About us
The Foundation strives to incorporate sustainability targets into businesses and public policy, as well as
contribute to transparent reporting and education.
The WB ESG Foundation has unique resources and expertise, including scholars, top-notch specialists, and
experienced professionals, collaborating to guide the Western Balkans towards sustainability.
Mission & vision
The Western Balkans ESG Foundation aims to become the leading voice for sustainable integration in everyday
business, public policy, and local communities. While advocating for equal opportunities, transparent
reporting and equitable communication, we strive to help drive countries’ economies towards sustainable
transitions.
The WB ESG Foundation serves as a competence center where all stakeholders can delve into the core of ESG
requirements and opportunities. It aims to be the ultimate hub for connecting Western Balkans leaders,
businesses, and academia, fostering ESG development, empowering education, and promoting professional
growth.
Founders of the WB ESG Foundation are sole members of the Board of Directors.
Milena Mićanović
Milena Mićanović is experienced professional in the financial industry, with focus on
ESG, business development, access to finance, marketing, online sales, CX, corporate affairs, PR and
communications, crisis management, CSR and sustainable business. Commitment to responsible business, green
transition and execution of ESG principles were on several occasions awarded and recognized. She has
developed successful and award-winning projects in the field of socially responsible business, brand
development and communication.
In her professional career, Milena devoted herself to corporate affairs, business development
models and financing approaches, as well as cooperation with the start-up community, which she continues
to nurture today.
Before founding the Western Balkans ESG Foundation, Milena was director for Communications and
Public affairs in OTP banka Srbija, one of the leading financial institutions in Serbia, and previously
she was in charge of setting up and running the Innovation Fund as a Deputy Managing Director for
international cooperation and financing, while her professional career started in M&A financial advisory
industry. By education Milena is Bachelor of Laws with MBA.
Tatjana Papić
Tatjana Papić (LL.B. Belgrade, LL.M. Connecticut, PhD Union Belgrade) is a professor of International Law
and International Human Rights Law at the Union University Belgrade Law School and a visiting research
fellow at the University of Reading School of Law (UK) and the Center for Law and Pluralism of the
University Milano-Bicocca (Italy).
She is an expert in curriculum development, legal obligations reporting, and has extensive
teaching
experience, both in Europe and the US. Tatjana was a Visiting Professor at the University of Münster
Faculty
of Law and the Washington and Lee University School of Law, as well as a Senior Grotius Research Scholar
at
the University of Michigan Law School.
Tatjana was also a consultant for UNDP, CoE, OSCE and FRA – EU Fundamental Rights Agency, and
provided expert legal advice in different investment arbitrations. Before joining the Union Law Belgrade,
Tatjana was a head of the legal department of the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights: the chief editor of
the
annual human rights reports and in charge of overseeing all legal activities of the Centre, fundraising
and
legal training curriculum development.
Vojislav Lazarević
Vojislav Lazarević is the Chairman of the Executive board of Addiko bank Serbia since 2018.
In his professional career, Vojislav held several C level positions in the banking industry.
Before
joining Addiko bank, he was the President of the Executive Board and General Director at Piraeus Bank in
Belgrade, managing the bank's strategic and organizational activities. In the period from 2009 to 2016, he
was a member of the Executive Board of Vojvodjanska banka NBG Group, in charge for the corporate business,
financial markets, brokerage and financial consulting.
Previously, Vojislav gained diverse range of banking experience as deputy director and Executive
board member in NBG bank in Serbia overseeing investment banking and financial markets, retail and
corporate
business and business development. His career started in Societe Generale bank in Athens on currency
trading
on the interbank market.
He earned a diploma in the field of business administration, accounting and finance sector from Deree
College, Athens, Greece, and then a master's degree in economic sciences from Union University in
Belgrade.
Dušan Basalo
Dušan Basalo is the founder of several companies in the field of Organization and People Development:
Talks
and Folks, Atria Group, Generation Zeal.
With international experience and large number of complex projects for top tier companies, Dusan
brings amazing insights into Social and Governance areas and strategies that organizations should
implement
in order to get high level results, both for themselves and for the society Through one of his companies,
Talks and Folks, which is a leading public speaking managerial agency for the most successful experts and
leaders from different areas, Dusan builds an inspiring network of amazing people that have the
possibility
to influence society, especially the business community towards good practices in ESG area.
Dusan is a member of the Board of directors of the Serbian Association of Managers for the last
five
years and the creator of the SAM (Serbian Association of managers) mentoring program for the last seven
years, as well as the SAM Academy.
At Advisory Board we are gathering scholars, experts and prominent professionals of high
integrity and exceptionally valuable network who can help us in creating the ESG community.
