BH Professionals Meetup Sarajevo 2026
Connecting Knowledge, Innovation, and the Global BH Community
On 15 August 2026, Sarajevo became a meeting point for Bosnian and Herzegovinian professionals, students, researchers, entrepreneurs, academics, and community members from Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world.
Held at the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Sarajevo Film Festival, the BH Professionals Meetup brought together over 150 participants, including professionals from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the diaspora, BH Futures Foundation alumni and scholars, mentors, donors, students, and members of the wider community.
The gathering created a unique space for exchanging knowledge, sharing experiences, building meaningful connections, and exploring opportunities for collaboration between Bosnia and Herzegovina and its global professional community.
A Special Moment for Sarajevo and the BH Community
This year’s meetup carried a particularly special atmosphere. Taking place during the Sarajevo Film Festival, one of the most important cultural events in the region, the gathering brought together two powerful expressions of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s identity: a vibrant culture that connects people from around the world and a growing community of professionals committed to knowledge, innovation, and progress.
With Sarajevo filled with visitors, artists, filmmakers, professionals, and young people from across the region, the BH Professionals Meetup became another space where people with connections to Bosnia and Herzegovina could come together, exchange ideas, and celebrate the potential of the country and its people.
The Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina provided a particularly meaningful setting for the event, bringing conversations about the future into a space deeply connected to the country’s history and identity.
Strategic AI Vision and the Roadmap to Success
The programme featured a diverse group of speakers bringing perspectives from technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, academia, humanitarian work, and the global diaspora.
Senad Palislamović, Head of Network Engineering and AIOps at NVIDIA, opened the professional programme with his presentation, “Roadmap to Success – Strategic AI Vision.”
Drawing on his experience in one of the world's leading technology companies, Senad explored the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence and the importance of developing a strategic vision in a technology landscape that is changing at unprecedented speed.
His contribution highlighted the importance of understanding not only the technology itself, but also the broader strategic thinking needed to successfully navigate the AI-driven future.
Connecting the Diaspora with Companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lejla Tulić Ivojević, CTO at Artco Group d.o.o., addressed the potential of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian diaspora to contribute to the growth and internationalisation of companies in the country.
Her presentation, “Connecting and Supporting the Diaspora in the Development of Companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina through Access to the Global Professional Services Market,” focused on the opportunities created when local companies and professionals abroad work together.
The discussion highlighted how knowledge, expertise, professional networks, and international experience can help companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina access global markets and strengthen their competitiveness.
Designing the Future of Conversational AI
Olja Bay brought the audience into the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence with a presentation focused on designing conversational AI and creating meaningful interactions between people and intelligent systems.
Her talk explored how conversational interfaces are changing the way people interact with technology and why thoughtful design is essential when building AI systems that are intuitive, useful, and human-centred.
By bringing together technology, design, and user experience, the session offered participants a glimpse into how conversational AI can move beyond simply answering questions to creating more natural and meaningful digital experiences.
Developing an Entrepreneurial and Innovation Mindset
Mugdim Pašić, Professor and Head of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management at the University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, spoke about “The Importance of Development of Entrepreneurial and Innovation Mindset of Students.”
His presentation placed young people and education at the centre of conversations about Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future.
Developing an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset among students goes beyond preparing them for individual careers. It also contributes to creating a generation capable of recognising opportunities, solving complex problems, creating new ideas, and contributing to the development of society.
What Can Leaders Learn from Air Traffic Controllers?
Sanja Sadiković, Rukovodilac at SmartStep Lab d.o.o., brought a distinctive perspective on leadership and decision-making with her presentation, “What Can Leaders Learn from Air Traffic Controllers?”
Drawing parallels with one of the world’s most stressful professional environments, Sanja explored how air traffic controllers make decisions under pressure and how these principles can be applied to business and leadership.
Rather than focusing solely on theory, her presentation introduced practical tools that participants can apply in their everyday work — particularly in managing stress, improving communication, and strengthening teamwork.
Humanitarian Work from the Ground Up
Mirzeta Trnka, Organisational and Capacity Building Advisor at The Zaynab Project, brought an important humanitarian perspective to the meetup with her presentation, “Grassroots Humanitarian Organisation in Gaza: How to Establish and Grow a Small Charity.”
Her contribution offered insight into the realities of building and developing grassroots humanitarian organisations, highlighting the importance of organisational capacity, community engagement, and sustainable approaches to humanitarian work.
The presentation also demonstrated how professional knowledge and skills can be translated into meaningful social impact, particularly in challenging environments.
A Community Built on Knowledge and Connection
Beyond the presentations, one of the most valuable aspects of the BH Professionals Meetup was the opportunity to connect.
The event brought together people at different stages of their professional and academic journeys — from students and young professionals to experienced experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, mentors, alumni, and donors.
These connections are at the heart of the BH Futures Foundation community. By creating spaces where people can meet, exchange experiences, offer mentorship, and discover opportunities for collaboration, the BH Futures Foundation continues to strengthen the bridges between Bosnia and Herzegovina and its diaspora.
The meetup also reflected the diversity of expertise within the BH community. From artificial intelligence and engineering to business development, leadership, education, and humanitarian work, the program demonstrated the breadth of knowledge and experience that Bosnians and Herzegovinians contribute both locally and globally.
Looking Ahead
The BH Professionals Meetup in Sarajevo was more than a professional gathering. It was a celebration of community, knowledge, and the connections that continue to link Bosnia and Herzegovina with its diaspora.
Held in Sarajevo during the energy of the Sarajevo Film Festival, the event offered a powerful reminder that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not only a place people come from, but also a community they continue to build together — across generations, professions, and borders.
With more than 150 participants in attendance, the meetup once again demonstrated the value of creating spaces for professionals, students, alumni, mentors, donors, and members of the wider BH community to connect and learn from one another.
We extend our gratitude to all speakers, participants, volunteers, alumni, mentors, donors, and partners who contributed to making the BH Professionals Meetup Sarajevo 2026 a meaningful and memorable gathering.
Together, we continue to connect knowledge, talent, and opportunity — and to build bridges between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the world.