Are you ready to take on the challenge and make a positive impact on the world? Then join us at TEDxLjubljana 2024, where you'll meet extraordinary speakers who push boundaries and drive positive change in their communities and globally.
In addition to inspiring talks from various fields (investing, leadership, poetry, linguistics, climate projections, and more), the event offers a rich program. Before the official start at 6:00 PM, there will be a casual meet-and-greet, followed by a party in the reception hall of Cankarjev dom after the event's conclusion.
Join over 1,500 participants united by innovative ideas, boundary-pushing, and connecting with the inspiring TEDxLjubljana community.
Speakers
Speakers may not be confirmed. Check event website for more information.
Aljaž Bastič
TV director and assistant for television directing at UL AGRFT
Aljaž Bastič holds a master’s degree in television directing and works as a director at Television Slovenia. He also serves as a teaching assistant in television directing at the UL AGRFT. Outside of television, his passions include music, art in general, reading, and discovering the world around us. Alongside his studies, he also completed classical singing at the secondary music school of the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana. He closely intertwines his love of music and his musical knowledge with all things television – by reading scores and preparing camera scripts, he ensures that recordings of classical music concerts captivate both the general audience and connoisseurs. He also directs various TV programs, from entertainment to documentaries and dedicates himself fully to every professional challenge, as he dislikes half measures. He is the choirmaster of the Prosavus Mixed Choir from Zasavje and sings in various project groups both in Slovenia and abroad.Aljaž Celarc
Mentor, motivator, regenerative farmer, passionate self-builder
Aljaž Celarc is a father of two and a farmer who pours his heart into cultivating the land and working with wood. A passionate self-builder and advocate for a sustainable lifestyle, he strives to leave a better world for future generations. Fascinated by wood and forgotten woodworking techniques, he crafts stories into every piece. His background in geography and photography offers a unique perspective, reflected in his award-winning work, which has amazed audiences and earned him numerous awards and scholarships He expresses his mission through teaching craft skills, as he believes that by preserving these skills, he also preserves a part of his soul and heritage. In 2024, he was proudly named an Honorary Craftsman by The Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia in carpentry. Craftsmanship continually challenges him to surpass his own limits, as he believes that true learning and growth begin when we step out of our comfort zone.Blaž Mencinger
Musical performance
Blaž Mencinger creates music in a unique nostalgic indie-pop style, best captured in his debut album “Delček srca” (“A Piece of the Heart”). In October 2024, he showcased it at a widely praised concert in a packed Orto Bar. His performances and music are marked by uncompromising honesty and a masterful interaction with the audience, taking listeners on a journey from laughter to tears and back again. Over the past year, some of his standout musical moments have included a sold-out Cukrarna, the Song of the Week on Val 202, a collaboration with Vazz (“Pondelk”), and a feature on the Izštekani radio show (with 3:rma).Dušanka Prelc Premate
President of Slovenian Society for Dog-Assisted Therapy "Tačke pomagačke" and therapy dog handler
Dušanka Prelc Premate is the President of the Slovenian Society for Dog-Assisted Therapy "Tačke pomagačke" ("Helping paws") and a therapy dog handler. In her role, she manages and leads the association's therapeutic programmes involving dogs to improve the emotional and physical well-being of individuals. With extensive knowledge and experience in the field of dog-assisted therapy, Dušanka as a mentor also provides training for dogs and their owners as well as cooperation with various institutions to provide high-quality therapy sessions.Jet Black Diamonds
Musical performance
Originating from the Vipava Valley, the band Jet Black Diamonds is made up of five young men. They are united by their youthful energy and love for writing original music. Free from the constraints of musical styles, they combine different musical genres, but most often, as they say, they are drawn to modern variants of rock 'n' roll.Jure Knez
President and founder of Dewesoft
Dr. Jure Knez is a visionary who transformed Trbovlje, mining town into a global technological hub. As the president and founder of Dewesoft, which he co-founded in 2000, he has pioneered groundbreaking measurement solutions, shaping the future of technological advancement. Dewesoft specializes in highly innovative measurement instruments, powered by the award-winning DewesoftX software. With over 200 employees in Slovenia and a total workforce exceeding 400 across 19 subsidiaries worldwide, the company is now among the top five global players in the measurement industry. Jure is also the founder of Katapult, an entrepreneurial environment for acrobats - innovators who are changing the world - that supports them with Dewesoft's infrastructure and mentorship. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling and mountain climbing.Manca Berlec
Musical performance
Manca Berlec is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Kamnik. She has been playing and writing original music from a young age. She first made a name for herself performing at songwriting festivals and on TV shows. A few years ago, she published her debut album “Gola” which consists of introspective and gentle songs. She says that she is currently in a long hibernation, which she will end with her performance on our TEDxLjubljana stage.Marja Milič
Advocate for financial literacy
For nearly two decades, Marja Milič has been committed to promoting financial literacy for all generations, especially schoolchildren, as she believes that this knowledge can help young people become independent and, consequently, lead to greater societal prosperity. Since her first investment, she has been passionate about helping others make sound financial decisions. While she acknowledges money isn't everything, she believes a solid financial foundation leads to better sleep, stronger relationships, and easier work. She is passionate about new developments in finance, a field dramatically transformed by the democratization of financial services in the past decade. However, core financial principles like diversification, cost-effectiveness, and long-term thinking remain her guiding mantra in all her endeavours. As the creator of the Money-How podcast she aims to make finance accessible to everyone, empowering individuals with the knowledge for a more secure future.Marko Drobnjak
Researcher at the intersection of language and law, and an advocate of open science
From his first encounter with a computer, he was drawn to computing and video games, leading him to consistently incorporate new approaches and technological solutions to his work. In the world of research, he studies language and speech through linguistic experiments and computational processing of speech and data, while in the world of open science, he optimizes research workflows using advanced infrastructure. As an open science expert at the Academic and Research Network of Slovenia - Arnes, he continues his research at the Faculty of Law and the Institute of Criminology. His interests include language, law, criminology, and linguistic forensics, focusing on speech perception in court and its impact on testimony credibility. As he says, "To speak is to have power, so let us use speech wisely and responsibly to challenge change.Marko Podgornik Verdev
Entrepreneur and author
Marko Podgornik Verdev, General Director of Mikro+Polo, is a leader whose focus on innovation and human connection creates a work environment where challenges become opportunities for growth and progress. As the author of 'Speaking Up', he shares his values of authenticity and freedom by inspiring people to share their own experiences and life challenges, encouraging them to follow their own path with confidence. Marko is reshaping the business landscape, empowering individuals to express themselves and drive meaningful change. He is passionate about exploring the authenticity and courage that are key to true individual freedom. Believing that being honest with oneself is the most powerful form of personal empowerment, he encourages us to show our true selves to the world without fear or hesitation. Our personal and professional experiences empower us to embrace a unique identity that challenges stereotypes and unlocks our full potential.Matic Ačko
Designer, photographer, writer, performer
Matic Ačko is a Master of Industrial Design from Maribor and is currently active in the fields of design, photography, video, (slam) poetry, improvisational theatre, and music. His work combines visual aesthetics with thoughtful rguments and powerful messages, reflecting his commitment to culture, moral values, and cooperation. His creative drive is guided by a sincere desire to make a positive impact on society, rather than merely seeking profit or personal success. His art is imbued with introspection and social awareness, setting it apart from many others. In improvisational theatre, he explores spontaneity and the dynamics of human relationships, while through slam poetry and music, he conveys his emotions and reflections.Melanie Seier Larsen
Managing Director & Partner, Boston Consulting Group
Melanie Seier Larsen is Managing Director and the first female Partner from CEE at Boston Consulting Group with over 25 years of experience in business consulting. She leads the BCG consumer products and people practices in CEE. She is ambitious, determined, and disciplined. In her personal and professional life, she is focused, intolerant of frivolousness and idleness. She values honesty, sincerity, and authenticity. As a member of the Board of Directors of W.I.N., the world's largest organization of outstanding women leaders, and board member of the Female Managers' Section at the Slovenian Managers' Association, she advocates for gender balance in leadership roles. Since 2019, she has been leading the Women@BCG initiative in CEE to promote female leadership. She successfully navigates between advising the boards of the world’s largest companies and preparing her daughters and husband’s favorite breakfast, while promoting women's empowerment and gender balance in leadership roles.Nina Črnivec
Climate Scientist
Dr. Nina Črnivec is a dedicated meteorologist and climate scientist whose research sheds light on the mysteries of our planet's atmosphere. With her expertise and passion, she investigates the physics of the atmosphere to improve weather forecasts and climate projections. After successfully completing postdoctoral research at prestigious institutions (Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies), she is now diving further into the complex world of clouds. Her research ranges from fair-weather cumulus clouds to destructive tropical cyclones that shape our future. She is committed to sharing scientific knowledge with the public, believing that understanding science is essential to tackling the climate crisis. With her research work and active engagement in seeking practical solutions for a more sustainable future she contributes to a greater understanding and protection of our planet.Zala Lenarčič
Head of Research Group
Dr. Zala Lenarčič is a leading researcher in theoretical physics, unlocking the secrets of the quantum world with passion and unwavering dedication. As head of the international group for non-equilibrium quantum systems at the Department of Theoretical Physics of the Jožef Stefan Institute, she explores laws of nature on temporal and spatial scales where quantum mechanics matters. Her innovative work on non-equilibrium dynamics advances our understanding of the collective behavior of quantum particles. Through her research, she is shaping a future where quantum technologies and quantum simulators will transform daily life. Her vision is supported by achievements like the prestigious ERC grant and leadership in international consortia. Her work reminds us that the greatest breakthroughs are accomplished when we dare to go beyond the limits of what is known and venture into the non-equilibrium, infinitely promising quantum landscape.Organizing team
