Our Team
About Us
Sustineri Partners is a boutique consultancy dedicated to empowering companies and organisations to embed sustainability at the heart of their operations. With a primary focus on the Western Balkans, we bring a deep understanding of the region’s unique challenges and opportunities.
We are a team of experts driven by the belief that businesses have both the power and responsibility to deliver positive outcomes for society. We understand that many organisations aspire to align with global sustainability standards, not just in compliance but in spirit, recognising that this alignment drives better business performance and long-term value.
Our team’s expertise spans a wide range of areas, including regulatory compliance, modern slavery, gender equality, environmental management, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and good governance. We also leverage an extensive network of regional and international partners to strengthen our impact.
What sets Sustineri Partners apart is our unique blend of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) expertise and hands-on experience within the Western Balkans. We prioritise tailored solutions designed to meet the specific needs of each client, avoiding one-size-fits-all approaches.
We work closely with our clients to recognise and address the challenges they face—notably smaller organisations that may not have the capacity to tackle a full ESG agenda all at once. Our mission is to facilitate meaningful change, moving beyond reports and recommendations to deliver practical solutions that can be integrated into daily operations and policies.
With extensive networks across governments and businesses, Sustineri Partners combines regional knowledge with a thorough understanding of European and international frameworks. We ensure these standards are effectively applied within the local context, drawing from both proven commercial strategies and on-the-ground implementation expertise.
At Sustineri Partners, we are committed to empowering our clients to achieve sustainable growth and create lasting positive impacts within their organisations and the wider community.
Founders
Aleksandra (Sasha) Njagulj
Biljana has over twenty years of experience advising governments, businesses, and international organisations on social justice, human rights, anti-corruption, and good governance. She has worked with the AIRE Centre, World Bank, UNDP, and other major consultancies, bringing deep regional knowledge and practical reform expertise.
Biljana holds degrees from Belgrade University and Lund University and serves on the boards of the AIRE Centre USA and International Bridges to Justice. She is Chair of Women on Boards Adria, Sustineri Partners’ Founding Partner, and founder of the ESG Adria Summit.
Biljana also directs The AIRE Centre Western Balkans, overseeing governance and human rights projects across the Adria region. She is a member of the Swiss Council for IBJ and has held senior expert roles with The World Bank, UNDP, PwC, and IOM.
Project Tags:
ESG Adria Summit
WOBA
ESG Handbook
Western Balkans Rule of Law
Aleksandra (Sasha) Njagulj is a globally recognised expert in sustainable investment and ESG strategy, with over 20 years of experience advancing sustainability practices across industries.
Sasha’s career includes senior roles in leading international corporations, where she has developed and implemented award-winning ESG programmes recognised for their innovation and impact. She has received multiple awards for her dedication to responsible investing and sustainable development.
Sasha has also contributed to advancing industry standards through leadership roles on various committees and also serves on advisory boards for ESCP Business School and Women on Boards Adria. A qualified architect, Sasha holds a Master’s degree in Architectural Design from the University of Belgrade and a Master’s degree in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge.
Project Tags:
ESG Adria Summit
WOBA
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ESG Adria Summit 2024
Impact Summit Europe
Cross Border Distribution Conference
Andrew is an experienced organisational and leadership consultant with 30 years of experience at senior levels in governance, leadership, and organisational change. He has a particular focus on corporate governance, ensuring key policies and controls are in place for effective compliance and leadership accountability.
Andrew has reviewed the governance arrangements of numerous Boards across various industries, including financial services, manufacturing, hospitality, property, tourism, and utilities, both in the UK and internationally. He began his career in the UK government, working on criminal justice issues, serving as private secretary to two Home Secretaries, and working in Margaret Thatcher’s office. His consulting journey included roles at KPMG, Towers Perrin, and Stanton Marris, and most recently, he was COO of Flint Global, a leading business and political advisory firm.
Andrew holds an MA from Cambridge University, an MBA from Warwick Business School, and a coaching diploma from the Oxford School of Coaching.
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USB strategy
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Team
Nevena is a lawyer with fifteen years of experience in policy development, project management, research, and strategic litigation. She has contributed to numerous international projects to introduce and implement EU standards in the Western Balkans, focusing on human rights, due diligence, risk assessments, and reporting.
Nevena serves as the Head of Programmes at Women on Boards Adria and as a Senior Legal Advisor at The AIRE Centre Western Balkans, where she has led initiatives such as the project on combating corruption and organised crime through strengthening regional cooperation in asset recovery. Previously, she worked as a Legal Advisor and Project Manager at the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights.
Nevena holds a Master’s degree in European Law from the University of Belgrade, a Master’s in International Business Law from Queen’s University Belfast, and a Certificate in Corporate Sustainability from NYU Stern.
Project Tags:
ESG Adria Summit
WOBA
ESG Handbook
Western Balkans Rule of Law
Human Rights and Environmental Protection in Europe: Case law from the European Court of Human Rights and its implications
Azra Bećirović is a project manager and ESG professional with expertise in human rights and sustainability. She leads the Certificate in Corporate Sustainability Management project at Sustineri Partners and manages office operations for The AIRE Centre Western Balkans, contributing to capacity-building and regional cooperation projects since 2019.
Azra has worked with various international organisations on issues like labour exploitation, human trafficking, and corporate accountability. Her civil society roles include President of UCDER and Secretary of the Federation for Support of Economic and Social Development – Horizont 2024, advancing initiatives for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She holds a Master’s degree in Civil Law and a Bachelor’s in Law from the University of Travnik and is pursuing a PhD in Civil and Commercial Law at Nova University Ljubljana. Azra also completed Harvard Business School’s Certificate in Sustainable Business Strategy.
Project Tags:
Certificate in Corporate Sustainability Management
ESG Adria Summit
ESG Handbook
Western Balkans Rule of Law
Media:
Vanja Radević is a legal adviser and ESG consultant with over a decade of expertise spanning the judicial system, government, and international organisations.
Her career began at the High Court in Podgorica, and she went on to serve as an adviser to the State Representative of Montenegro before the European Court of Human Rights, playing a key role in shaping precedent-setting cases. Vanja also held the position of Foreign Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister of Montenegro and completed a distinguished traineeship with the Council of Europe.
Currently, Vanja serves as the Government Affairs Lead for the ESG Adria Summit at Sustineri Partners and consults for The AIRE Centre Western Balkans, focusing on ESG strategies, legal reform, and policy innovation. She is also a Regional Board Member of the GCJ Network, further underscoring her leadership in governance and sustainability.
Vanja holds advanced degrees in Legal Studies from the University of Montenegro, specialising in international law. A prolific co-author of numerous publications, she has contributed significantly to the Council of Europe’s working groups on human rights and civil society.
ESG Adria Summit
Western Balkans Rule of Law
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Amina Hujdur is a communications and programme coordination professional with experience in sustainability and human rights initiatives. As the ESG Adria Summit Programme Coordinator at Sustineri Partners, she assists in organising and managing programmes that focus on ESG practices across the region.
In addition to her role at Sustineri Partners, Amina supports outreach and communication activities as the Outreach and Communications Manager at The AIRE Centre Western Balkans. She also contributes to communication efforts for WOBA, assisting with organisational outreach and visibility. Previously, she worked as a Communication Officer at TRIAL International, where she helped promote human rights advocacy through effective communication strategies.
Amina’s work is centred on content creation, stakeholder engagement, and programme support, making her a valuable member of teams working on sustainability and ESG-focused projects.
Project Tags:
ESG Adria Summit
WOBA
ESG Handbook
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ESG Adria Summit 2024
Trial
Žana Špadijer is an accomplished professional with over 16 years of experience in international cooperation, defence diplomacy, and strategic partnerships. As the Senior Advisor for Outreach, Partnerships, and Programmes at Sustineri Partners, she plays a key role in advancing the ESG Adria Summit and Women on Boards Adria (WOBA), two key initiatives promoting sustainability and gender diversity in the Adriatic region.
Previously, Žana held leadership roles at the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro, including Head of Department for International Cooperation and Defence Diplomacy and Head of Sector for UN and OSCE. During her tenure, she developed and implemented international engagement strategies, cultivated diplomatic relations, and coordinated high-profile programmes. Her expertise spans international relations, strategic partnerships, and programme development, making her a key contributor to Montenegro’s defence and diplomatic initiatives.
In her current role, Žana develops and nurtures relationships with embassies, international organisations, and corporates to support Sustineri’s projects. She leads the organisation of workshops and events for the ESG Adria Summit, advocates for gender diversity through WOBA, and drives fundraising and sponsorship development to ensure project sustainability.
Žana has a wealth of experience engaging high-level stakeholders and coordinating impactful events. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Arts in Communication from the American University of Rome.
Project Tags:
ESG Adria Summit
WOBA
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Ana Mijatović is an Executive Assistant with a background in project management, communications campaigns, and stakeholder engagement. Her experience spans the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and international institutions, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), providing her with a broad, cross-sectoral perspective.
Having lived, worked, and studied in four countries, Ana is highly skilled in navigating multicultural environments. She holds a Joint Master’s degree in European Studies from the University of Deusto and the University of Udine, awarded through a European Commission scholarship. Her professional focus includes advancing democratic development, environmental sustainability, and human rights.
Project Tags:
ESG Adria Summit
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Nedim Jahić is an engagement and outreach specialist with a background in law and extensive experience in strategic communications, policy advocacy, and business development. He has collaborated with international organizations such as USAID, Cardno International, Catholic Relief Services, Financial Markets International, Palladium, the World Bank, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, UNDP, UNFPA, Westminster Foundation for Democracy, and Porticus Foundation.
He has successfully advocated for the adoption and implementation of legal frameworks, advised MPs and government representatives, and managed funds supporting start-up initiatives and MSMEs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. With hands-on experience working with over 500 MSMEs across sectors including BPO, IT, agriculture, energy, tourism, and media, he has played a key role in fostering business growth. Additionally, he has secured funding for large-scale projects locally for different institutions and CSOs, and organized high-profile networking events in New York, Berlin, and across the Balkans, engaging with business leaders, policymakers, and civil society. In his early career, he worked for local and regional media, publishing articles in renowned outlets on topics related to law, human rights and policy.
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ESG Adria Summit
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Emilija Bojić is an economics student at the FEFA Faculty and the co-founder of the Community Fridge Initiative in Belgrade, a project dedicated to improving food security and reducing waste, providing over 25,000 meals to those in need. The initiative received the Social Impact Award and was recognised at the WWF Adria Regional Youth Summit for its contributions to sustainability.
As a member of the Executive Board of the European Youth Parliament Serbia, Emilija leads fundraising and strategic partnerships, securing support from prestigious organisations such as the Open Society Foundations, Coca-Cola, and Bosch.
Emilija was selected as a COP29 Youth Delegate, where she engaged with global leaders, policymakers, and experts to advocate for impactful climate policies and sustainable development. She is also a Young European Ambassador for the Western Balkans, a role awarded by the WeBalkans project (funded by the European Commission DG NEAR), through which she promotes regional cooperation, youth empowerment, and European integration across the Western Balkans.
Project Tags:
ESG Adria Summit
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