Category: Events

On Thursday, 11 September 2025, as part of the the ALL Digital Summit a panel will be held in Valetta, Malta Empowering women as future leaders in IT project management, dedicated to the topic empowering women for leadership roles in the IT sector, with an emphasis on project management.

As the digital economy grows rapidly, there is a growing need for diversified leadership in technology. This panel brings together inspiring speakers from Europe to share personal stories, professional insights and concrete recommendations on how to support women in their career moves towards IT.

Part of the Erasmus+ project SHIFT4IT

The panel is held as part of the Erasmus+ project SHIFT4IT - Shifting the paradigm for women in IT, whose partners we are. The project gives women coming from non-tech sectors the opportunity to mentoring, digital skills development and practical experiences, to make it easier for them to enter the IT sector and take leadership positions.

Panel speakers and topics

The dynamic 45-minute discussion will include:

• Nora Lazić (Croatia), an HR expert with almost ten years of experience in the IT sector, will talk about how companies can create stronger support systems for women in leadership positions.
• Honorine Umuhire (Belgium), who has switched to IT from the pharmaceutical industry, today works as a cybersecurity manager and actively advocates greater involvement of women in technology.
• Laurențiu Bunescu (Romania), Head of the Digital Education Programme in EOS Romania, will address the importance of digital skills, mentoring and inclusive policies in shaping future leaders in the IT sector.

The panel will moderate Hana Galogage Chain from the Centre for Technical Culture Rijeka, SHIFT4IT coordinator and expert on non-formal education and digital empowerment.

More than stories – Strategies for the future

This panel is not only an opportunity to share experiences, but also to present concrete strategies that can help employers, educators, policy makers and future IT professionals. The aim is to inspire and encourage changes that will open the door for women to lead roles in the IT sector.

---

Read more about the project here.

Zadar will this year as well from 14-16 September be the epicenter of technological innovation and the gathering place of thousands of developers, IT experts, entrepreneurs and startup enthusiasts from all over the world. Shift Conference 2025, organised by Infobip-a, returns with even greater ambition, even stronger names and an even richer programme.

Top speakers and current topics from the world of technology

This year's theme is Shift 2025: >Code. More than Code. The emphasis is on programming as a craft, but also on the broader impact of technology and the interlinkages that drive innovation.

Shift will host over 80 international lecturers on six stages. Among the main names stands out Matt Biilmann Christensen, CEO and co-founder of Netlify, who will present a new paradigm Agent Experience (AX) – how to design a system to work with AI agents. Along with him, there are also renowned experts such as Debbie O’Brien (Microsoft), Kristijan ‘Kitze’ Ristovski (Sizzy), Vitaly Friedmana (Smashing Magazine), Harry Roberts 's (CSS Wizardry) and many others.

Through panels, technical sessions and practical workshops, participants will be able to explore the latest trends in web technologies, performance, UX design, artificial intelligence and open source tools. Shift Zadar is not just a technical conference – it is a space for professional growth, learning and active participation in shaping the future of the industry.

More than a conference – an experience that combines knowledge, business and networking

Shift is not just a conference but an overall experience. In addition to the main programme, participants can expect:

• Startup Tribe Stage and the opportunity to pitch in front of investors,
• Expo zone with presentations of leading IT companies and solutions,
• Masterclass Workshops (All‐Access Pass) for those who want to delve deeper into technologies;
• and rich Accompanying programme – from sporting events to evening after parties and informal networking

This three-day event is not only a way to keep up with the industry, but also an investment in knowledge and skills. Allows:

• In-depth insight into development trends – get the latest tools, practices and technologies directly from experts.
• networking with colleagues – meetings with developers and industry leaders to exchange ideas and experiences;
• Connecting with the global community – a new perspective through contact with developers from different regions and sectors.

Registration and registration fees

There are several options available to participate in Shift:

• Student: 50 €
• Standard: from 289 €
• All‐Access: 449 €
• Group: from 229 €

The maps are available through phases (currently: Regular, Late and Final) here.

Practical, accessible and inclusive

The conference is fully adapted to people with disabilities. Children are also welcome, but under the full supervision of their parents. The organisers also provided free parking at the event location – Halu Krešimir Ćosić na Višnjik.

By participating in Shift, you have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, gain new knowledge and promote your own ideas and products to a global audience. More information about the program, speakers and registration fees is available at the official Conference website.

For the third year in a row, a high school entrepreneurial competition was held in Rijeka "Business challenge", carried out as part of the European project Re-Value (Re-Valuing Urban Quality & Climate Neutrality in European Waterfront Cities).

The aim of the competition is the development of entrepreneurial competences in young people through work on concrete solutions for urban development and sustainability. About 60 students from Rijeka and Opatija secondary schools participated in the competition, divided into ten teams, and they all competed in designing innovative business solutions with the aim of developing a sustainable city district. Through a full-day programme, students developed their ideas – from the concept, through the business plan, to a presentation in front of an expert jury.

Porin has played a multiple role this year, Emira Brkić Karninčić i Maria Grbac participated as mentors to student teams, providing them with support and expert guidance in the elaboration of business plans, while the director Nenad Antolović was a member of the expert jury that evaluated the presentation of the idea, analysing their innovative aspects, feasibility and potential to contribute to urban sustainability.

Competition with European character and local significance

The "Business Challenge" has been implemented since 2013 with the aim of developing young people's entrepreneurial competences. The Rijeka edition of the competition was held in partnership with the European organization Junior Achievement Europe i the Delta Association, It is part of the European project Re-Value, which brings together nine European coastal cities and organisations dedicated to finding solutions that simultaneously improve urban quality and enable climate neutrality. The project is coordinated by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and funded by Horizon 2020.

Mayor of Rijeka Marko Filipović opened the competition and presented the challenge to the students – to come up with a proposal for a new urban district with sustainable infrastructure that responds to the needs of future generations and fosters environmental conservation, waste reduction and active community participation.

Creative ideas for a sustainable future

During the day, students analyzed urban trends, city identity, community needs and existing challenges, and then developed their own business ideas. Each team designed a product or service, defined the target market and financial model, and presented their project to an expert jury.

The following teams were awarded:

• 1st place - Association "Za moj kvart" – our Emira team: Application for connecting young people and local committees of the City of Rijeka, with the aim of strengthening the participation of young people in decision-making and connecting with the local community with members Jan Rebić (Technical School Rijeka), Maro Bratonja (Salesia Classical Gymnasium), Klara Krizmanić (Economic School of Mijo Mirković), Nora Džubur (Hotel-Tourism School Opatija) and Sara Bezjak Brozović (Transport School Rijeka)
• 2nd place - Urbanova d.o.o.: The concept of a self-sustaining neighbourhood with accompanying waste monitoring applications and the Voice of the Quarter platform with members: Tara Bilen (Secondary School of Andrija Ljudevit Adamić), Mila Paparić (Hospitality School Opatija), Lea Grubešić (Transport School Rijeka), Mia Sablić Bočina (Economic School of Mijo Mirković Rijeka), Doris Kurelić (Natural and Graphic School Rijeka), Darko Grozdanić (Economic School of Mijo Mirković Rijeka) and David Mijolović (Hotel and Tourism School Opatija).
• 3rd place - Greenloop: The idea of social entrepreneurship to help the homeless through sustainable support and employment models with members: Dorotea Korica (Hotel-tourist school Opatija), Tin Gorički (Technical school Rijeka), Dora Frančišković (Transport school Rijeka), Luka Harkanovac (Transport school Rijeka), Nika Šimić (Economic school Mije Mirkovića Rijeka) and Fran Host (Hotel-tourist school Opatija).

Porin – partner for youth and innovation

As an organization that continuously supports the development of entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable solutions, the Rijeka Development Agency Porin proudly supports such projects in which young people have the opportunity to learn, cooperate and shape the future of our city.

By participating in the "Business Challenge", Porin continues its activities in the local community through mentoring, education and active involvement in projects that encourage innovation and sustainability. These experiences provide young people with the basis for further professional development, but also create valuable opportunities to connect with local institutions, the market and European partners.

The second official transnational meeting of the URBANFLOODS project was held in Rijeka, on 8 April 2025, in the RiHub space, organized by the Rijeka Development Agency PORIN. The meeting brought together a total of 38 participants – 23 physically present and 15 online – from eleven partner organisations dedicated to strengthening climate resilience in the Adriatic region.

Following the welcome speeches by the hosts, the lead partner – the University of Western Macedonia (Greece) – presented an overview of the current status and financial management of the project.

Project partners – Hydrowater-Albania (Albania), Kozani Municipal Water and Drainage Company (Greece), Associated Partner Ministry of Environment and Energy (Greece), Sveti Ćirilo i Metod University in Skopje (North Macedonia), SVI.MED. The Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Sustainable Development (Italy), the Bačka Regional Development Agency (Serbia), the Sarajevo Hydrotechnical Institute (Bosnia and Herzegovina), the Municipality of Macerata (Italy), the Knowledge Management Centre (North Macedonia) and the host, RRA PORIN – exchanged data on their pilot areas, presented national regulations relevant to flood prevention and actively participated in planning future activities and strengthening regional cooperation.

On the second day, 9 April 2025, JU Priroda, associate partner of RRA PORIN, gave a presentation presenting the biodiversity of the Rječina River – the pilot area of the City of Rijeka – and its importance for the local ecosystem. Further discussions led to an agreement on communication strategies, important dates and deadlines for the completion of the activities. After the meeting of the Management Board, the participants took part in the on-site visit ’Walk & Talk“ along the river Rječina, visiting the source Zvir and the newly built Sinergan incubator – a symbol of the innovation potential and green transition of Rijeka.

The event marked another important milestone in the implementation of the URBANFLOODS project, confirming the joint commitment to strengthening flood resilience through smart data management systems, environmental protection and transnational cooperation.

---

Project URBANFLOODS It was co-financed under the first call of the IPA ADRION programme 2021-2027, with the aim of supporting a greener and more climate-resilient Adriatic-Ionian region. It focuses on climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention through ecosystem-based approaches. The project runs from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2027, with a total budget of EUR 1,747,583.17, of which EUR 1,485,445.68 is co-financed from Interreg funds.