dr.sc. Irena Peršić Živadinov

Dr. Irena Peršić Živadinov has served as Director of the Kvarner Region Tourist Board since 2011. With a diverse academic and professional background spanning multiple countries, she brings a strategic and multidisciplinary approach to destination management and international tourism promotion.

Born in Croatia, Dr. Peršić Živadinov pursued her education across Croatia, Italy, and the United States. She completed high school in the U.S., where she also began her studies in Business Management. She then attended the University of Padua in Italy, earning a degree in economics from the Faculty of Political Sciences. Upon returning to Croatia, she earned a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management in Opatija, where she focused her thesis on The Economic Effects of the Construction of Ecological Properties in Tourism. She later completed her doctoral studies with a dissertation on Sustainable Energy Management in the Hotel Life Cycle. In 2024, she completed the Executive Programme in Artificial Intelligence at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Dr. Peršić Živadinov gained hands-on experience in the tourism sector early in her career, holding various operational roles during her studies.

She later joined the Milenij Hotels group, where she played an integral role in both the construction and operational management of the company’s properties. She subsequently served as Financial Director at SKG d.o.o., followed by a position in a regional office for strategic infrastructure and development, where she worked on European Union-funded projects. In her role as Director of the Kvarner Region Tourist Board, Dr. Peršić Živadinov oversees the strategic development, coordination, and international promotion of one of Croatia’s most prominent tourist destinations. Her leadership emphasizes sustainable development, innovation, and global market positioning. She is fluent in English and Italian.