The largest youth conference in the Western Balkans – Futures Leaders Summit (FLS) organized by the BH Futures Foundation, will be held from December 19 to 21 in Sarajevo (Hotel Hills).
The summit, whose theme this year is “Social Change and the Power of Collective Action – How Do Communities Develop?” aims to pave the way for generations of changemakers who will transform Bosnia and Herzegovina into a prosperous nation, and on this occasion, this year our leading experts who have built world-class careers, as well as 600 students from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina, are coming to the Bosnian capital.
“Futures Leaders Summit is an event that shows young people that it is possible to make dreams come true. This is a place where the best of the best meet, where local and international experts in medicine, technology, business and other fields open the doors of knowledge that can rarely be heard anywhere else in the region. FLS is more than a conference. It is a meeting of a generation that wants more, a space where ambitions, courage and new career opportunities are born. We are proud that it is in Bosnia and Herzegovina that we are building a platform that changes perspectives and motivates young people to achieve what they considered unattainable, to dream their dreams and show that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a small country full of top talents”, emphasized Samir Mahmić, Director of the Future Foundation in BiH.
More than 60,000 BAM provided
Experts from whom students will have the opportunity to learn include:
Adnan Čustović, Clinical Professor of Pediatric Allergology at Imperial College London, Amir Memić, Co-Founder and Current Chief Operating Officer of Centerstream, Andrej A. Gajić, Chief Scientist for National Geographic, Pamela Habibović, Rector of Maastricht University; Professor of Inorganic Biomaterials, Vedran Drakulić, OAM – CEO – Hansen Little Foundation; Deputy Chair – Betty Amsden Foundation; Associate Professor – RMIT, Senad Palislamović, Expert in AI/ML and AIOps Network Infrastructure and Automation Building, Amel Havkić, MBA – Founder of EvoMed Consulting, and Strategy and Security Advisor, Jasmin Nuhić, Leader for Global Operations and Multi-Location Medical Device Manufacturing Management.
Then Slaven Šteković, MBA – Aeterna Omics Health, longevity and biotechnology expert, Željka Hassler, senior product design manager at Fleetio, Ognjen Vlačina, payments project manager at INGKA New Business AB, payment systems expert, banking and fintech sector observer, Džemila Šero, L’Oréal-UNESCO “For Women in Science” award winner, assistant professor at the University of Twente, Nerma Čaluk, civil engineer (constructor) at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Samel Arslanagić, associate professor of electromagnetic theory; head of electromagnetic systems, DTU (Technical University of Denmark), Adnan Mehonić, associate professor and senior research fellow at the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) at UCL; founder/CTO at Intrinsic Semiconductor Technologies. Detailed biographies of all speakers, as well as all partners, sponsors and donors without whom this event would not be possible, can be found on the official summit website http://www.fls.ba.
The BH Futures Foundation, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, has a long-term goal through the Futures Leaders Summit and other projects to grow into a community of 10,000 changemakers by 2030, striving to improve the quality of life in our country. Traditionally, during the FLS, the “Vera Šnajder” award will be presented in the form of travel assistance (up to 3,000 BAM per person) for three outstanding female students of natural/technical sciences in Bosnia and Herzegovina (undergraduate, master’s or doctoral studies).
“This year, the Foundation and our partners have provided more than 60,000 BAM in grants to enable young people from all over BiH to come to Sarajevo, including covering travel expenses, accommodation, food and registration fees. There must be no financial barrier between young people and knowledge. This is the principle that guides us. Knowledge is our strongest currency. It is scattered all over the world, but it belongs to all of us,” said Edhem Čustović, founder of the Future Foundation in BiH.
Three-day program
The three-day program of the summit will be filled with lectures, workshops, panel discussions, project exhibitions and networking, with the aim of empowering and connecting the next generation of leaders in BiH. Over the years, FLS has become a recognized platform for dialogue, inspiration and strengthening the role of youth in society.
The panel will focus on the topic of activism in Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e. how engaged young people are today in the non-governmental sector, what motivates them and what stands in their way – be it a lack of support, financial resources or limited institutional space for action. The panel will also raise questions about the real impact of activism in today’s socio-political context and highlight the importance of taking initiative despite obstacles.
Through a discussion with experienced and inspiring speakers, the goal is to bring real examples of civic engagement closer to young people, present successful local initiatives, and create a space for dialogue about the future of activism in BiH. This panel will highlight why activism matters – how it empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and serves as a driving force for social progress, especially in societies facing complex challenges. The goal is to encourage the next generation not to accept the status quo – but to challenge, question, and ultimately change it for the better.
The BH Futures Foundation, which is also celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, has a long-term goal of growing into a community of 10,000 changemakers by 2030, striving to improve the quality of life in our country through the Futures Leaders Summit and other projects.
