Dear Members and Friends of AmCham Slovenia,

After the summer break, we invite you to join us for the first autumn AmCham Business Breakfast, scheduled for Friday, September 19, 2025, from 9:00 to 10:30 in Ljubljana.

This breakfast will be held under the title:

“Global Games: How Well is Slovenia Playing?”

The year 2025 is marked by important turning points in international relations and the global political and economic environment. At the forefront are issues of foreign policy, security, diplomacy, and competitiveness, which will shape the future of Europe and Slovenia. In this context, the key question arises of how Slovenia, as a member of the European Union and the international community, can position itself in a world where the rules are changing rapidly, and how it can play its role proactively, responsibly, and strategically.

At the event, we will address the following questions:

• How can Slovenia, through the coordinated efforts of foreign policy, diplomacy, and the economy, strengthen its role in the world?
• How can resilience, security, and competitiveness be ensured in times of global uncertainty?
• How should Slovenia maintain its voice in international forums while also seeking opportunities for growth and cooperation?
• How can international partnerships and transatlantic ties create long-term value for the country, the economy, and society?

The opening discussion will be introduced by Ms. Tanja Fajon, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, who will share her perspective on the future challenges and opportunities for Europe and Slovenia. The conversation will be moderated by Mag. Ajša Vodnik, CEO of AmCham Slovenia and Chair of AmChams in Europe.

The event will continue with a round table, where diverse speakers will shed light on some of the key questions of our time.

The discussion will be co-created and moderated by Vida Dolenc Pogačnik, COO and International Cooperation Director at AmCham Slovenia, and Dr. Žiga Vavpotič, Chair of the Strategic Council for Internationalization at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS) and Director at Bora Partners.

• Tanja Fajon is the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and a former Member of the European Parliament (2009–2022). Before her political career, she was a journalist and correspondent for RTV Slovenia in Brussels, closely following Slovenia’s accession to the EU. As an MEP, she established herself particularly in the fields of the Western Balkans, visa liberalization, human rights, migration policy, and transatlantic relations, and was recognized as one of the most influential European parliamentarians of her generation.
• Borut Čeh is the co-founder and CEO of Labena. In developing the Labena Group in the Central and Eastern European region, he focuses on development strategy, innovation, and business expansion. He holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana and has over 15 years of experience in business growth and development, sales, business processes, and management.
• Marko Grobelnik is an artificial intelligence researcher and co-head of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the Jožef Stefan Institute, co-founder of the UNESCO International Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI), and director of Quintelligence. He collaborates with leading international institutions and organizations, represents Slovenia in various committees of the OECD, the Council of Europe, NATO, and the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence. Since 2016, he has also served as Slovenia’s Digital Ambassador to the European Commission.
• Prof. dr. Ernest Petrič is Professor Emeritus of International Law and International Relations at the New University. He has lectured at numerous universities in Slovenia and abroad and has published eleven monographs and several hundred scientific articles. His distinguished career includes serving as an ambassador to several countries and international organizations, as well as being a judge and president of the Constitutional Court of Slovenia, a State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a member and president of the UN International Law Commission.
• Branko Žibret is a Partner in Kearney’s Government and Economic Development Practice and former Managing Partner of the firm’s Eastern European unit. He has extensive experience advising public institutions and leading companies on strategy, large-scale transformations, integrations, and restructuring across emerging European markets. Branko is also the author of numerous articles and reports on public sector reform and city management, and has held senior executive roles before joining Kearney.

Kearney will present research prepared specifically for Slovenia, focusing on the resilience of the country and its economy, and examining whether the right foundations for strengthening resilience have been established.

The AmCham Business Breakfast will take place on Friday, September 19, at the InterContinental Ljubljana, Slovenska cesta 59, 1000 Ljubljana, from 9:00 to 10:30.

You can register via the link in the invitation you have already received by email.

*The event will be held in Slovene with simultaneous translation into English.