Dubrovnik will host the international conference “Challenges of Corporate Governance in State-Owned Enterprises: Between Accountability, Efficiency and Social Value” on the 20th of March, 2026. The event will take place at Akademis Academia and is organized by the Croatian Association for Corporate Governance and Management and the University of Dubrovnik. The conference will bring together representatives of the academic community and the public and private sectors with the aim of opening key discussions on the professionalization of management, the separation of the state’s ownership and management functions, strengthening the accountability of supervisory boards, and creating long-term social value.
The quality of corporate governance in state-owned enterprises is one of the key issues of Croatia’s economic development. The state remains strongly present in strategic sectors, and the way it manages this property directly affects productivity, public finances and the investment climate. An efficient and professional management structure is a prerequisite for long-term competitiveness. This issue gains additional weight in light of Croatia’s accession process to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Croatia’s entry into the OECD is not merely a formal foreign policy objective but a strong incentive to improve institutional standards. The OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises set clear requirements regarding transparency, accountability and the professionalization of governing bodies.
The successful completion of the accession process and full membership in the OECD will also depend on Croatia’s ability to demonstrate credible reforms in the management of state assets. Therefore, the discussions in Dubrovnik will carry broader significance. They will contribute to shaping standards that will bring Croatian companies and institutions closer to the highest international practices and strengthen the confidence of both domestic and international stakeholders in the quality of Croatia’s economic system.
The conference will be opened by the President of the Program Committee, Professor Darko Tipurić, Ph.D., and the Rector of the University of Dubrovnik, Professor Nebojša Stojčić, Ph.D.
Key Discussions on Governance in the Private and Public Sectors
The first panel will focus on corporate governance in small and medium-sized enterprises, where formal mechanisms often give way to entrepreneurial agility and ownership concentration. Participants will include Anita Bota (Artigul), Anamarija Idžojtić (Efcon Line), Dr. Davorko Obuljen (Algebra Bernays University), and Sandro Viškanić (Nekretnine Geodezija), moderated by Associate Professor Ivana Kovač, Ph.D. (Faculty of Economics Zagreb). The discussion will address how to balance business flexibility with the need for transparent and accountable governance structures.
The second panel will be entirely dedicated to the specific characteristics of state-owned enterprises in the Croatian context. Participants will include Dr. Dalibor Brnos (Port Authority Pula), Dr. Karolina Kokot (Faculty of Organization and Informatics Varaždin), Assistant Professor Darija Prša, Ph.D. (Novi list), and Dr. Zlatko Žuro (HNK Hajduk), moderated by Dr. Lana Cindrić. The panel will open discussion on the relationship between politics and management, appointment criteria, operational efficiency, and the role of the public and media in overseeing state-owned enterprises. Special emphasis will be placed on transparency and long-term sustainability.
Challenges in the Construction Sector and the Future of Money
The third panel will address the challenges of corporate governance in construction companies, a sector characterized by major infrastructure projects, regulatory requirements and market risks. Participants will include Gorki Bratim (Mar Ltd.), Dinko Čondić (IVICOM Consulting Ltd.), Dominik Skokandić (Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets of the Republic of Croatia), and Ivan Augustin (Ing-grad Inc.), moderated by Associate Professor Lana Lovrenčić Butković, Ph.D. (Faculty of Civil Engineering Zagreb). The discussion will cover project management, risk management, regulatory compliance and the accountability of management and supervisory bodies in a sector of strategic importance.
The final part of the program will feature a fireside chat titled “Money in the Digital Age,” where Zoran Balkić (Base58) and Linardo Marinčević (Croatian National Bank) will discuss digital currencies, regulatory challenges and the transformation of the financial system in the context of the technological revolution. The session will be moderated by Associate Professor Radoslav Barišić, Ph.D. (Faculty of Economics Zagreb).
By bringing together relevant experts and decision-makers, the OFEL conference further confirms Dubrovnik as a recognized destination for organizing high-level international professional and business events and opens space for discussions that have a long-term impact on Croatia’s economic development and institutional quality.
