Aleksandra Hristov

I had a great time this weekend. It was combination of business and pleasure. Working as communication consultant on USAID’s Preparedness, Planning and Economic Security program in Serbia I was in Kovacica, where through a series of exercises (including fire fighting simulations and relay-races) 100 volunteers, aged 14 to 18, demonstrated what they learned during five days of fire fighting training.  

Thanks to this USAID supported training, these young people, representing 10 municipalities in Vojvodina, now have the skills necessary to help safeguard their communities when fires break out.

On May 15 th Hristov Consulting has organized PR support for our client EXPO XXI Belgrade International Expocentre and the event was (OCWCC - One Culinary World Chefs Competition and BCC – Balkan Culinary Cup).  This job was so different and refreshing. Let the pictures tell the story.

At the founding session of Serbian management consultants association I was voted member of the board of directors (consisting of 5 members). We will have to work hard to make our association goals come through. Our main goals are to make consultants profession in Serbia recognized and respectable and to make our association successful.

Many thanks to all the assembly members who have voted for my candidacy.

www.hristovconsulting.com

In 13th issue of Profit magazine I have published article “Public Affairs” (“Javni Poslovi” in Serbian language). I will write series of articles on public affairs, lobbying, stakeholders, etc. Most of my friends told me they can not wait to see and read the articles on this subject.

New corporate web site: www.hristovconsulting.com

Yesterday, at the Faculty of Economics (Belgrade University - Serbia) I have given a lecture on lobbying and public affairs to students of Post Graduate Studies on Communication. Last time I was there I had been invited to speak on my experiences on media relations for students of public relation class. As last time, this time was wanderfull experince too.

I was very happy how these students accepted me. As they are on their master studies, already working for various companies, they have realized how important this subject is.

We had great discussions on the subject of public affairs and lobbying, and they were all deeply interested when I talked on my personal experiences back in 2001 when I have lobbied for the Education Ministry of Serbia (as Ministries chief of staff). Many thanks to my dear friend Professor Galjina Ognjanov, who has invited me and her wonderful students, for this memorable experience.

 New corporate web site: www.hristovconsulting.com

It is a great pleasure for me, as a member of TRANSFUSE Association, to have attended a conference in  Novi Sad last week, where six young people from the region of Balcan and Europe (Serbia, Germany, Romania, Slovenia and Greece), participants of Leadership Development Programme (generation 2008/2009 of  Summer Academy in Germany) „South-eastern Europe and the EU – Leadership Development Programme“, presented the Journal „Effectiveness of the EU towards Balkan Countries“, which raises the question of the effectiveness of EU policies towards the Balkans; it targets a wider readership of young professionals, journalists, students, young leaders and NGO activists.

 
The Journal is presented at the conference “The Effectiveness of EU policies towards the Balkans” which took place at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad.  Many important names took participation in the attractive panel discussion, such as: Radovan Jelasic, the governor of the National Bank of Serbia, Radmila Marinković Naduždin, Rector of the University of Novi Sad, Kosta Josifidis, professor of the Economic Faculty in Novi Sad, Danijel Pantić, Managing Partner of HD ECG and founder of Transfuse Association. „South-eastern Europe and the EU – Leadership Development Programme“, is a project of both  Transfuse Association and College of Europe, with the aim to contribute to the process of reforms  in the framework of the South-eastern Europe.  It targets the young people from the region and broader Europe who are expected in the future to have an important and active role in regional development of their countries.

In 12th issue of Profit magazine I have published an article on crisis communication. The title of the article was “Are you afraid of crisis situations?”

Also there was an article written by my staff on organizing and implementing Brainstorming workshops.

“Flower of success for the dragon woman” is a prestigious award that represents not only a symbol of successful women in our society, but also a concept of gender equality -  nowadays missing  in Serbia. This is the third year that this award is given to:  “the best woman entrepreneur” who implements European standards and solves unemployment of women in a creative manner.

 
Sanja Popovic Pantic, The President of the “Association of Business Women” and a successful business woman herself, who`s defending women`s rights here in Serbia, explained that this award, other than paying tribute to all  successful women  entrepreneurs, changes the existing stereotypes about women performances and success, which, in our country, are  usually associated with  music and “estrada”.
This award is important because it brings together women entrepreneurs (with no relevance of their sector of activity), women who want to start up their own business, as well as those at top positions in institutions.
The potential award winners will have the opportunity to present their business and their personal business experience (CV) – important elements that will support their nomination in one or both categories.

 
My agency Hristov Consulting d.o.o  supports these kind of projects and one more time we were there: there were 27 journalists and so far the public is informed about the award through 13  most important media in Serbia.

Magazine Status seventh award ceremony for year 2008 surprised the winners of these prestige’s awards.  Decided by 40 of their colleague journalists the rewards awarded to: Author of Kaziprst from B92 Radio Danica Vucenic was awarded as the best journalist in 2008. and the best photo reporter was Nemanja Janovic from daily newspaper Press. Newspaper Blic and Vreme were the best printed media and B92 was pronounced the first in categories TV, Radio and internet.  Second place was Politika editor Dragan Bujosevic, and the third is Status columnist Zoran Panovic.

TV faces of the year are Antonela Riha, athan Olivera Kovacevic and Olja Beckovic. The best TV show is Insajder (B92) and then Utisak nedelje (B92) and Kvadratura kruga (RTS). Tennis star Jelena Jovanovic was pronounced media personality of the year.

Fonet News Agency celebrated on February 7 th 15 year anniversary. Zoran Sekulic owner and editor, in hard times for media in 1994 succeeded to start the first independent news agency in Serbia. At the celebration he said at the beginning it was sometimes life-threatening to be a journalist, but he was hoping after 2000 situation would change. Unfortunately the conditions for media hasn’t changed as much as he was expecting. Fonet and others who fought against Milosevic regime, are still fighting for elementary media equality in Serbia.

Many top government officials were present, Dragan Sutanovac Minister of defense, Vuk Jeremic Foreign minister, members of the cabinet of the President of Serbia,, Radovan Jelasic the national Bank governor.

It was with great pleasure that I congratulated my friend Zoran Sekulic on 15 years of successful existence, because he stayed loyal to highest professional standards in objective journalism.