Veronika is an avid traveller with a passion for the great outdoors. Born in Slovakia, she was hiking in woods, swimming and biking ever since she can remember, and wherever she moves she carries her love for nature with her. As a Social Media Volunteer she communicates Green Culture’s vision on the social media and internet to inspire and bring people together and encourage them to take action. She has extensive experience in marketing and web content, having worked for companies ranging from small startups to multinational corporations across Europe, most recently in London, UK. She speaks six languages, is a former teacher, has a dog and husband from the US and would love to do stand-up comedy one day.

A random fun fact about Veronika: Some of the most daring things she has done include climbing down a frozen waterfall, crossing a mountain under high risk of avalanche, and her move to Spain with all possessions in one backpack.

The young and talented Stefan Ivanović is our not-so-usual yoga instructor from Nikšić, as this is not a common path for young Montenegrins.

After finishing high school young Stefan decided to continue education with something not so usual - he decided to go to Yoga academy in Belgrade. In 2013, with his father Dušan, he started his 1 year education at the Academy. After finishing it and graduating at the academy in Belgrade, he participated in an event promoting Yoga, the “Yoga days of good deeds”, which consisted of yoga performances in the squares of Vienna, Prague, Belgrade and Novi Sad. After that, he attended the seminar for additional education at an international Yoga camp “Atman” in Kopaonik. After returning to Nikšić, he and his father Dušan decided to introduce yoga to the citizens of Nikšić and used an indoor playground for that purpose. After little less than 6 months, of success and great feedback, they decided to establish the NGO “Centar za dušu i tijelo”, mainly for yoga classes, but also for other workshops and events dedicated to personal and collective wellbeing, growth and development. The Center has been active for over a year and a half now.

That same year, Stefan enrolled at the Faculty for Sport and Physical Education in Nikšić, at the University of Montenegro and has successfully finished his first year of studies.

He is currently on Erasmus+ program for exchange students in Finland at the University of Jyväskylä, where he wants to develop himself more in the area of sport and health sciences, as well as getting to know different cultures and lifestyles. He joined the international organization AIESEC, which is engaged in the development and promotion of multicultural exchanges and volunteering in various parts of the world, since 1948. They focus on developing leadership skills in individuals who go on exchange and provide them the opportunity to make big changes trough the world. He is planning to improve his knowledge and enhance his activities in this organization, and perhaps even aiming to go towards an international level of AIESEC.

He is known for his good and bright spirit, open-mindedness and exceptional transfer of positive energy on others. He has a very good communicative and managing skills and he is also very passionate about festivals where he worked as a part of the team for organizing and managing the camps (Sea Dance festival, Bedem Fest, Summer Fest…)

He was a part of COSI project (Child Obesity Surveillance Initiative) which is a part of big project of WHO (World Health Organization), who cooperated with his Faculty. The project’s main aim is to measure and trace children’s’ physical activity and eating habits and to track their development.

He plays the guitar in his spare time, sings with the mixed choir in local CAC “Zahumlje” and he used to be a member of Youth Club Of Red Cross in Nikšić. He also started education at on-line IT Academy for JAVA programming, that he plans to finish in the future.

He has very developed ecological consciousnesses. He was a part of cleaning campaign of the certain parts of his hometown and his personal aim is to do what ever he can to maintain and keep his city clean and unpolluted. He is always making an impact with his deeds toward society, trough his action.

Milena Tošić is a 21 year old student of Interior Design studying in London, UK.

Since her early ages she has been interested in the environment and ecology. After being involved in and awarded for planting trees activities at Brdo Gorica, she discovered that this was a great way to continue learning about the environment, nature and how to protect it.

She is one of the designers for the Green Culture Forum 2017 location at Ada Bojana, Ulcinj. Milena is excited about this creative challenge as she wants to show how design, art and ecology are related in terms of working and living in sync with nature.

She believes that the Green Culture’s contribution to the green agenda of Montenegro and the region will help change people’s consciousness, especially amongst the youth, because the future belongs to them.

Vladana Krivokapić is from Kotor, Montenegro. She is currently in the last year of her Medical studies in Podgorica, and as a doctor-to-be, she is aware of the importance of healthy lifestyles. She was born and raised in Kotor, a beautiful port town whose Old town fortress is protected by UNESCO. Therefore, she learned the importance of a clean, protected and safe environment for the prosperity and wellbeing of her fellow citizens. Vladana is worried about the possibility of Kotor losing its protected status because of the ignorance of people in power, and she would like to help make sure that doesn’t happen. Through her work with NGO “Krug” she is trying to both learn more and educate other people on the topics related to green philosophies, nature and sustainability. She wants to practice what she preaches, and be an example of the healthy change she would like to see happening in her surroundings. In her free time she enjoys reading, practicing yoga, jogging, hiking, and learning new languages.

Snežana Vujović is a creative soul by nature. As a music and piano teacher, radio journalist and the founder of an NGO for single parents “Udruženje samohrani roditelji”, she has always tried to live her life in a way that enables her to meet new people, and help them as much as possible. Her position as the editor-in-chief of the cultural programme for Radio Montenegro has enabled her to interview a wide variety of artists and creative people, including those who are working in environmental-related fields. She has also obtained a certificate at the “Green jobs” training in Turin, Italy, and supported the “Green Culture” project from its early stages. She is a lover of yoga, tai chi, and all practices that help people develop a better relationship with everything around them.

Andjela is a 24 year old journalist, green blogger and an activist from Ulcinj, Montenegro. She became interested in protecting the environment at an early age. She had always been wondering why Montenegro proclaimed itself as the first ecological country in the world, when nothing had been done to protect its lush, green landscapes, nor to change the mindsets of its people. This curiosity has kept her motivated and willing to become more involved within the field of environmentalism. She has participated in numerous beach cleaning and tree planting activities. In 2010 she was one of the representatives from her high school at the “European Youth Science Parliament” in Aachen, Germany, and in 2013 she represented Montenegro on the first “World Youth Sustainability Summit” in Berlin, Germany. In the meantime, she has focused more on journalism, blogging for her blog “Andja piše”, and environmental activism on the territory of Montenegro and the Western Balkans through working with NGO “Krug”.

Jasmin Redzepagic has been in love with nature since he can remember. His love for nature has no limits: from camping and cycling, parkour and fishing, to simply just being close to the sea and lush, green Montenegrin forests. As he grew older, he began to realize how lucky he is to be born and raised in Montenegro, a country so rich in beautiful landscapes. however, he started to understand that nothing was being done to protect those wonderful areas. He is now 29 years old and currently in the last year of his architecture studies. It is through his curiosity about green building and sustainable infrastructures that he got in touch with NGO “Krug” back in 2015, met Vesna Sokolovska, and immediately felt drawn to the Green Culture project. Ever since then he has been a volunteer for this NGO, and a passionate fighter for protecting the environment.

Vesna Sokolovska Jovićević FRSA, is the founder and visionary behind the Green Culture project.

She is a cultural manager and producer, leading the NGO Krug, based in London, with branches in Podgorica and Cetinje, Montenegro and Skopje, Macedonia.

She’s been author of numerous pioneering projects and has been promoting the Balkan Cultures in the UK since 2006 through series of cultural events, such as arts exhibitions, theatre performances, film festivals, concerts, literature readings, as well as educational projects on different subjects.

Through her work she is actively promoting the environmentally sustainable creative sector through raising awareness and hands-on activities such as the 3rd forthcoming Green Culture Fest and conference in September 2015.

She’s been also part of Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Team. Vesna is a supporter and part of her local Friends of the Earth group, and a member of the Royal Society of Arts as well as a member of the Institute of Fundraising from London, UK.

She loves crafts and jewelery making in her spare time, she was actively training swimming in her teenage years and she’s passionate about bringing people together, creating successful partnerships between them. She is the mother of Leno (20), Luka (16) and Viktor (13) and proud keeper of 4 wonderful cats.

Vikki Burns has been instrumental in creating events and staging performances worldwide for over a decade. Her work has been repeatedly used by companies such as Diesel, Lee, and Wrangler. Since 2008 Vikki has choreographed shows for the cult brand Agent Provocateur. She has travelled the globe with the label and staged shows in Vienna, Toronto, Geneva, Milan, Madrid and New York City for the lingerie label.

Vikki began dance classes at the age of five and went onto attend the prestigious Laban Centre for Dance, where her professional training encompassed choreography, production, lighting and costume. After graduating Vikki was invited to join the coaching team at the Camm Street Gymnastics Centre as Resident Dance Coach. Here she trained gymnasts bound for international success including Britain’s Olympic medalist Beth Tweddle in her earlier years.
Vikki is a regular face at London Fashion Week and has staged off site shows for designers such as Henry Holland, Roksanda Ilinčić, and Richard Nicoll, she also played a significant role in creating the Topshop Show Space, when it first occupied the Old Euro Star Terminals at Waterloo Train Station.

2012 was an extraordinary year for Vikki and her team, she felt very honoured to work alongside Sergeant Major Mott to choreograph over 300 Cold Stream and Welsh Guards into the shape of a 100, celebrating one hundred days until the opening of the Olympics. The campaign was a fantastic success and went live on the 18th April 2012 and featured in the media worldwide. 2012 also saw Vikki appointed as choreographer for the Elite Model Look, staged in Shanghai and the largest modelling competition of its kind. Vikki was responsible for choreographing over 70 emerging models as well as staging Jessie J who made three guest appearances during the show.

Vikki and her team joined the Green Culture Conference in 2014 as a result of her and her team’s passion about the environment. You can see her work at www.gotoshow.co.uk and www.vikkiburns.com.

Darko Budna has been part of the production team of Krug since 2010. His experience in the industry dates 30 years back.

He’s been continuously collaborating with numerous festivals and other events in his native Croatia and other parts of former Yugoslavia and beyond as technical support, journalist and PR. He’s been with Sziget Festival, Budapest for 11 years; also he’s been working for Exit, Novi Sad, and Festival on The Other Side, Skadar Lake, Montenegro to Rok Otocec in Slovenia and many more.
Also he’s been privileged to work with some of the biggest names of the world music scene, such as Pavarotti & Friends, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Deep Purple as well as being in charge of Manu Chao’s Balkan tour for several years. His latest production was the film music legend Ennio Moriccone’s concert with Mr. Moriccone himself as a conductor at the Zagreb Arena in May 2015.

Darko is a dedicated professional and author of two books:

Concerts & Festivals (www.zagorje.com/clanak/vijesti/zagorski-koncerti-i-festivali-u-knjizi), and Small encyclopedia of pop & rock music in Koprivnica, www.barikada.com/rock_biografije/2007-11-01_kc_rock.php).

He is the father of Martin (4) and lives and works between Macedonia and Croatia.

Zoran Kardula is one of Krug’s oldest team members going back to 2006, when Krug was producing its very first events, film festivals, concerts and arts exhibitions. He is an electrical engineer by education, active as a freelance graphic designer since 1998.

He is a senior designer at one of the franchises of the renowned public relation company Publicis, in Skopje, Macedonia since 2000 and has been in charge of the Saatchi and Saatchi department of Publicis for several years.

Winner of several awards for his work, his jewellery designs were featured in one of the Swarovski recent catalogues. His latest achievement is winning the 1st prize award for the San Diego Latino Film Festival 2015 poster.

Some of his work has been featured on: https://www.behance.net/Cardula and http://www.boredpanda.com/author/zoran_cardula/

He has a passion for collecting antiques and he paints in his free time. Zoran is the father of two beautiful girls Teano (18) and Erato (9).

Aleksandar Saša Djukičin has been with Krug since its early days working on developing the image of Krug’s events with a strong sense for programme curating. He is a graphic and website designer by trade and has an extensive experience of over 18 years. Extraordinary creative and innovative, his role with Krug and the GC team was invaluable at the early stages when exploring the routes of portraying the image and character of what Krug was representing through both, print design and online presence of Krug’s events. Sasha loves festivals, movies, carrots and cycling marathons. He is one of those kind of people you rarely come across.

Visit his website: www.t-raid.com

Kristen Fanfani is a native Californian who has been living in Europe
for most of her adult life. In her European life she has been working
as an English language trainer, proofreader and editor, and learning
languages. Her passion for storytelling and understanding the human
experience has also led Kristen to pursue a degree in Cultural
Anthropology. After having spent several months in Montenegro for her
ethnographic research, she decided to make it her second home. Since
residing in Montenegro, she has become engaged with the NGO Krug and
supports the Green Culture movement, assisting with project
management, research, event planning and content writing for the
website.

She is currently freelance editing and teaching while being a mother at home.

Milica Kankaraš has graduated harp at the Faculty of Music Art in Belgrade in 2013 and joined the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra the same year as the first and only harpist in Montenegro. She is also teaching harp.

Having worked for the NGO sector for number of years, Milica has gained experience in leading youth and children art projects. As a member of the NGO Association for youth protection and development „First book“, between 2001-2002 she was contributing as an arts editor for the children’s magazine „Squirell“. She is one of the founding members of the NGO „Zrcalo“, where she contributes as an art critic on their online journal for culture www.zrcalo.me.

She supports artists who make positive changes in society through their work.

She is passionate about environmental justice and she joined Krug as a project coordinator for the Green Culture Fest to further pursue her passion.

Kristina Jerkov