Take a peek into a segment of the program on the second day of the MG2.9 “The Land of Rising Optimism” conference
Technology is advancing rapidly, and you might be feeling a mix of confusion, fear, or excitement. Do you want answers, a guidebook with instructions? Come and listen, ask questions – some of the best local experts in the field of modern technology will participate in the panel, and they are increasingly engaging with these technologies on Banovina as well.
Rea Budić founded her company, Tiny Meow Studio, in 2021, primarily focusing on video game development. She entered this industry through the PISMO Incubator in Novska, which offers specialized courses in video game development. In collaboration with Raven Insights, also based in Novska, she initiated work on the video game “Bura: The Way the Wind Blows,” which received funding from HAVC (Croatian Audiovisual Centre) for production this year.
Dario Vuić completed his studies at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture. A former student of the Technical School in Sisak, he returned to the “scene” as a teacher and mentor for mechanical subjects and the head of the Center for New Technologies.
Aleksandar Gavrilović, a former student of the Faculty of Electronics and Computer Science, is the director of the Gamechuck game development studio and the secretary-general of the Croatian Game Developers Cluster for the 2021-2023 term. As a producer, programmer, or game designer, he has worked on several dozen games. Gamechuck is the first Croatian game developer to successfully secure funding from EU funds.
Karlo Dževerlija studied at the Faculty of Organization and Informatics. He decided to volunteer his technical background and team leadership experience on three continents to the DRONE-IN project, which has ambitious goals and aligns perfectly with his vision of Petrinja being associated with modern technology more intensively than ever before. He deeply believes that DRONE-IN can become a center of knowledge, development, and materialization of skills related to artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles, information technology, and advanced achievements in general.
In today’s fast-paced world, where technology makes us constantly accessible, amidst everyday stress, deadlines, and obligations, it leaves a mark on our health, both physically and mentally, disrupting our quality of life, relationships, and family dynamics… Let’s pause for a moment, look out the window at something green on the horizon… Ladies and gentlemen, that’s the FOREST.
We’ve forgotten about it, can’t see it amidst all those skyscrapers, have no time, don’t notice it beyond our screens – yet it patiently waits for us, offering all its treasures. On the second day of the MEETING G2.9 Conference, our panelists, who have invested much time and effort in gaining knowledge and experience in forest therapy, will talk about all the benefits of the forest:
Jasna Vukas, the founder of the “Forest Power” Platform and president of the “Source of Life” Association, collaborated with the “One Belt One Road” platform to promote Croatia through culture, science, economy, and tourism. She participated in numerous tourism congresses and gained knowledge about forest therapy and bathing. Alongside two forest therapy congresses of the “Forest Power” platform, she is concurrently developing a forest bathing project in the Radoboj destination in Hrvatsko Zagorje, which has all the prerequisites for a unique offering on the continent. More about this will be shared by the Mayor of Radoboj, Anđelko Topolovec.
Darko Vukelić, a certified forest therapist and forest bathing mediator, will guide us into the forest’s blessings. A former employee of Croatian Forests, he has learned a lot about the forest from all angles.
Forest therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinkin-Yoku, which translates to “forest bathing.” It is a scientifically grounded framework for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments. This scientific confirmation, i.e., “Evidence-based medicine,” is the foundation Aleksandar Racz, a physician and specialist in health ecology, starts from in promoting the Shinkin-Yoku method (forest bathing) and advocating its implementation in the healthcare and tourism sectors.
“Forest therapy and forest bathing are becoming a growing brand in health tourism worldwide – let’s keep up with that rhythm and bring people to our beautiful forests – simultaneously develop this form of medical tourism, educate and employ people, with the help of EU Funds.” More about this aspect of the story will be shared by Ivana Babić Krešić, an entrepreneur and Ph.D. in political science. She is employed at VICTORIA consulting d.o.o., dealing with consulting, project development, and documentation preparation for obtaining EU funds.
The panel will be moderated by Ernest Svažić, ERNEST solutions d.o.o., who spent most of his career in spa tourism in Krapina-Zagorje County – first at Terme Jezerčica and then as the marketing manager at Terme Tuhelj. He continued as the director of the Krapinske Toplice Tourist Board and later as the mayor of the same place. He chaired the Croatian Wellness Association at the Croatian Chamber of Economy – Tourism Department for two years.
