Dr. Irena Ateljević
Dr. Irena Ateljevic, a Human Geography PhD from the University of Auckland, boasts a distinguished career spanning academia, policy advising, and social entrepreneurship. With teaching roles at Auckland University of Technology, Victoria University of Wellington, and Wageningen University, her academic journey has been rich and varied. Irena’s impactful research includes leading a tourism-identity study in China’s Yunnan Province and shaping sustainable tourism policies for Croatia, underpinned by her work with the UN World Tourism Organization.
In 2011, Irena pivoted from academia to spearhead transformative social-entrepreneurship initiatives. Her key projects include Terra Meera, a regeneration and human potential hub; Regenerate Europe, a platform for pan-European regeneration; SHE – Sibenik Hub for Ecology, focusing on organic farming and seed banking; and Phoenix Arbor, dedicated to human development and innovative action.
A living example of applied regenerative methodologies, Irena educates, inspires, and sparks transformation in others as a mentor, insightful keynote speaker and a community builder.