FLS '25 PROGRAM
- December 19 - 21, 2025
- Hotel Hills, Butmirska Cesta 18, Ilidža
DAY 1 - December 19th, 2025
Rector Magnificus, Professor Inorganic Biomaterials at Maastricht University
Regenerative medicine aims at triggering the body to repair or renew itself, thereby restoring its normal function. Regenerative medicine therapies based on synthetic biomaterials are becoming increasingly attractive as an alternative to the more complex and expensive strategies based on tissue, cells or growth factors. Nevertheless, to develop biomaterials that are capable of spatiotemporally controlling physiological processes, a new set of tools is needed for design and fabrication of biomaterials and for studying their interactions with the biological system. In this lecture, the concept of regenerative medicine will be introduced and recent advances and future research directions in biomaterials-based regenerative therapies will be discussed. This discussion will be intertwined with some reflections on and personal experience with building a scientific career in this field.
Co-Founder Tech+IP Capital
DAY 2 - December 20th, 2025
Co-founder & current Chief Operating Officer of Centerstream
From Refugee to Energy Executive: Powering a Life of Purpose traces Amir Memic’s journey from war-displaced childhood in Bosnia to becoming COO and co-founder of one of a leading U.S. energy-infrastructure company. Drawing on experiences across engineering, strategy, finance, and leadership, the talk highlights how resilience, curiosity, and disciplined growth shaped a career devoted to powering modern life through reliable energy systems. Amir shares lessons learned from starting his career as an entry level engineer to eventual executive leadership, illustrating the link between strong energy infrastructure and economic prosperity, and offering a roadmap for building meaningful, impact-driven careers.
Professor of Paediatric Allergy at Imperial College London
Prof Custovic will argue the case that understanding determinants and mechanisms of distinct subtypes of syndrome we agreed to call asthma is a key priority to enable personalised medicine for patients with the diagnosis of asthma. Birth cohorts, patient studies, randomised controlled trials and mechanistic studies (in human tissue and animal models) together will generate invaluable “big data” assets to provide a foundation for a step change towards personalised medicine. And the end of the process, we will have to reform the taxonomy of asthma & wheezing disorders from the symptom/medication-based criteria towards a mechanism-based framework. A solution to the problem of asthma is an integrative approach whereby clinicians, statisticians, computer scientists, geneticists, physicists, basic scientists and epidemiologists work together to understand asthma heterogeneity. To achieve this, we need to replace the current model of “selfish science” with its foundations of the “lead institutions” and “principal investigators”, with that of a genuine “Team science”.
TRACK 1: LONGEVITY THROUGH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
TRACK 2: PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
TRACK 3: NEXT-GEN WORLDBUILDERS
The panel will focus on the topic of activism in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We will explore how engaged young people are in the NGO sector today, what motivates them, and what stands in their way—whether it's a lack of support, financial resources, or limited institutional space for action. The panel will also raise questions about the real impact of activism in today’s socio-political context and highlight the importance of taking initiative despite the obstacles. Through discussion with experienced and inspiring speakers, we aim to bring real examples of civic engagement closer to young people, present successful local initiatives, and create space for dialogue about the future of activism in BiH. This panel will emphasize why activism matters—how it empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and serves as a driving force behind social progress, especially in societies facing complex challenges. By highlighting both the impact and the responsibility that comes with civic engagement, the goal is to encourage the next generation not to accept the status quo—but to challenge it, question it, and ultimately change it for the better.
CEO - Hansen Little Foundation; Deputy Chair - Betty Amsden Foundation; NED - SEFA Partnerships & GMCT
DAY 3 - December 21st, 2025
Ph.D. res. vet. med. | National Geographic Head Scientist | UNEP MAP Barcelona Convention - Honorary Ambassador
AI/ML & AIOps, Global Leader at NVIDIA
The panel will place a strong focus on the role of mayors in fostering and supporting youth activism as a driving force for social change. Recognizing that local governments play a pivotal role in shaping conditions for youth participation, the discussion will explore how mayors can act as key enablers of youth engagement and policy influence within their communities. Speakers will examine practical ways in which municipalities can strengthen youth participation in decision-making, ensure access to resources, and build stronger partnerships between institutions and young citizens. Special attention will be given to identifying mechanisms that empower youth to take part in public life and to analyzing the challenges they face in translating their initiatives into sustainable community impact. Activism remains a cornerstone of social progress but often encounters obstacles such as limited funding and insufficient institutional backing. The Future Leaders Summit 2025 will therefore host a panel of mayors from across Bosnia and Herzegovina, opening a direct dialogue on how local governments can create an enabling environment for youth-led initiatives and civic engagement.
Award-Winning Landscape Photographer