Concordia is pleased to announce that former President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović has joined the Leadership Council. President Grabar-Kitarović served as Croatia’s first female President from 2015 to 2020 and spoke at the 2019 Annual Summit.
President Grabar-Kitarović has a long-standing presence in Croatian and international affairs and has trail-blazed a path for women around the world to achieve the highest-ranking leadership positions. She served as Croatia’s first female Minister of Foreign Affairs; Croatia’s Ambassador to the United States, Mexico, Panama and the Organization of American States; the first female Assistant Secretary General of NATO; an independent member of the International Olympic Committee since 2020; and Chair of the Future Hosts Commission for the Games of the Olympiad since 2021. President Grabar-Kitarović has also served on a number of not-for-profit boards and international advisory boards.
“Together with Concordia’s remarkable leadership, I hope to contribute to Concordia’s mission and strategic vision for social impact through promoting meaningful dialogue, cross-sector partnerships, and building bridges within and across societies, ” commented President Grabar-Kitarović.
Alongside her career in government and politics, President Grabar-Kitarović holds decades of academic achievements in security and international relations, having studied at the Vienna Diplomatic Academy, George Washington University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Zagreb. She holds a Master’s degree and is presently writing her Ph.D thesis.
“President Grabar-Kitarović’s esteemed career in diplomacy has demonstrated her outstanding ability to effect change, facilitate partnerships, and address the most pressing issues facing Croatia and the world at large,” said Matthew Swift, Co-Founder and CEO of Concordia.
From her postings as an ambassador, her time at NATO, and most recently her tenure as President, President Grabar-Kitarović has exemplified cooperative values and thoughtful leadership. We are delighted to welcome her expertise to our Leadership Council and look forward to the impactful contributions she will bring to our community.