From Volunteers to Presenters: BHFF Senior Fellow Scholar Hava Dedić and Alumna Amina Bajramović at IIMA 2026

From 6 to 10 September 2026, Sarajevo hosted the International Information Management Association (IIMA) 2026 Conference, bringing together researchers, academics, and professionals to explore information management, data, research, and the challenges of working in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Hosted by International Burch University, the conference also welcomed members of the Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation (BHFF) community. Senior Fellow Scholar Hava Dedić and Alumna Amina Bajramović attended the conference, initially joining as BHFF volunteers and participants. By the end of the event, however, their roles had evolved — both stepped forward as presenters and became part of the conference's academic program.

Their experience demonstrated how entering a professional academic space as a student can quickly lead to opportunities to contribute, connect, and become part of a wider research community.

A Conference Aligned with Future Career Goals

For Amina Bajramović, attending IIMA 2026 was closely connected to the next stage of her academic and professional journey.

As she approaches the completion of her studies, Amina has been increasingly focusing on IT management. Because IIMA places particular emphasis on information and data management in the era of artificial intelligence, the conference represented an opportunity to explore a field directly relevant to her developing interests.

The experience ultimately exceeded her expectations.

Amina and Hava arrived initially as volunteers and participants, expecting to learn from researchers and engage with the conference community. Instead, they found themselves taking on a more active role and eventually presenting alongside established researchers and academics.

For Amina, this transition was one of the most memorable aspects of the entire experience.

Among the Youngest — Yet Fully Included

Although Hava and Amina were among the youngest participants and were both students, they felt welcomed and valued throughout the conference.

The relatively small and specialized format of IIMA played an important role in creating this atmosphere. Rather than feeling distant from experienced academics and researchers, the two students had opportunities to speak with them directly, exchange ideas, and ask for advice.

For Amina, some of the most valuable moments happened outside the formal sessions — during breaks and dinners, where conversations naturally developed into opportunities to expand her professional network and receive concrete advice for her future career.

The conference showed that academic networking does not always have to happen in formal or intimidating settings. Sometimes, the most meaningful connections begin over a casual conversation.

Discovering the Human Side of Academia

For Hava Dedić, one of the strongest impressions from IIMA 2026 was the openness of the people she met.

She attended the conference hoping to learn more about information management and research, gain ideas for future papers, receive useful research advice, and potentially meet people with whom she could establish academic collaborations in the future.

What surprised her most was how quickly she felt like part of the community.

Despite the extensive experience many attendees had accumulated in their respective fields, Hava found them approachable, relaxed, and willing to share their knowledge. The smaller scale of the conference helped create an environment where conversations felt natural rather than formal or distant.

That sense of belonging became an important part of the experience.

Conversations That Made an Impact

Among the people who particularly influenced Hava's experience was Nerko, whom she credited with helping make the opportunity possible. Through their conversations, she felt increasingly connected to the IIMA community and was introduced to people she found genuinely interesting.

She also highlighted conversations with Ahmed Masri, who shared his long-term professional experience from working at Nokia and offered honest and practical advice.

For Hava, these interactions reinforced an important lesson: being open to new people and experiences can lead to opportunities that cannot always be anticipated beforehand.

Amina similarly found inspiration in the ideas presented throughout the conference. One statement that particularly stayed with her came from Amina Radnočić, a PhD student at International Burch University:

“The moment you stop thinking for yourself is the moment you lose your identity.”

In the context of a conference focused on information management and the AI era, the idea offered a particularly relevant reminder of the importance of independent thinking and maintaining one's own judgment while navigating increasingly powerful technologies.

Learning to Take Initiative

One of Amina's most important takeaways from the conference was a renewed motivation to try, apply, and keep going, particularly when searching for professional opportunities.

The advice she repeatedly encountered was practical: write the email, improve the CV, submit the application — and do it again.

For Amina, the lesson was that persistence itself creates experience and can eventually lead to new opportunities.

This mindset extends beyond job searching. It reflects the broader value of putting yourself forward, reaching out to people, and being willing to hear “no” while continuing to pursue opportunities.

The Value of Building Relationships

Hava reached a similar conclusion through her own experience.

One of her biggest lessons from IIMA 2026 was the importance of the people we meet and the connections we build for our personal and professional development.

She realized that a single conversation can potentially open the door to many new opportunities. As a result, she wants to remain even more open to people, ideas, and potential collaborations in the future.

For students considering similar experiences, Hava believes the opportunity is valuable precisely because it allows them to meet interesting people, learn directly from their experiences, and establish connections that may remain useful throughout their careers.

What Comes Next?

While Hava would not change the overall experience, she already knows what she would do differently at the next conference: participate more actively in discussions and ask more questions during sessions.

For her, researchers who have spent years working on specific topics represent a valuable source of knowledge, and asking thoughtful questions is one of the best ways to learn from them.

It is also a reminder that attending an academic conference does not have to mean sitting quietly in the audience. Students can contribute to discussions, challenge ideas, ask questions, and begin developing their own presence within academic communities.

From Attendance to Active Participation

Perhaps the most unexpected part of IIMA 2026 for Hava was how quickly she felt connected to the wider community.

She did not expect to form connections so easily with people from different generations and backgrounds, yet that became one of the defining features of her experience.

For both Hava Dedić and Amina Bajramović, IIMA 2026 became much more than an opportunity to attend a conference. They entered as BHFF volunteers and participants, but left having gained experience as presenters, expanded their networks, engaged with researchers, and developed a stronger understanding of the opportunities available within research and IT management.

Their experience is a powerful example of what can happen when students step into professional spaces with curiosity and openness.

Sometimes, you arrive simply hoping to learn.

And you leave having become part of the community itself.