful Connections
After the speeches concluded, the Embassy buzzed with over three hours of lively networking, as attendees shared ideas, explored opportunities for collaboration, and celebrated their shared identity and commitment to progress. It was a clear testament to the power of connection, community, and a shared vision for a better future.
This unforgettable evening once again reaffirmed the strength, unity, and talent of the Bosnian professional community in the UK and beyond. We look forward to continuing to build on this momentum, and to seeing even more of you at next year’s Forum.
Lastly, the foundation would like to thank the wonderful staff of the embassy for helping us with the event.
