In early June, the Humana Nova team participated in two international events: the CEFEC Conference in Bled and the Social Innovation Forum in Belgrade. At both events, we exchanged knowledge, shared best practices, and contributed to discussions on a sustainable and inclusive future.
CEFEC Network Conference
At the CEFEC Conference held on June 4 in Bled, Ivan Božić, Manager of Humana Nova, joined a panel discussion titled "From textile waste to medical silk" to share his experiences and best practices. The session also featured insights from Christos Bantianidis, Director of Greece's Evrosilk.
The discussion followed the central conference theme: the reuse of materials and innovative approaches to creating green and inclusive business models. These models strive to reduce environmental impact and encourage the creation of new job opportunities for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
The CEFEC network (Confederation of European Firms, Employment Initiatives and Co-operatives) brings together over 80 members from more than 30 European countries. Members include companies, associations, cooperatives and non-governmental organizations in the field of social entrepreneurship. By collaborating and exchanging knowledge, members contribute to the development of sustainable business practices, the creation of green jobs and the employment of people who struggle to enter the labor market.
Social Innovation Forum
On the same day, the Social Innovation Forum took place in Belgrade. This year's conference focused on impact investing (investments that achieve positive social change alongside financial returns) as well as the obstacles and support systems for the development of the social economy. At a fair organized as part of the conference, several social enterprises presented their products and services.
How to turn sustainability into a concrete business advantage? This topic was discussed during the panel title "Social Impact and Sustainability - Business that Transforms the Region". Karolina Kraljić, Head of Human Resources at Humana Nova Among was among the panelists. Alongside Kraljić, the panel featured insights from several regional experts, including Andrei Georgescu (Social Innovation Solutions, Romania), Božina Stešević (ADP Zid, Montenegro), Svetlana Damjanović (consultant, Serbia), Vesna Jevtović (Danija Plus, Serbia), and Marina Mijatović (Angry Lynx, Serbia).
Through examples from their respective countries, the panelists presented how sustainable and responsible practices contribute to competitiveness and drive development for both companies and local communities.
