Conference CFO with a purpose 2026

Chief transFormative Officer

Program

Preliminary agenda (May 15, 2026)

May 18-20, 2026, hotel Fruške Terme, Vrdnik

Conference host: Marija Kujović Stanimirović, DistriRisk

Monday

May 18, 2026

16:15 – 16:45

Registration with a Neoplanta bite

16:45 – 17:45

Transformative networking of conference participants – powered by Silfra i MindFunk
Facilitators: Dragana Grozdanić, Silfra; Nikolina Novaković, Adecco; Vanja Pauljičić, MindFunk

17:45 – 18:20

Session 1: – CEO/ Owner reality check for CFO (inspirational Ted Talk or HARD TALK format) – Owner reality check za CFO

What does a good CFO mean for an owner/CEO today? Is it more of a strategist, a partner, a “brake,” or someone who accelerates decision-making?
How have geopolitics, volatility, and AI changed expectations of the finance function?
Where does a CFO make the biggest difference -and where do they most often fall short?
How involved is a CFO today in changing the business model?

Guest: Nebojša Šaponjić, Nelt
Discussion moderated by: Marko Cilić, Nelt

18:20 – 19:05

Panel 1: CFO Career: Generation X → Millennials → Generation Z

How does a CFO career evolve across different generations?
Experienced CFOs and young financial leaders discuss career choices, personal turning points, generational differences in expectations, pace, and definitions of success.
How do generational perspectives differ on the transformative role of the CFO?

Panelists:
Emilija Marković, MK Grupa
Stefan Balašević, ZiJin Mining
Saša Mlađenović, Karin Komerc MD
Anastasia Cvetković Čučulis, Beohemija

Moderator and panelist: Savo Bakmaz, MaxBet

20:30 – 22:00

Welcome cocktail reception powered by Duel (Piazza restaurant)

Tuesday

May 19, 2026

8:30 -9:00

Registration with Coffee

9:00 – 9:30

Conference opening

Violeta Kovačević, CFO Association of Serbia
Luka Mijatović, Farseer
„What Matters Most for CFOs in Turbulent Times“ – Robert Ćuzela Piljac, Horvath

9:30 – 10:30

Panel 2: Chief transFormative Officer – CFO + AI coach + Data Interpreter + HR expert + Digital leader + Strategist

How does a CFO today use data and AI for decision-making - not just for reporting?
Where does the finance function end, and where does the CFO’s responsibility for people, talent, and the organization begin?
How do you balance the speed of digital transformation with compliance, risk, and control?
What new skills must a CFO develop to truly become a Chief Transformative Officer?

Panelists:

Maria Boldor, Horvath
Luka Mijatović, Farseer
Milena Radosavljević Djorić, Al Dahra
Jasna Jokić, CRH

Moderators: Aleksandar Nedeljković, Mainstream and Petar Tomić, SAGA

10:30 – 10:50

Coffee networking break

10:50 – 11:50

Panel 3: Two Views, One Strategy - Geopolitics and macroeconomics from a CFO Perspective

Opening remarks:
Saša Ranđelović, Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade
Macroeconomic framework of Serbia: what to expect and how to prepare – growth, inflation, fiscal space, investments, and key risks for companies

Lev Ratnovski, IMF resident representative in Serbia
From global tensions to regional implications: how geopolitical developments spill over into macroeconomic trends and what this means in practice for the Serbian economy and companies operating in our market

Dialogue – panelists:

prof Saša Ranđelović, Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade

Lev Ratnovski, IMF resident representative in Serbia

Moderators:

Zoran Daljević, Atlantic Grupa

Miloš Djukanović, Henkel Srbija

11:50 – 12:10

Coffee networking break

12:10 – 12:55

Panel 4: How to Choose the Optimal Growth Financing Model – Bank, M&A, Stock Market, or Something Else?

Capital as a strategic decision, not just a source of funding – how the CFO chooses a financing model that supports long-term growth, flexibility, and control.
When debt is no longer the answer – the limits of leverage, relationships with banks, and the moment when the CFO must consider alternatives: equity, partnerships, or M&A.
Growth under market scrutiny – what the stock market, investors, and potential partners expect from a company today – and how the CFO prepares the organization for that level of transparency and discipline.

Panelists:

Jelena Simić Jarić, Erste Bank

Filip Stikić, Unicredit Banka

Marko Hinić, Integral Capital Group

Marko Nikolovski, Nikolovski & Co

Moderators: Violeta Kovačević, MK Grupa and Dejana Backović, Kappa Star Grupa

12:55 – 13:25

KEYNOTE TALK: AI as Turning point for Business

Special guest: Carlo Ruiz, NVIDIA

Moderator: Anita Lazović, Orion Telekom

13:25 – 14:25

Lunch (Etno restaurant Vrdnička kula)

14:30 – 15:30

KEYNOTE SESSION: Sleep as a Tool for Peak Performance

How much does the quality of your sleep affect the quality of your decisions?
Why peak performance begins with recovery, not additional effort
How to maintain focus, energy, and balance - even under constant pressure

Special Speaker: Dr Els Van Der Helm, neuroscientist and one of the world’s leading experts in sleep and performance

15:30 – 15:45

Networking coffee break pauza za kafu

15:45 – 16:45

Panel 5: Good Transformative Practices (concrete examples of best practices where the CFO played a significant role)

Orion Telekom + Energize – cyber security assessment – Vladimir Popović, Energize and Marko Elazar, Nova Defense
ERP Implementation – Stefan Savić, EY Business Consulting
How a Company in Serbia and Worldwide Can Improve Business Efficiency Using USDT (US Tether) – Marko Matanović, ECD
The new role of employees in the era of artificial intelligence: from tool users to solution creators – Aleksandar Grašić, Outliers

Moderator: Sanja Keranović, Dr Oetker

16:45 – 17:20

KEYNOTE SESSION: A Story of Peak Performance — From a Different Angle

SPECIAL SURPRISE GUEST

How do you stay focused when expectations are high and mistakes are costly?
What to do when motivation disappears – routines, accountability, and team.
Where does the drive for consistency come from — after success, not just on the way to it?
What happens “behind the scenes” and what the audience never sees.

Moderator: Srđan Ćirović, SF1 Group

17:20 – 20:30

SPA time!

20:30 – 01:00

Gala dinner and party (music by Toca & Band, venue: Conference Hall)

Wednesday

May 20, 2026

9:45 – 11:15

Transformative Workshops

1. People Management — Discussion Moderators: Dragana Grozdanić, Silfra; Ivana Manigodić, KPMG
2. Costs & Processes – Discussion moderators: Dragiša Đedović, Kappa Star Grupa; Goran Marković, Jaffa
3. Receivables Management — Discussion Moderators: Daniel Jolić, Marsh; Dragan Ranisavljević, Drag&Ran; Verica Teofilović, Teofona Consulting
4. Digital Tools in Finance — Discussion Moderators: Miloš Kolavčić, MK Group; Robert Ćuzela Piljac, Horváth
5. Data Management — Discussion Moderators: Milena Drača, Farseer; Dejan Hadžiosmanović, BE-terna; Jasmina Topalović, Nelt
6. Cyber security – Discussion Moderators: Marko Elazar, Nova Defense; Uroš Draškić, Marsh; Magdalena Hristova, Nelt
7. M&A – Discussion moderators: Jovana Raković, Forvis Mazars; Mazars; Aleksandar Nedeljković, Mainstream
8. Budgeting and Planning – Discussion moderators: Sanja Ribar, EY Business Consulting; Brankica Trajković

11:15 – 12:10

Panel 6: Workshop conclusions

Moderator: Sanja Keranović, Dr Oetker

12:15 – 12:35

Coffee networking break

12:25 – 13:10

Panel 7: Business Continuity: The CFO as Guardian of Business Resilience

From cost controller to architect of survival – How the CFO transforms liquidity, scenario planning, and capital allocation into a “survive, adapt, and grow” system.
Risk as a new strategic input – geopolitics, cyber, and operational shocks are no longer “unforeseen events,” but variables that the CFO actively embeds into financial models and decision-making.
Trust as the ultimate currency in times of crisis — how the CFO’s behavior in uncertainty shapes relationships with banks, investors, and the board — and determines who secures support and who doesn’t

Panelists:

Bojan Jovanović, Marsh

Dejan Vuković, NPL expert and investor

Bojana Cvetković, Nelt

Moderators: Branko Greganović, consultant and Miloš Belić, Unicredit Bank

13:10 – 13:55

Panel 8: Dialogue with the Government – Synergies Between Government and CFOs in Capital Market Development

Panelists:

Ognjen Popović, Ministry of Finance

Moderator: Katerina Popovska, Orion Telekom

13:55 – 14:05

Conference Conclusions - Mina Janjić, CFO Association of Serbia & Special Transformative Prize Draw (Valuable Awards)