Welcoming Our New Executive Director and Board of Directors
Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation is embracing important leadership developments. We are pleased to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director and a renewed Board of Directors, strengthening the foundation for our next stage of growth and impact.
Each Board member serves a two-year mandate, with a maximum of two consecutive terms. We apply a staggered governance approach, ensuring that every two-year cycle brings both transition and continuity. In each period, we welcome several new Board members while expressing our gratitude to those completing their mandates.
This structure allows us to retain institutional experience and long-term strategic insight, while continuously introducing fresh perspectives, new energy, and innovative ideas.
Who are the new board members?
Nihad Ferhatovic, Chair of the Board (Sarajevo, BiH)
Nihad Ferhatovic - Born and grew up in Goražde
Nihad was educated in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Sweden, building a strong academic foundation that spans international perspectives. This background paved the way for his current professional role as an Embedded Software Engineer at TTTech Auto, where he specializes in developing robust, safety-critical software solutions for the next generation of autonomous driving.
Leveraging this technical expertise alongside deep roots in the not-for-profit sector, Nihad is a passionate advocate for young professionals. His journey within the Foundation has been one of consistent growth: beginning as a scholar, then serving as the Student Representative to the Board, and eventually contributing two years of service as a Board Member.
In this new term, Nihad takes on the responsibility of Chair of the Board of Directors. As the youngest person to hold this position, he provides a unique dual perspective: the technical precision of an engineer combined with the strategic vision of a leader who has personally experienced every level of the Foundation’s impact. Dedicated to community development and professional mentorship, Nihad embodies our commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators and staying deeply connected with our students and alumni.
Miralem Salihovic, Board Member (Cupertino, California, USA)
Miralem Salihovic - Born and grew up in Brčko
Miralem Salihović is a technology leader and entrepreneur committed to building global excellence while staying deeply rooted in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Born and raised in Brčko, he has built an international career spanning Silicon Valley and Europe, leading large-scale technology and product organizations and launching platforms used by millions worldwide.
After a decade in senior leadership roles at Apple, Miralem founded and now leads multiple ventures across AI, product development, and technology services, including Craftscale Studio and other AI-native platforms. Beyond his executive and entrepreneurial work, Miralem is focused on creating pathways for Bosnian talent to compete — and lead — on the global stage. Through his ventures in AI and technology services, he actively works to connect Bosnia & Herzegovina’s engineering potential with international markets, helping build sustainable, high-value opportunities for the next generation.
A long-time mentor and now serving his second term on the Board of Directors of the Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation, Miralem is dedicated to empowering young leaders, strengthening the diaspora connection, and contributing to a future where Bosnia & Herzegovina is recognized as a source of innovation, resilience, and world-class talent.
Dragana Marinkovic, Board Member (Seattle, Washington, USA)
Dragana Marinkovic - Grew up in Pale
Dragana Marinkovic is a Senior Product Manager at Amazon with 8+ years of experience building products used by millions across the US, Europe, and Africa. At Amazon, she led the launch of Kindle Translate, now live in 20+ global marketplaces and featured in TechCrunch and The Verge, and delivered time-and-pay infrastructure for over 2 million Amazon frontline employees across 10+ countries.
Before Amazon, she served as Director of Product Management at Komaza in Kenya, where she built and led a 25-person product and business intelligence organization and delivered an enterprise platform managing operations across 40,000+ farms, which supported a $28M Series B raise. She holds an MBA from MIT Sloan. She serves on the BHFF board driven by a personal commitment to expanding access to opportunity for the next generation of Bosnian talent.
Martina Egedušević, Board Member (Exeter, England, United Kingdom)
Martina Egedušević - Born and grew up in Trebinje
Martina was educated in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and the United Kingdom and is currently an Impact Fellow at the University of Exeter. Her work sits at the intersection of climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and nature-based solutions, with a particular focus on flooding, land use, and environmental resilience. She collaborates closely with governments, international organisations, academia, and the private sector across the UK and Europe, and regularly contributes to policy-relevant research and strategic advisory projects.
Martina has extensive experience leading interdisciplinary and international initiatives that combine scientific research with real-world impact, capacity-building, and public engagement. Alongside her academic role, she is actively involved in mentoring, knowledge exchange, and youth-focused initiatives that bridge science, policy, and society. Her motivation for joining the Board of Bosnia and Herzegovina Futures Foundation stems from a strong personal and professional connection to the region and a deep belief in the power of education, opportunity, and community to drive long-term change. She is particularly committed to supporting young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina to develop global skills while staying connected to their local context and values.
“You cannot escape your dreams. They are part of who you are. Your ideas, your energy, and your integrity truly matter to all of us. ”
Haris Lizde, Board Member (Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Haris Lizde - Born and grew up in Mostar
Haris Lizde is an experienced financial professional with over 20 years of expertise in pensions, investments, and financial advisory services. After building an international career across leading organisations, including APG, Capgemini, and Sennac International, he is now based in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he continues to apply his knowledge to both professional and philanthropic initiatives. Alongside his financial career, Haris is a long-standing donor, mentor, ambassador, and representative of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Futures Foundation.
He is deeply committed to youth empowerment, education, and innovation, believing that sustainable change starts with investing in people. Through BiHFF, he actively supports initiatives that expand access to technology, skills, and opportunity, including makerspaces, innovation programmes, and the promotion of academic excellence. Haris’s work is driven by a belief in lifelong learning, ethical leadership, and the power of collective effort to create lasting impact for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“With persistence, integrity, and a willingness to learn and give back, you can shape a future that benefits your community and reaches far beyond it.”
Namik Hrle, Board Member (Böblingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Namik Hrle, Retired IBM Fellow - Born and grew up in Banja Luka
Recently retired, Namik Hrle has been a long standing Vice President of Development in IBM’s Software division and the Director of its Data and AI development lab in Germany. He holds a title of IBM Fellow, the ultimate distinction of IBM technical career given to a small number of individuals who demonstrated the highest level of technical leadership, innovation, business impact, social eminence and talent building. A holder of 79 patents, numerous outstanding technical achievements, author recognition and corporate awards, Namik is also an international member of Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Namik has been enthusiastically supporting BHFF for a long time and actively participating in many of its initiatives.
Željka Hassler (Lincoln, Nebraska Metropolitan Area, USA)
Željka Hassler - Grew up in Banja Luka
Zeljka was educated in the United States and holds a BA in Art, Design, and Art History and an MA in Advertising and Marketing from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She is a Senior Manager of Product Design at Fleetio, where she leads design strategy and user experience teams building global fleet management software.
With over 20 years of experience, she previously held a design leadership role at Hudl and worked across digital, brand, and product experiences at organizations including Nelnet and Swanson Russell. She is a long-standing mentor with the Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation and is committed to empowering young professionals and advancing purposeful, people-centered design.
Who is the new Executive Director?
Samir Mahmić (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Samir Mahmić - Born and raised in Sarajevo
Born on August 15, 1988, Samir Mahmić, a sociologist with a master's degree, discovered his passion and profound interest in working with youth, which later expanded to encompass all target groups contributing to youth development and enhancing their positions. With years of experience in youth work, project development, writing, and implementation, Samir has become recognized as an expert in activism and organizational development. His dedication and enthusiasm not only inspire young people but also encourage them to engage in the process of community change and progress.
Samir's dedication to youth work, activism, and organizational development is evident through his diverse experiences and contributions to youth empowerment and community development. Furthermore, Samir's expertise extends beyond conventional boundaries, as evidenced by his deep-rooted commitment to youth work and activism. He has played pivotal roles in various youth-centric initiatives, leveraging his skills to empower young voices and catalyze positive social change. Through his leadership, he has fostered a culture of proactive engagement, inspiring young people to become agents of change in their communities. Beyond his professional engagement, Samir is committed to recreational sports. As a recreational marathon runner and triathlete, he genuinely enjoys the challenges offered by races, while his love for nature, mountains, and rivers continuously motivates him to explore and discover the beauties of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Thank you to the 2024-2025
Board of Directors and Executive Director
During our celebration night on December 16th, in front of a large group of our donors, mentors, speakers, and friends, the Foundation took a moment to thank our outgoing Board of Directors for their enormous dedication and years of service. Their guidance, commitment, and belief in the mission of the Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation have helped shape the organisation into what it is today.
We would like to take this opportunity once again to express our sincere gratitude to our board members: Alma Dautbegović (Chair of the Board), Edhem Čustović (Co-Founder), Azra Šarić, Dragana Marinković, Miralem Salihović, and Nihad Ferhatović, as well as our Executive Director Selma Begović.
Through their leadership, countless initiatives, programs, and opportunities have been created for young people across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their vision, support, and countless hours of volunteer work have strengthened our community and empowered the next generation of leaders, researchers, and innovators.
Without you, we would not be where we are today. Thank you for everything you have done for our community and for believing in the potential of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.