Creative Entrepreneurs – Participants

Sonila Abdalli

Co-founder, Destil Creative Hub, Albania

Sonila Abdalli, co-founder of Destil Creative Space & SCD Channel. Architect and designer by profession, she has a 5-year experience in the creative industry, with Destil being the main reference point for creative and passionate individuals both in a local and regional scale. Her main engagement is supporting active actors in the community and young local artists.

Nassar Abujabal

Director of the Development Department GIS and Photogrammetry, Palestine

Consultant with the Ministry of Local Government on using online and software’s for planning and analyzing the spatial data, member at the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management at the United Nation and represented Palestine in the last three years there. Former vice present for the engineers without borders in Hawaii- United states.

Tuğçe Akbulut

Founder/Director/Collaboration Designer, Cross Change, Turkey

Tuğçe Akbulut (TR, 1987) has a background as space designer and art director. She combined work experiences on social innovation and her designer skills to design collaborations and projects to support change-makers and designers with the aim to create change. On this journey, she established her enterprise Cross Change, a cross-disciplinary experimental design lab, and started curating creative professionals and other sectors for impact-oriented projects through participatory processes.

Keren Allon

Video Editor, Gerard Allon Productions, Israel

Having completed her Film and Television Studies at Tel Aviv University, she joined the family business Gerard Allon Productions, working as photographer and editor in the field of documentation and advertisement. Recently, she has edited the video art work for the musical Lazarus and IBA Channel 1 documentary film Desert wounds.

Karla Andrić

President, CIPA, Croatia

Karla Andrić is an independent marketing and PR strategist, and CIPA President.

Elona Bejo

Manager, Ferma Grand Albanik, Albania

I am born in Lezhe, studied architecture and worked as a interior designer in Tirana for 8 years. During that time i also managed some restorants as a family businesses, thing that took my whole interes and became my main business in the last 5 years. Now I manage a turistic farm in Kelcyre, Gjirokaster together with my french husband.

Nizzar Ben Chekroune

Digital communication and marketing expert, Gürü Marketing, Morocco

Nizzar Ben Chekroune is a digital communication and marketing expert. His previous positions include work for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the United States Agency for International Development. He is an active member of the High Atlas Foundation and representative of the Multipartite Partnership (MPP) for decentralisation of renewable energy in Morocco. He offers his services on digital creative content creation for improving productivity to both public and private sectors. Known for "La Minute Creative Project".

Eyal Bloch

TOP Global; Muslala; ESD Institute; David Yellin Academic College of Education, Israel

Eyal Bloch is an educator, social architect, and educational entrepreneur. He is a co-creator of the TOP3 (Technology of Peace) movement, head and co-creator of TOP Global, co-founder of the Jerusalem-based institute Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), and an instructor at David Yellin Academic College of Education as well as chairperson of the Muslala social art group.

Matija Brajović

Art Director, Daa Montenegro

Matija Brajović is currently working as A/V Production assistant in the prominent Montenegrin advertising agency - DAA Montenegro. Dominantly working in the field of Audio / Video production and Creative animation, Matija is ready to embrace all the aspects of knowledge, especially in the fields of advertising, creative industries and video production in general.

Rania Chaabouni

Student, EMUNI, Tunisia

Rania Chaabouni holds a Bachelor's degree in business administration from the Tunis Business School. After four years of professional experience in both private and non-profit sectors, she decided to pursue her studies. Rania is currently enrolled in the Intercultural Business Communication Master's programme at the EMUNI University in Slovenia.

Habib Chabbouh

Général Manager, MAISON DE L'ARTISAN "MDA'', Tunisia

Habib Chabbouh, Président Cluster Art de la Table and Hub Desin Nabeul Tunisia,General Manager Maison de l'Artisan, university professor at the institute of fine arts of Nabeul, expert in Artistic Ceramics, academic supervisor craftsmanship and ceramics . President of the National Chamber of Artisanal Ceramics 2012-2018 Member of the National Crafts Federation responsible for professional training and university training 2012-2018.

Bojana Cipot

Head of International Cooperation and Project Management, Primorski tehnološki park, Slovenia

Bojana Cipot works as Head of International Cooperation and Project Management at Primorska Technology Park (PTP). The PTP is a partner in the strategic DIVA project (Interreg Italy/Slovenia), aimed at bringing creative and business areas closer. She worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, served two terms abroad (Sweden, Italy), and was national coordinator for macroregional strategies.

Moustapha Djimera

CEO, i-Wanga inc., Mauritania

Expert in digital strategies and architectural solutions with more than ten years of experience in supporting companies with digital transformation. Adamant about innovation and African problems, he created a startup specialising in digital and innovation (i-Wanga Inc.), a company that aims to implement digital solutions in Africa by turning to Africa itself to contribute to innovation and solutions adapted to the population.

Habiba El-Zeiny

Business Innovation Advisor, GIZ Egypt, Egypt

Habiba El-Zeiny is a Business Innovation Advisor, working for the “Promotion of Small and Medium enterprises” programme, GIZ Egypt. Her work for GIZ and EU projects in Egypt focuses on economic empowerment and social development. In 2016, she started the “Craft Pioneers” incubation programme in support for creative industries start-ups; it helped 40 startups with 200 jobs created in leather, fashion, furniture and other industries.

Dalal Rahma Elkadi

Fashion Designer / Entrepreneur, Imagineer clothing line, Algeria

Representative of Imagineer, a street style clothing line based in Algeria. She has a Master's degree in Architecture. Her previous positions include graphic designer at PINX, a notebook and architecture supplies company, and freelance graphic designer. She finds her inspiration in travel, nature, meeting people with a certain type of vibes, meditation and yoga.

Risto Hajduković

CEO, Circle, Montenegro

Risto is a cultural heritage entrepreneur and owner of a pirate museum with a kodern concept and a bar included. He's a holder of the Cultural history start-up certificate by ISTAO - Ancona, Italy. He's also a founder of a Destination management company in Montenegro.

Dina Kattan

National Project Coordinator, UNIDO, Jordan

Dina Kattan, National Project Coordinator for UNIDO, Jordan. My previous experience in the creative industries includes the launch of a fashion competition "KHAYT", stemming from a joint EU- and Italy-funded project on cluster and creative industries, which UNIDO has been implementing across the Mena region. The aim of the competition is to link the design world with Jordanian producers for better market access.

Abdessalam Khedrougui

Student, EMUNI, Algeria

Abdessalam Khedrougui is an Algerian Master's student in Intercultural Business Communication at the EMUNI University and a quality and safety engineer for a public Algerian company. He is working on an E‑learning startup project based on the accompaniment of young elites and the exchange of knowledge with other countries.

Wafa Kiran

Designer, ZINE & ZWINE, Morocco

Wafa Kiran is a self-taught designer. She designs and creates furniture and decorative objects, accessories and office or home furniture made of noble wood. Wafa's career began in 1993 with the export of her articles. She continued with the birth of a store in Marbella "La Mamounia" in 1997, and the creation of the showroom "Zine & Zwine" in 2003. In 2018, Wafa was elected president of the Marrakech Creative Interiors Cluster.

Maruša Kovačič

Junior designer, Speakap, Slovenia

Maruša Kovačič is a junior graphic designer, currently working in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, at a scale up called Speakap. She is in a process of obtaining a master's degree from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, with a focus on typography and type design.

Getoar Krasniqi

Startups Consultant, GK Consulting, Kosovo

Getoar Krasniqi, startups consultant at GK Consulting. Works with early-stage startups in Kosovo, and holds an MBA from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. His previous position include Head of Incubation at VentureUP, University of Prishtina startups incubator. Worked as a trainer for Marketing and Lean Startup Methodology.

Ivo Krug

Co-founder, Tek Bunkeri, Germany

Ivo Krug is a co-founder of the Tek Bunkeri Social Innovation Initiative in Albania. He has worked as a cultural manager and project manager in different fields, in several Eastern European countries. He is a member of the ChangemakerXChange community by Ashoka, the Robert Bosch Foundation, the MitOst network, and the global make_sense community, and is one of the 2018 ECF Courageous Citizens grantees.

Sanja Kulenović

Designer – Senior Associate, International Theatre Festival MESS – Scene MESS, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sanja Kulenović is an industrial designer with multidisciplinary experience in both product and graphic design. She is currently a designer in International Theatre Festival MESS, Sarajevo. Her previous positions include furniture designer and head of research and development in furniture industry, graphic and stage designer in several cultural and arts projects, including theatre, film, museums, and graphic and industrial designer in marketing agencies and the media.

Ghada Kunash

Managing Director and founder, The Workshop Amman, Jordania

Ghada started as intern Architect with Arch Ammar Khammash restoration on historical sites in Jordan then she designed furniture and home accessories while practicing architectural interior design at Kawar Interiors. She founded an antique gallery and art & design gallery for emerging artists and designers in Dubai then merged all activities under the multi concept space The Workshop, lately branched also in Amman.

Tina Kuzman

Creative Director, Open Box Studio, Montenegro

Tina Kuzman is Creative Director with Open Box Studio in Podgorica. She obtained an MA in audiovisual production at the Mediterranean University in Montenegro. Tina is a multimedia artist, interested in new technologies and currently working on a creative digital school for kids in Open Box Studio.

Rima Malallah

Owner & Designer, Love on a Bike, Jordan

Rima Malallah is owner and multidisciplinary artist behind Love on a Bike, a gallery and art shop founded in Amman in 2006. She holds a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and Philosophy from Spalding University in Kentucky, USA. Her work spans various media, with special focus on watercolour painting, mural projects, and functional ceramics.

Dina Maqdah

Fashion Designer, Garment Design & Training Services Centre, Jordan

After completing her degree in International Fashion Business and Fashion Forecasting at the University for the Creative Arts in England in, Dina returned to Amman and is currently working as a designer/product developer. She aims to use creative learning experience, expertise and exposure and apply them to her daily work in the Jordanian garment/fashion industry, thus advancing the local fashion scene.

Milan Mijajlović

CEO, NGO "Rural Urban", Montenegro

Milan Mijajlović is a scoutmaster at Scout Group “Njegoš”, Podgorica, the founder of Kukica Handicraft and Art Marketplace, the founder of the News Portal Volim Danilovgrad, Eco-tourist service – DG-NET, the founder of Registar Radno Vrijeme, NGO RURAL – URBAN. Self-taught: PC and smartphone repairs, WordPress. He is also a project manager.

Ahmad Mousa

Founding director, The Fiction Council, Palestine

Ahmad Nabil, founding director of The Fiction Council in Jerusalem. He’s also an artist and designer, been working in several art projects regarding development of the Arab/Palestinian children and youth imagination in the city of Jerusalem in addition to spreading the culture of creative thinking in the fields of fantasy and science fiction through visual arts, alternative tours and literature.

Abdelrahman Muhammed

Sports Digital Marketing, MMC SPORT GmbH & Co. KG, Germany

Abdelrahman Muhammed is a sports digital expert, officially FIFA/CIES certified. He is accomplished in news writing, editing, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Google Analytics, SEO, Microsoft Office, Vine, Tumblr, and more. He is a highly connected, motivated and digital marketing professional with over three years' experience in sports digital marketing industry and community operations.

Ines Novak

President, Children's Creative Center – DOKKICA, Croatia

Ines Novak is the President of the Children's Creative Center in Osijek. Ines has been working on projects for children and youth for 10 years. The Center is focusing on three areas: social support, education, and children's rights. Ines is a member of the Advisory Committee on Children's Participation in the UNICEF Croatia Coordination.

Nour Nsheiwat

Founder and designer, Hunaya and Shawerma Zarb, Jordania

Nour Nsheiwat, founder and designer of Hunaya launched her brand after a decade of experience in interiors, architecture, film-making and product design. N Products, Nsheiwat’s previous brand focused on experimenting with larger, less focused furniture production, but down-sizing their work and focusing on a single aspect of furniture has enabled Hunaya to deconstruct the functions of the dining table, the display of food, and ultimately, how we eat.

Nikola Radojčić

Creative Director/Founder, Braća Burazeri Design Studio/Dechkotzar Clothing Company, Serbia

Based in Belgrade, Nikola is the founder, designer and creative director in the graphic design studio Braća Burazeri that he had established together with his brother Nenad. They began in late 1990's as street artists and later joined the B92 Creative Team (2002). Since 2011, they work as a freelance design studio. Dechkotzar is one of the most prominent and recognised Serbian clothing brands.

Sirine Rebai

Responsable for External Relations, Coart Creative Coworking Space & Artist Wihout Border, Tunisia

I am doctor of biologist by education. During my studies I was active in culture in my university. Currently I am involved in Social Creative Projects related to creative & cultural Industries. Firstly in crafts (embroidery that promote the Artisanal Tunisian Culture) and secondly as a responsible of External Relation in Coart (Creative Coworking Space) also the Cultural Association Artist Without Borders.

Pezana Rexha

CEO and Founder, Pana Storytelling Furniture, Albania

Pezana Rexha has studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Tirana and graduated in January 2010. She has been working since 14 years of age and has created her first enterprise when she was 18 years old. Her life is shared between architecture and entrepreneurship and marked by dealing with difficult tasks in social and environmental missions.

Rania Seddik

Founder and Director, GebRaa, Egypt

Rania Seddik, founder and Director of GebRaa, a local and international supplier of Egyptian traditional crafts risking extinction, and head of the board of trustees of the Karama Foundation, aimed at creating new generations of highly skilled artisans capable of meeting modern day's needs. Rania has a Master's degree in public policy, specialized in cultural policy from the Central European University and a bachelor's degree in Economics from Cairo University.

Haythem Sendi

Student, EMUNI, Tunisia

Haythem Sendi is a PhD student in Management Science at ESSEC Busines School, working on business creation among returning migrants and enrolled in IBC master degree at EMUNI. She holds of an MA in entrepreneurship research and a BA in business management and economics.

Tina Šepetavc

Designer, Visis, Slovenia

Tina Šepetavc, working cca 20 years in creative industries as a designer, project initiator, production manager, connecting designers with manufactures in developing new designs. Also advocating for understanding design and its role in everyday life in other fields of design and disciplines.

Nada Shahin

Student, EMUNI, Egypt

Nada Shahin is a Programme Manager at Capoeira4Refugees, working on community engagement projects in Syria. With an interest in intercultural dialogue and civil society activities, she is currently enrolled in the second year of Master's programme in Intercultural Business Communication at EMUNI (Euro Mediterranean University, Slovenia).

Sami Shehade

Filmmaker/Event Producer/Audiovisual Artist, Projekt Sonik, Palestine

Sami is a multi-award winning filmmaker, event producer, and audiovisual artist. He has gained vast experience from various roles in both film and event industries around the GCC & Middle East, working on projects ranging from TVCs, documentaries, music videos to festivals, conferences and concerts. Sami is currently developing Projekt Sonik, an independent initiative aimed at developing a sustainable music scene with a focus on electronic music and nightlife culture.

Arnen Sula

Co-founder, Tek Bunkeri, Albania

Arnen Sula is a co-founder of the Tek Bunkeri Social Innovation Initiative. He is also a freelance architect and specialist for urban development at the Municipality of Rroghozina. Arnen is a member of the MitOst Network, the Robert Bosch Alumni Network, and the European Cultural Foundation Courageous Citizen Alumni.

Helena Tošić

Art Director, Daa Montenegro

Helena Tošić is working as Art director in the prominent Montenegrin advertising agency - DAA Montenegro. She is basing her experience on graphic design, illustration and photography. Passionate about fashion and industrial design, she always tend to create new visual experiences usable for artistic and commercial purposes.

Ivona Zabaznovska

Marketing Specialist, Solveo, North Macedonia

Ivona, a creative thinker and a problem solver with an innovative mindset, working as a marketing specialist at Solveo. I always follow the digital and the marketing trends, while helping the companies to build their brands and stay one step ahead of the competitors. I am passionate about out of the box ideas and I believe that there is a solution for everything.

Dunja Zorman

Consultant, DADA HUA Ltd, Slovenia

Dunja Zorman is a Sinologue and a travel industry consultant.